Options abound for Catholic Boy
Catholic Boy came out of his 4 3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 2 Remsen Stakes in good order and will get a little freshening at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Fla., as his connections consider what road to take to a potential start in the Kentucky Derby.
Trainer Jonathan Thomas and John Panagot, racing manager for owner Robert LaPenta, said Catholic Boy would likely get three weeks off. They may not run him until the end of February or early March, which would rule out the Grade 3 Withers, at 1 1/8 miles, here Feb. 3.
“Ultimately distance will play into how we map out our schedule,” Thomas said. “Certainly, he’s not going to back up to a mile. He’s going to stick around two turns, preferably something over a mile and a sixteenth if it comes up the right way.”
On March 3 there is the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth at 1 1/16 miles on dirt and the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf. Both could be options for Catholic Boy’s 3-year-old debut.
Catholic Boy has shipped for all four of his starts. He shipped from Del Mar to New York, where he took up residence in trainer Todd Pletcher’s barn for a month. Thomas credited Pletcher - for whom he once worked - and his staff for assistance in Catholic Boy’s preparations. Catholic Boy earned a 91 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.
Avery Island, who finished second in the Remsen, will head to south Florida and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin’s Palm Meadows barn. However, McLaughlin said Avery Island would likely return to New York for the Withers. McLaughlin said Enticed, who won the Kentucky Jockey Club, would likely make his next start in the Grade 2, $350,000 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park, also on Feb. 3.
McLaughlin was satisfied with Avery Island’s race because he showed the ability to take dirt and still finish.
“We thought we’d be on or near the lead,” McLaughlin said. “We broke forward, Joe [Bravo] looked up and saw two longshots on either side of us going so he decided to sit. It’s the first time he sat in a quality race and took some dirt, he kicked on and finished well. Obviously, the winner was much the best yesterday.”
Wonder Gadot will target Kentucky Oaks
When Wonder Gadot won Saturday’s Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct, it was her third win on as many surfaces. But trainer Mark Casse said Sunday that Wonder Gadot would be put on a path to get to the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 4.
“I’m going to keep her on the dirt,” Casse said Sunday. “She loves Churchill Downs so you know what our goal will be.”
Casse has a plethora of soon-to-be 3-year-old fillies and will want to separate them as he prepares them for the Oaks. Casse said would consider shipping Wonder Gadot to Santa Anita for their 3-year-old filly stakes program.
“I think that track might suit her,” Casse said.
Indulgent’s future uncertain
Indulgent, the one-length winner of Saturday’s Grade 3 Go for Wand Handicap, will remain in New York while her connections determine her future.
The Go for Wand was Indulgent’s first career graded stakes victory and with her pedigree - she is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Frosted by Bernardini - solidified her status as a topflight broodmare prospect.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin believes Indulgent has the pedigree to run farther and wouldn’t mind testing that theory in a race such as the $100,000 Ladies Handicap going 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct on Jan. 21.
“Maybe it’s worth a try to run back in the Ladies and see how she does two turns,” McLaughlin said. “If she doesn’t handle it, maybe you send her home or if she wins easy maybe she’s our Wedding Toast of next year.”
Wedding Toast was a filly who successfully stretched out in distance late in her 3-year-old year and, after missing her 4-year-old season due to injury, came back to win the Grade 1 Beldame and Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at 5 and earned just under $1 million.
Highway Star, who finished second in the Go for Wand, will get a break and is expected to run again in 2018. Highway Star’s runner-up finish propelled her past the $1 million mark in career earnings.
