Thomas plots Catholic Boy's course to Breeders' Cup Classic
With regular rider Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano aboard, multiple Grade 1 winner Catholic Boy breezed four furlongs in 49.07 seconds on Belmont's main track Sunday morning, marking his second workout since winning the Grade 1 Travers Stakes on August 25 at Saratoga.
Deciding to train up to his expected next start in the Breeders' Cup Classic on November 3 at Churchill Downs, trainer Jonathan Thomas said the 3-year-old More Than Ready colt has continued to progress since notching his first Grade 1 win on dirt in the Mid-Summer Derby after capturing the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational on turf. Thomas reported that Catholic Boy has settled into his new surroundings at Belmont, where he will remain and is expected to have two more workouts before shipping to Churchill in advance of the race.
"Today was just a kind of maintenance work," Thomas said. "It was his second breeze back since the Travers, after which we gave him 10 days off just to let him get a little break. We came down here about two weeks ago and he's settled in really nicely."
Catholic Boy kicked off his 2018 campaign with a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis before running fourth in the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream. He then returned to the turf, recording victories in both the Grade 3 Pennine Ridge and Belmont Derby.
"Obviously, we'll let the weather determine our schedule, but it's a factor for everybody," said Thomas. "We plan to train with maybe two more works here, and then we'll go to Churchill, where we'll either have one or two breezes."
Thomas said he is looking forward to continued success competing in New York after posting three wins from six starts at the Belmont fall meet through Sunday, including a victory with 3-year-old filly Tesora in the Christie Cat on September 7.
"Everything's good," Thomas said. "We've been very lucky and had a very good last couple months and look forward to running a couple horses and staying here through the fall."