Catholic Boy tops Analyze It again in Belmont Derby thriller

Again?!

Weeks after Catholic Boy re-rallied to top Analyze It in the Pennine Ridge, the two hooked up to similar results in Saturday's Grade 1, $1.2 million Belmont Derby Invitational.

Last time, Catholic Boy battled back on the outside. This time, he had the inside. Both trips were winning ones in upsets at Belmont Park.

The two hit the wire Saturday in tighter quarters, with a photo needed to determine following a final time of 10 furlongs in 1:59.28.

"Incredible," said an emotional co-owner, Robert LaPenta. "I can't even talk. He's such an amazing animal. He really has heart that you can't even measure."

A son of More Than Ready, Catholic Boy registered his third graded stakes victory on the turf for trainer Jonathan Thomas, a former Todd Pletcher assistant making a name for himself with this horse. The 3-year-old colt also won a Grade 2 on the dirt when tested on the Kentucky Derby trail.

Murmurs of a return to dirt later this summer at Saratoga are out there. But it'll be tough to go back with the last two races on the resume.

"This is a special horse," said Catholic Boy jockey Javier Castellano. "...I think it's great for racing to see those two horses come back again. I wish we could rematch again."

European shipper Hunting Horn ran third with Channel Cat fourth in the field of nine. Nobody was hanging with the Top 2.

Analyze It broke on top, but Castellano rushed Catholic Boy to his outside and the lead, where the opening fractions went in a manageable 24.47 and 49.20.

There was separation entering the stretch of a race that included My Boy Jack, the Kentucky Derby runner known for his late kick -- but not Saturday. Grade 2 Penn Mile winner Hawkish also didn't factor.

Instead, it was down to the featured duo, with Catholic Boy prevailing by a nose at 5-1. Good luck getting that sort of value again.

The colt's career record improved to 8: 5-1-0 with his only off-the-board finishes in the loaded Breeders' Cup Turf and the Florida Derby in which he bled, received time off and returned to win the Pennine Ridge going nine furlongs. A 10th didn't bother Catholic Boy, who in addition to LaPenta is campaigned by Sol Kumin's Madaket Stables, Siena Farm and Twin Creeks Racing Stables.