Report: Catholic Boy bled in Florida Derby defeat

Given an ideal setup and a proven late kick, trainer Jonathan Thomas was surprised Catholic Boy “didn’t go anywhere” late in Saturday’s Florida Derby.

On Sunday came an explanation.

According to the Daily Racing Form, the race’s fourth-place finisher suffered from bleeding in his air passages for what was a key stop on his potential road to the 2018 Kentucky Derby.

“Unfortunately, he bled a significant amount,” John Panagot, co-owner Robert LaPenta’s racing manager, told DRF. “We’re going to have to stop on him and let him heal.”

Catholic Boy did run with the anti-bleeder medication Lasix.

The son of More Than Ready previously won the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at 1 1/8 miles and ran on for second in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis when making his seasonal debut at Tampa Bay Downs. He was bet down to the second choice to the winner, Audible, in the Florida Derby.

Catholic Boy could re-appear later as a major player on dirt or grass, the surface over which he won Saratoga’s Grade 3 With Anticipation last year before fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar.