Catholic Boy's final pre-Kentucky Derby race to come in Florida Derby

Remsen winner Catholic Boy, second in the Sam Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 10 in the first of his two Kentucky Derby preps this year, will use the Florida Derby on March 31 at Gulfstream Park as his final Derby prep, John Panagot, the racing manager for majority owner Robert LaPenta, said Tuesday.

"Timing-wise it's the best, and everybody on the team seems to agree," Panagot said.

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The Florida Derby is five weeks in front of the May 5 Kentucky Derby. The other race that had been considered for Catholic Boy was the Louisiana Derby on March 24 at Fair Grounds.

Jonathan Thomas, the trainer of Catholic Boy, worked the colt without blinkers in his drill last weekend and said he was contemplating removing them for his next start.

Thomas wants to run Catholic Boy in the Florida Derby because it's an easy ship just down the turnpike from Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Fla., where Catholic Boy is based. Thomas said ideally he'd head to Gulfstream far enough in front of the race to give Catholic Boy his final work there.