Catholic Boy to stand at Claiborne Farm after racing career

It turned out to be a significant Preakness Stakes Day for Claiborne Farm.

The farm's flagship sire War Front sired his first American classic winner in War of Will; one race prior, Catholic Boy won the Grade 2 Dixie Stakes in his 2019 debut; and now Claiborne has purchased an interest in the versatile colt and will stand him upon retirement, the farm announced Tuesday via press release.

Catholic Boy, who races for Robert LaPenta, Madaket Stables, Siena Farm, and Twin Creeks Racing, is now a graded stakes winner at ages 2, 3, and 4. He won a pair of Grade 1 stakes at 10 furlongs last season - the Belmont Derby on turf followed by the Travers Stakes on dirt. The More Than Ready colt’s other graded stakes scores include the Grade 3 With Anticipation Stakes, Grade 3 Pennine Ridge Stakes, and now the Dixie on turf, and the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes on dirt. He is pointing to the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap in July on the Belmont Park main track.

“A graded stakes winner on both dirt and turf at 2, and Grade 1 winner on both dirt and turf at 3 makes him one of the most versatile and unique stallion prospects on the market," Claiborne president Walker Hancock said in the release. "Plus, being a son of More Than Ready opens him up to breed to a very wide variety of mares. We are thrilled to stand him at Claiborne Farm upon his retirement.”

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