Catholic Boy retired to Claiborne Farm

Dual-surface Grade 1 winner Catholic Boy has been retired from racing and will take up stallion duty next year at Claiborne Farm, which acquired his breeding rights earlier in the year. The son of More Than Ready will debut for a $25,000 fee.

Catholic Boy's two top-level victories came in last year's Belmont Derby on turf and, in his subsequent start, the Travers Stakes on dirt. Both races were at the classic 1 1/4-mile distance. Catholic Boy, trained throughout his career by Jonathan Thomas, also won the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes on dirt, and the Grade 2 Dixie Stakes, Grade 3 Pennine Ridge Stakes, and Grade 3 With Anticipation Stakes on turf.

Catholic Boy's victory in the Dixie at Pimlico came in May in his first start of the year. It was the only victory in three starts this year for Catholic Boy, who raced for Robert LaPenta, Madaket Stables, Siena Farm, and Twin Creeks Racing. He finished second to Preservationist in the Grade 2 Suburban Stakes at Belmont in July, then was fourth in the Grade 2 Knickerbocker Stakes at Belmont on Oct. 14. After that race, his connections did not rule out moving on to the Breeders' Cup, but then announced his retirement on Friday.

“Clearly, he’s carried our stable on his shoulders the last couple of years,” Thomas said. “He was the catalyst for me going out on my own. He certainly made me a better horseman, a better trainer. It was absolutely a privilege to train a horse of his talent level.”

Thomas, who has worked in New York most of his career, said winning races such as the Belmont Derby and Travers was special.

“Any kind of good we do in New York is extra meaningful,” Thomas said. “It’s probably sacrilege to say, but winning the Travers means more to me than the Derby.”

-- additional reporting by David Grening

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