Catholic Boy remains in play for Breeders' Cup Mile

Does the name Catholic Boy ring a bell?

Catholic Boy came into the summer of 2019 as one of the most exciting horses in North America but came out of it with only one start.

After a sharp win in the Dixie Stakes on the Preakness undercard in May, Catholic Boy finished second to Preservationist in the July 6 Suburban and hasn’t started since.

He also won’t race again before the Breeders’ Cup, trainer Jonathan Thomas said Wednesday, and might return to grass racing for the BC Mile. Catholic Boy on Sept. 29 worked a half-mile around the dogs over the Belmont turf course, timed in 47.80 breezing under Javier Castellano. Thomas said the BC Dirt Mile and even the Classic will be considered for Catholic Boy, but the Mile on turf is very much in play.

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“That work was his first time being on grass since the Dixie,” Thomas said. “Once he got out there on the grass, his whole demeanor really changed – his ears were up, his body language was great. Javier was really pleased with the way he worked.”

Catholic Boy, making his first start since a disappointing performance in the 2018 Classic, ran a strong race in the 1 1/16-mile Dixie. Last summer he scored a signature win over dirt in the Travers Stakes, but earlier in 2018 he won the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational over 1 1/4 miles on turf, and as a 2-year-old won the Grade 3 With Anticipation on grass and was a close, troubled fourth in the BC Juvenile Turf.

Thomas insists that nothing serious has physically troubled Catholic Boy all year. He came out of the Suburban with lacerations serious enough that he could only be walked for a couple weeks, and then contracted an upper-respiratory infection that precluded a start in the Whitney or Woodward at Saratoga.

“At this point I just want to get him into a rhythm and have a couple good works, and last week was a really good step in that direction,” Thomas said. “I’m honestly not worried about his fitness at all. He’s got this really good foundation under his belt.”

Admission Office, who was second to Catholic Boy in the Dixie, is part of an overflow field entered Saturday in a key BC Mile prep at Keeneland, the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile. The Shadwell, a Win and You’re In for the Mile, drew a fascinating field that includes several Europeans, most notably the venerable 8-year-old Suedois, as well as a number of interesting North Americans. The 3-year-old Valid Point steps up to face older horses after an eye-catching win going one mile at Arlington in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes, while Bandua is cutting back to one mile after a solid third in the 1 1/4-mile Arlington Million.

The Shadwell has two California shippers – Next Share, who upset the 2018 Shadwell, and Bowies Hero – while Prince Earl heads the Southern California prep for the BC Mile, Saturday’s City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita.

Sunday’s Group 1 Prix de la Foret on the Arc de Triomphe undercard often yields BC Mile starters, and early entrants for that race like One Master and Laurens have been mentioned as possible runners at Santa Anita next month.