Thistledown: Catlaunch becomes a millionaire in George Lewis Memorial

Catlaunch passed the $1 million dollar mark in career earnings with a wire-to-wire 3 3/4-length victory in the $50,000 George Lewis Memorial Stakes at Thistledown on Saturday. Busha chased the winner all the way and finished second in the 1 1/8-mile race for Ohio-breds, a nose in front of Raise the Reward.

A 10-year-old gelding by Noble Cat out of Skilaunch, Catlaunch is a perfect 4 for 4 in stakes this season and boosted his career earnings to $1,011,844.

The last Ohio-bred millionaire was Harlan’s Holiday.

Catlaunch is owned by his breeder, Scioto farm, trained by Ivan Vasquez and was ridden by Luis Gonzalez, who was winning his eight stake race this season.