Travers Makes Sense for Versatile Catholic Boy

The $1.25 million Travers Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) has a big circle around it on Catholic Boy's calendar.

A win in the Mid-Summer Derby Aug. 25 would give the tenacious More Than Ready  ridgling top-level accomplishments on turf and dirt, earned during a 3-year-old season in which he has campaigned well on both surfaces. Catholic Boy is coming off a gritty score July 7 by a head over Analyze It in the 1 1/4-mile Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T)—the same distance as the Travers and one he appears to relish.

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"Certainly, the distance is something we feel like is within his wheelhouse," trainer Jonathan Thomas said Aug. 5 at Saratoga Race Course. "You're only 3 once. You only get a few opportunities to run a mile and a quarter as a 3-year-old on the dirt."

While the Aug. 11 Secretariat Stakes (G1T) at Arlington International Racecourse would be a natural spot for the Belmont Derby winner—and that's where Analyze It is headed—co-owners Robert LaPenta, Sol Kumin, Siena Farm, and Twin Creeks Racing Stables are looking to the future with the runner they believe has major talent on the main track. 

"With these better horses, our job isn't only to train them, but to manage them—to hopefully get them a stall in Kentucky to stand (at stud)," Thomas said of his first grade 1 winner. "I feel a little added responsibility because he's a really cool horse. I've been around a lot of horses—some that didn't deserve to go to stud and some that did—but he seems to be one that does. A good, hard-knocking horse.

"That adds another layer to the decision-making. I'm not sure winning another grade 1 on the grass would change or add to his value. I think he took down the right target (in the Belmont Derby)."

Catholic Boy started his career with back-to-back wins on turf and went from a maiden winner to a graded winner, as Thomas jumped him straight from his debut victory to the With Anticipation Stakes (G3T). After a fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T), he shifted to the main track and won the Dec. 2 Remsen Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack. 

A runner-up finish behind Flameaway in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs had his connections dreaming of roses, but Catholic Boy bled in the Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) and finished fourth. After a two-month break, he returned to beat Analyze It by a neck in the June 2 Pennine Ridge Stakes (G3T) at Belmont Park before he won the Belmont Derby. In both races, his rival gained the advantage before Catholic Boy surged back with determination to claim the victory.

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Having plenty of experience with the bay's versatility and heart, Thomas—like any good trainer—has a "Plan B" in his hip pocket.

"We are training towards the Travers as if we are going to run," he said. "Obviously, works will determine whether we actually do it or not. If we feel like he's doing well and (is) happy, it's something we are under strong consideration for."

Catholic Boy turned in his first work since the Belmont Derby July 29, when he went an easy four furlongs in :48.68 on the main track at Saratoga.

"The good thing about the timing for the Travers is, the Saranac Stakes (G3T) is a week later," Thomas added. "So if we aren't feeling that the Travers is in his best interest, then we have a good default race right after. Day by day, work by work—but the Travers has a big circle around it, and we're going to train accordingly."