Catholic Boy 'settled right in' for Gulfstream's Florida Derby

Catholic Boy, who launched his career with a debut victory at Gulfstream Park last July, is back on familiar ground at the Hallandale Beach racetrack to prepare for a scheduled start in the Florida Derby.

The Jonathan Thomas-trained colt, who produced an eye-opening two-length romp in a 7 ½-furlong maiden race on turf, visited Gulfstream’s main track for a 1 1/8-mile gallop Friday morning after arriving from Bridlewood Farm Thursday afternoon.

“He travelled in really well. Normally, he needs a day or two to scope out a place, but he summered here so he settled right in, ate up nicely, and I thought he trained well this morning. He seemed happy,” Thomas said.

Pleased with the son of More Than Ready’s energy level Friday morning, Thomas said the multiple graded-stakes winner will likely have his final workout for the Florida Derby Sunday morning.

After winning at first asking, Catholic Boy went on to capture the With Anticipation (G3) at Saratoga and finish fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Del Mar. He concluded his 2-year-old campaign while winning his dirt debut in the 1 1/8-mile Remsen (G2) by 4 ¾ lengths at Aqueduct. The Kentucky-bred colt finished second, a half-length behind Flameaway, while making his 2018 debut in the Sam Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 10.

Thomas is hopeful that Robert LaPenta and Madaket Stables’ colt will take to Gulfstream’s dirt track as well as he took to the turf course last summer.

“Obviously, we’re going to learn a lot when we breeze him Sunday, but he has traditionally trained well over this racetrack,” Thomas said. 

Irad Ortiz Jr. is slated to ride Catholic Boy for the first time in the Florida Derby.