Kentucky Derby 2018 Daily: No panic in Catholic Boy’s camp

Welcome to Horse Racing Nation’s Kentucky Derby Daily, which will each day leading up to the May 5 race at Churchill Downs detail all the news and notes related to contenders in one convenient space.

Following up on Catholic Boy’s runner-up finish in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes, trainer Jonathan Thomas said “everything is in play” for the colt on the 2018 Kentucky Derby trail.

“It’s important to not panic or try to force the issue,” Thomas said after Catholic Boy came from next to last in the field of six to finish second by a half length.

The More Than Ready colt made a strong middle move, advancing into the turn, and continued with a three-wide bid in the stretch. Despite coming up short, his 91 Beyer Speed Figure matched his effort in the Dec. 2 Remsen Stakes, with the Grade 2 victory marking his debut on dirt.

Entering the Sam F. Davis, Catholic Boy, who’s campaigned by Robert LaPenta and Madaket Stables, recorded just four timed works, with two of those at Thomas’ Bridlewood Farm base in Florida.

“In retrospect, I might have been a little light on him from a training perspective,” he said, “but we’re anticipating a long spring. We’ll probably try to have one more prep and if he’s good enough, he will earn his way into (the Run for the Roses).”

Hopes were high for a horse that had also won a stakes on grass and finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. But it’s obvious he wasn’t fully cranked, something the public recognized, and Flameaway represented the only willing pacesetter in the field. Catholic Boy did not drop from the No. 4 spot in HRN’s Kentucky Derby Top 50 following Saturday’s race.

Thomas said he’ll monitor where trainers are pointing other top contenders before selecting Catholic Boy’s next spot.

El Camino Real Derby shapes up

One of just two domestic points-paying non-dirt Derby preps will run Saturday at Golden Gate Fields, which will take entries Wednesday for the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby at 1 1/8 miles.

The Northern California track’s stakes coordinator said a field of eight or nine is expected, with the 1-2 finishers of its local prep, the Jan. 20 California Derby, the headliners. Jerry Hollendorfer-trained Choo Choo won the California Derby by 1 3/4 lengths over Mugaritz, who closed for the runner-up spot.

City Plan enters off a fifth-place effort in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes last month, while Blended Citizen was fourth on the turf in the Eddie Logan Stakes.

Allowance winner Could Be the One and maiden winners Epical and Calexman are also considered probable, with Paved, a Jan. 6 maiden winner at Santa Anita, possible for trainer Mike McCarthy.

Thoughts from the booth

It was too early for most players at the National Horseplayers Championship to think Derby, at least from a handicapping perspective. But in his first trip to play the NHC — it ran from Friday through Sunday in Las Vegas — Churchill Downs track announcer Travis Stone named a couple of runners that stick out from a “jumbled” Kentucky Derby trail.

“I thought Audible was most impressive the other day,” Stone said of the Grade 2 Holy Bull winner. “I feel like the way these trainers are approaching the Derby nowadays is, they’re placing a premium on the recency element, so when you have a big jump up like that, it’s one to take a look at.”

Stone said he’s “very curious” to see how Good Magic runs in his 3-year-old debut, the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on March 3 at Gulfstream Park, because when it comes to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, “I’m skeptical that the track didn’t change for that race at Del Mar.”

His No. 1 horse at this point?

“I think out West, (Bob) Baffert’s got a ton, but I think McKinzie has the look of a horse that just wants to keep running,” Stone said. “It sounds like (Baffert) has always really been high on that horse. That would probably be my choice.”

The works

Bravazo — Entered in Saturday’s Grade 2 Risen Star, but also possible to go instead on Monday’s Grade 3 Southwest, he continued working Monday for D. Wayne Lukas in Arkansas. A half-mile drill in 47.80 was the bullet and marked his fourth timed move since a Jan. 13 allowance win at Oaklawn. That race had a companion on the card, with Bravazo’s division about two seconds faster.

High North — Another Risen Star entrant/Southwest possibility, Brad Cox’s top Derby prospect has worked consistently since finishing a troubled fourth in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club last November. His final breeze toward either race went in a speedy 48 seconds flat (3/17) Monday at Fair Grounds.

Mourinho — The likely Southwest favorite off his front-running victory in the Smarty Jones put in a final work Monday on the West Coast, timed at 1:13.40 (2/14) for six furlongs. Since his last effort, Mourinho has worked 6/8, 7/8 and then 6/8) for trainer Bob Baffert, who seems to be testing the Super Saver colt’s stamina.

Principe Guilherme — One of trainer Steve Asmussen’s two Risen Star entrants, the Grade 3 Lecomte runner-up put in an easy final work typical for his conditioner, clocked at 51 flat (30/37) for four furlongs Monday at Fair Grounds.

Seven Trumpets — A close second to multiple graded stakes winner Firenze Fire last out in Aqueduct’s Jerome Stakes, this one has worked twice since then at Gulfstream Park and is expected to be among Dale Romans’ charges in the Southwest. He was caught in 1:00.65 for five furlongs (3/7) on Monday.

Snapper Sinclair — Third in the Lecomte behind stablemate Principe Guilherme, he also worked easy toward the Risen Star, getting the half mile in 50 seconds flat (26/37). The last effort proved he’s fine to run on dirt. The next out will tell us whether he can improve over it.

Sporting Chance — A lengthy journey back from surgery to remove knee chips is almost over for the Grade 1 winner, who put in his final work toward the Southwest at Oaklawn Park, timed at 1:00.40 (2/15) for five furlongs from the Lukas barn.

In case you missed it…

Sunday’s Derby Daily report detailed next-race plans for Flameaway, plus included the latest on Good Magic and Bolt d’Oro as they work toward the first races of their respective seasons.

• Catch up with all the latest Derby news by reading past editions of HRN’s Derby Daily report.