Catholic Boy puts up an easy half-mile

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Jonathan Thomas wanted to make sure he kept all his options open when it came to working Catholic Boy here Monday. In the end, the Travers hopeful breezed an easy half-mile in 48.47 seconds over a very busy main track shortly after the renovation break, galloping out five furlongs in 1:00.40 before easing up three-quarters in 1:14 with jockey Javier Castellano aboard.

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“We put a slip in to work him on the turf this morning just so we had an audible in case we didn’t like the track today,” said Thomas, whose decision was all but made for him after workouts were canceled over the still soggy Oklahoma turf course on Monday. “It was more of a back-up plan because of the weather. I don’t think it really matters which surface he works on, it’s about having the option to get over the best surface with the weather. At this stage, it’s really just about maintenance halves, keeping him happy and sound. He’s certainly got enough miles under his belt.”

Thomas said he was very happy with the way Catholic Boy breezed on Monday.

“For the second week in a row, Javier seemed really pleased with the horse and how he handled the surface,” said Thomas. “He’s not the kind of horse who’ll go down there and rip off 47’s, he just seems to keep grinding it out. I liked that every panel was almost identical – 12 and some light change. I think from what we’ve seen, he’s training well over this track.”