Catalano Barn On a Roll

Thanks to his record 11th training title at Arlington Park and 10 wins during the five-day meet at Kentucky Downs, trainer Wayne Catalano has sent out the earners of more than $4.9 million – a career high with three months remaining in 2013. Now Catalano is looking to continue his roll during opening weekend at Keeneland, where his starters include Susan Moulton’s Solitary Ranger in Saturday’s Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (G1).

“He broke his maiden in the stakes and he’s training very well,” Catalano said about the son of U S Ranger, who in his last start won the Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) on Sept. 7. “We like him a lot.”

So much in fact that Catalano said the colt might be the best horse he’s ever trained.

Solitary Ranger opened his career on April 7 at Keeneland with a second-place finish at 4½ furlongs to Pablo Del Monte, trained by Wesley Ward. Three weeks later at Keeneland, he was second again to another Ward trainee, No Nay Never, who went on to win the Norfolk (G2) at Royal Ascot and the Darley Prix Morny (G1) at Deauville. Solitary Ranger did not race again until the Arlington-Washington Futurity, which he won by 5½ lengths.

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) definitely is the goal for Solitary Ranger, whose owner met Catalano several years ago when she called him looking for tickets to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Moulton joined Catalano and his family at several pre-event parties and sat with them in his box.

“Next thing I know she’s asking about buying a horse,” he said. “She said, ‘I’d like to own one of these horses.’ I said, ‘You’re talking to the right guy. We’ll get you one.’ ”

After his Keeneland races, Solitary Ranger became available for purchase, and he became Moulton’s first racehorse when she bought him for $125,000.

“You know what, I’m hoping he’s the best horse I’ve ever trained,” Catalano said about the colt. “He’s sure training like it, acting like it, but he has to step up to the plate and do it. If we could get this race out of him and next time (in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile), he could prove me right.”

For Keeneland’s opening Fall Stars Weekend, Catalano’s other starters include Battlefield Angel in the Darley Alcibiades (G1) and Hogy in the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G3) on Friday and Poker Player in the Bourbon (G3) on Sunday. He looks forward to a continuation of his recent success.

“Everything came together at the right time,” Catalano said. “We got some good results from very good clients giving us some chances with some very good horses. All my staff performed very well. The results showed. I think the roll will continue (at Keeneland). We’re set up to do pretty good.”