UNDEFEATED CATHOLIC BOY WINS STAKES DEBUT
Trainer Jonathan Thomas saddles 1st winner at Saratoga
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Jonathan Thomas called Saratoga his “second home” during his six years working in the New York racing circuit for Todd Pletcher.
Thomas celebrated a winning homecoming thanks to a talented 2-year-old.
Catholic Boy followed a twolength score in his racing debut with a victory in the Grade 3 $150,000 With Anticipation Stakes Wednesday at Saratoga Race Course.
It was Thomas’ first career winner as a solo trainer at the Spa.
“New York is home for me, where I’d like to be,” Thomas said. “We thought early on this horse maybe wanted an easier jurisdiction in Gulfstream so we didn’t send him to New York. When he won like he did we decided to bring him up.”
Earth broke well and led the field through opening fractions of 23.19, 47.02 and 1:11.28 as Trumpi, a debut winner August 5 at Saratoga, followed in hot pursuit.
Similar to his maiden win, Catholic Boy came from off the pace to win.
The More Than Ready colt, with Manny Franco up, saved ground mid-pack and remained in a hand ride through traffic threewide around the final turn. As jockey Jose Ortiz sent Irish Territory at the top of the stretch Catholic Boy followed but as boxed in by Untamed Domain.
“I was trying to find my way out,” Franco said. “I (had) to wait a little bit longer than I want but a hole opened and I (had) a lot of horse under me.”
Franco guided Catholic Boy through the gap with a furlong to go, pulled up to Irish Territory in the final sixteenth then pulled away just before the wire to win by a length.
“That stuff is good for a horse,” Thomas said of the trip. “He had to overcome a couple things. I’m more impressed with him knowing that he didn’t get the cleanest trip and he negotiated some pockets and holes.”
Irish Territory took second and third-place Untamed Domain was followed by Seabhac, Earth, Morrison, first-choice Evaluator, Trumpi, Nauti Buoy, Machtree and Treaty.
The winning time for the 1 1/16-mile race on a firm Mellon Turf course was 1:40.94.
It was the third winning ride of the day for Franco.
“When you have the horse and they’re running for you — it doesn’t matter, you’re going to win,” Franco said.
Thomas is based out of at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Fla., where he purchases and breaks yearlings for others. However, he also trains horses for some, like winning owner Robert V. LaPenta.
After Catholic Boy won his 7-furlong debut by two lengths, Thomas was looking for a race with two turns. He settled on the With Anticipation.
“There’s no other place to run, he’s screaming for distance,” Thomas said.
The winning trainer said Catholic Boy is ideally on track for the Breeders’ Cup and may return to New York to prep in the $200,000 Grade 3 Pilgrim Stakes on the Belmont turf Sept. 30.
Catholic Boy is a 2-yearold More Than Ready colt out of Song of Bernadette by Bernardini. He is now 2-for-2 with earnings of $114,000. He was bred in Kentucky by Fred Hertrich III and John D. Fielding. Fort Wise Waterford 3, Stillwater 1» Hunter Guertin scored two goals and Jared Powell added two assists in Waterford’s season opening win over Stillwater. Adam Leonard tallied the third goal. Stillwater’s Grant Baker scored the lone goal with Tim Buchal turning back nine shots in goal for the Warriors. Mike Thomas had four saves for the Fordians. Hoosick Falls 4, Saratoga Central Catholic 1 » Hoosick Falls’ David Everard scored two goals on assists from Ethan Mattison and Yourry Reynolds in the 4-1 win over Saratoga Central Catholic under the lights Tuesday night. Nick Houghton and Tanner Cahill added goals for Hoosick Falls. Ryan McFadden scored the lone Saints goal on a direct kick with Saratoga Catholic goalkeeper Preston Famiglietti turning back nine shots. 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