Chatterpaul relaxed as Catcho En Die nears comeback in Manhattan Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – The old saying exhorts horsemen to keep their stock in the worst company and themselves in the best.

Anyway, there was trainer Naipaul Chatterpaul on the Belmont backstretch Sunday, the Hempstead Turnpike just over a vine-choked fence, hanging with stable-hands sipping Coronas in surprisingly intense late-morning sun, a gaggle of roosters yelling at each other on the scene’s periphery.

Ninety minutes earlier Chatterpaul watched Catcho En Die go through his final workout for his first start since a troubled fourth-place finish Aug. 11 in the Arlington Million. He will not exactly be keeping the worst company Saturday in the Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan Stakes.

“I like to aim high so if I fall in between, I’m still good,” Chatterpaul said, smiling.

There was plenty of smiling at the mild Sunday morning party and there will be plenty more the morning after the Manhattan if Catcho En Die can pull off a major upset. It wouldn’t be the first time. Chatterpaul won this race in 2011 with 21-1 chance Mission Approved, who was making his first start following an 11-month layoff and second since being claimed for $35,000. Chatterpaul and owner Soti Sakatis claimed Catcho En Die for $40,000 last April and are bringing their horse back for the Manhattan after a 10-month layoff.

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Argentine-bred Catcho En Die ran in this race a year ago, finishing 10th while beaten only 2 1/2 lengths. He came back to win the Stars and Stripes at Arlington and was fouled in midstretch of the Million by third-place Century Dream, who was disqualified, elevating Catcho En Die to the show spot.

Chatterpaul insists nothing went amiss with Catcho En Die to force the long break.

“My owner just wanted to give him some time off. You claim a horse for $40,000 and make enough money to earn a vacation, you take a vacation. I don’t go to Florida and what am I going to do with him up here over the winter?” said Chatterpaul.

Catcho En Die gained initial fitness swimming at a training center in Pennsylvania before arriving back in Chatterpaul’s barn Feb. 26. He’s posted five works for this start, the major one a turf mile in 1:36.60 on May 26. Luis Saez rides Saturday for the first time.

“Now we have a fresh horse coming back and we have the whole summer to have some fun,” Chatterpaul said. “So far, everything is good.”

Including the company – both equine and human.