Catholic Boy Faces Defining Test in Suburban
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Catholic Boy at Belmont Park in June
When all is said and done at the end of the year, the $700,000 Suburban Stakes (G2) could turn out to be a pivotal moment.
It's not that the July 6 event at Belmont Park offers a showdown to rival last month's Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1). Rather, the key element involves how well Catholic Boy fares in the 1 1/4-mile dirt stakes, and how it shapes the rest of the season for a 4-year-old who looms as a major player for Horse of the Year honors.
"This is a big race because it will set the dial for what we want to do for the rest of the year," said majority owner Robert LaPenta. "The ultimate goal is the Breeders' Cup, and the plan as of now is this race, one at the end of the Saratoga meet, and then the Breeders' Cup.
"There's a lot riding on this weekend on how he performs."
As much as his 9-5 morning-line price against 10 rivals in the Suburban paints him as the horse to beat, what happens will be heavily scrutinized because of a rather delightful problem Catholic Boy poses for his connections.
His victory in last year's Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) speaks volumes for his ability on the main track, yet the son of More Than Ready also won the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) in 2018. He's that rare Thoroughbred who can win at a classic distance on both turf and dirt.
"I don't know if he's better on turf or dirt. Some of his turf races have been spectacular. They were races I could watch once a day every day," said LaPenta, who owns Catholic Boy in a partnership with Sol Kumin's Madaket Stables, Siena Farm, and Twin Creeks Racing Stables.
Catholic Boy's versatility was put on full display in his 2019 debut when trainer Jonathan Thomas opted for the Dixie Stakes (G2T), a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes at Pimlico Race Course on the May 18 Preakness Stakes (G1) card, as the steppingstone to the Suburban, and the bay ridgling responded with a half-length victory.
"There's some wonderful turf races out there, and he has a deep body of races on turf. I didn't think anyone is averse to putting him back on turf. But for now, it's more about the distances we are running and the timing. The seven weeks between the Dixie and the Suburban was perfect," Thomas said.
Depending on what happens Saturday, there are several options for the rest of Catholic Boy's campaign. If he runs to expectations, the 1 1/8-mile, $750,000 Woodward Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1, Aug. 31 at Saratoga Race Course) is an intriguing possibility, with the 1 1/4-mile, $1 million TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar Aug. 17 a longshot possibility because of its distance.
If the Suburban turns out to be a replay of his 2018 finale, a 13th-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), then turf stakes like the 1 1/4-mile, $1 million Arlington Million XXXVII Stakes (G1T) at Arlington Park Aug. 10 or possibly the 1 1/2-mile, $850,000 Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Aug. 24 could come into play. But for now, Thomas wants to focus on what should be a revealing test in the Suburban.
"It's premature to settle on plans until he runs on Saturday," Thomas said.
The Dixie was a highly useful prep as Catholic Boy cut back to a 1 1/16-mile distance for the first time since a runner-up finish in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) on Feb. 10, 2018.
"I was worried because there were some sneaky good horses in the Dixie, and we didn't crank him because we wanted him to be fresh for the rest of the year," Thomas said. "But he came through."
Since then, Catholic Boy has been training in a manner that indicates he's getting better with age and experience.
"All through his 3-year-old campaign, Jonathan said that when this horse gets to be 4, he would be unbelievable," LaPenta said. "He looks phenomenal now. (Regular rider Javier Castellano) got on him recently and compared him to Ghostzapper."
Acquired privately after he RNA'd for $170,000 from the Taylor Sales Made Agency's consignment at the 2016 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, Catholic Boy has won seven of 11 starts, with earnings of $1,992,000. He was bred in Kentucky by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding out of the Bernardini mare Song of Bernadette.
Catholic Boy is headed to stud at Claiborne Farm in 2020, and LaPenta is confident he'll be equally successful as a stallion.
"Claiborne is salivating to get him. I think they filled his book in a day. He will have international appeal as a stallion. More Than Ready has really stuck his head up and turned out some really good horses recently," LaPenta said.
Before that, Catholic Boy may close his career in January in the Pegasus Invitational, where his connections will face a familiar dilemma.
"The Pegasus would definitely be on our radar," LaPenta said. "The question is turf or dirt."
Among the main threats for Catholic Boy in Saturday's stakes is Marconi, a $2 million buy from Eaton Sales' consignment at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale who owns a three-race winning streak for trainer Todd Pletcher, all in stakes at 1 3/16 miles or more.
The 4-year-old son of Tapit , bred in Kentucky by Brushwood Stable, is coming off a half-length victory in the June 8 Woodford Reserve Brooklyn Invitational Stakes (G2) at 1 1/2 miles. Owned by Bridlewood Farm, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor, he has four wins in nine starts, with earnings of $424,702.
Centennial Farms' Rocketry was second to Marconi in both the Brooklyn and the 1 3/8-mile Flat Out Stakes in his past two starts. The 5-year-old son of Hard Spun trained by Jimmy Jerkens should have little problem with the distance as reflected in his Nov. 2 victory in the 1 3/4-mile Marathon Stakes Presented by TAA (G2) at Churchill Downs.
Centennial and Jerkens will also send out Preservationist, a 6-year-old son of Arch who is making his stakes debut after winning four of his past five starts, including his past two outings.
GMB Racing's late-running Lone Sailor should be a stretch threat after the son of Majestic Warrior closed to finish third in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes (G1) at 1 1/4 miles and was second—a neck behind Quip—in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) at 1 1/8 miles.
Belmont Park, Saturday, July 06, 2019, Race 10Entries: Suburban S. (G2)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Catholic Boy (KY)
Javier Castellano
123
Jonathan Thomas
9/5
2
2Preservationist (KY)
Junior Alvarado
117
James A. Jerkens
5/1
3
3Rocketry (KY)
Joel Rosario
121
James A. Jerkens
8/1
4
4Marconi (KY)
Jose Lezcano
121
Todd A. Pletcher
6/1
5
5Lone Sailor (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
119
Thomas M. Amoss
8/1
6
6Mead Hall (PA)
Tomas B. Mejia
117
Glenn R. Thompson
50/1
7
7Wooderson (KY)
John R. Velazquez
117
Todd A. Pletcher
12/1
8
8Carlino (KY)
Manuel Franco
117
Mark A. Hennig
20/1
9
9Realm (VA)
Luis Saez
117
Barclay Tagg
20/1
10
10Cordmaker (MD)
Victor R. Carrasco
117
Rodney Jenkins
12/1
11
11Pavel (KY)
Mario Gutierrez
123
Doug F. O'Neill
8/1
