Report: Catholic Boy's Kentucky Derby 2018 prep plans set

Catholic Boy, a previous winner on the 2018 Kentucky Derby trail, will run the March 31 Florida Derby as a final prep, the Daily Racing Form reported Tuesday.

Trainer Jonathan Thomas said as recently as last weekend that the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds and Aqueduct’s Wood Memorial were both options. John Panagot, racing manager for the colt’s owner, Robert LaPenta, told DRF the Grade 1 Florida Derby makes for the best timing, “and everybody on the team seems to agree.”

To add, Gulfstream Park is a short ride away from Ocala, Fla., where Catholic Boy is based in his training at Bridlewood Farm.

Catholic Boy won the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes in early December to emerge as a top player on the Derby trail. He returned Feb. 10 to run second by a half length in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, though that effort came after just four works.

Going back to last year, the son of More Than Ready won Saratoga’s Grade 3 With Anticipation on grass and finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, which has proven to be a key race on the Derby trail.

Catholic Boy worked without blinkers last weekend and may run without the equipment in his net start, which will come against Grade 2 Holy Bull winner Audible and Grade 2 Fountain of Youth winner Promises Fulfilled, among others.

Always Dreaming took last year’s Florida Derby before winning the Kentucky Derby.