Catholic Boy starts his year with victory in Dixie Stakes

BALTIMORE – Catholic Boy, one of the most accomplished 3-year-olds of 2018, made a successful 4-year-old debut Saturday when capturing the 118th running of the Grade 2, $250,000 Dixie Stakes, the traditional lead-in event to the Preakness at Pimlico Race Course.

Given a terrific ride by Javier Castellano from the outside post in the 1 1/16-mile turf race, Catholic Boy returned $4.80 as the favorite in a field of 10. The final time was 1:41.09 over a firm course.

“He’s just such a gifted horse,” trainer Jonathan Thomas said afterward. “I would have been happy coming here and running a good second or third and galloping out well. But he has it in him to win. It was great to see.”

Always in striking position when rating comfortably from just off the outside flank of the front-running Real Story, Catholic Boy made his move after straightening for home, surging to an open lead inside the furlong pole before holding off an inside run from Admission Office to prevail by a half-length. Catholic Boy was making his first start since finishing far back in the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Classic.

“He’s a super horse,” said Castellano. “I like the way he did it. Coming off a layoff since the Breeders’ Cup, that’s a long time to put in a good race like he did today. It was a great performance.”

Just Howard was another neck behind Admission Office when nailing Real Story by a nose for third. Then came O Dionysus, Inspector Lynley, Phlash Phelps, Paret, Have At It, and Something Awesome. Twenty Four Seven and Flameaway were early scratches.

Catholic Boy, a bay ridgling by More Than Ready, is owned by the four-way partnership of Robert LaPenta, Madaket Stables, Siena Farm, and Twin Creeks Racing Stables. Last year, he proved very versatile in regard to surface, with a pair of Grade 1 victories coming in the Belmont Derby (turf) and Travers (dirt). He now has won seven of 11 starts and $1,992,000.

Thomas has left open any number of options for Catholic Boy as the year unfolds.

The $2 exacta (12-3) paid $25, the $1 triple (12-3-2) returned $92.10, and the 10-cent superfecta (12-3-2-7) was worth $44.05.

The Dixie capped a huge Preakness weekend for Castellano, the four-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey based primarily in New York. He won with five straight mounts Friday, ending with the Black-Eyed Susan on Point of Honor.