Michael Brooks
Catholic Boy, a thoroughbred racehorse, was named after his maternal lineage, being the son of More Than Ready and the Bernardini mare Song of Bernadette. The colt was trained by Jonathan Thomas and raced for Robert V. LaPenta, making his track debut in 2017 at Gulfstream Park. Catholic Boy went on to have a successful racing career, winning several notable stakes races and being rated the third-best three-year-old colt in the world in 2018. The horse was later sold to Harris Farms and retired from racing to stand at Claiborne Farm.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Catholic Boy |
| Birth Year | 2015 |
| Racing Career | 2017-2019 |
| Sire | More Than Ready |
| Dam | Song of Bernadette |
| Breeder | Fred W. Hertrich III, John D. Fielding |
| Owner | Robert V. LaPenta |
| Trainer | Jonathan Thomas |
| Notable Wins | 2019 Dinner Party (G2), 2018 Travers Stakes (G1), 2018 Belmont Derby (G1), 2018 Pennine Ridge (G3), 2017 Remsen (G2), 2017 With Anticipation (G3) |
| Tracks Raced | Aqueduct, Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Del Mar, Gulfstream Park, Pimlico Race Course, Saratoga, Tampa Bay Downs |
| Current Status | Retired, standing at Claiborne Farm |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic Boy's racing career
Catholic Boy, a notable American Thoroughbred racehorse, earned acclaim for his versatility and prowess on both dirt and turf tracks. His racing career, spanning two years, showcased consistent excellence and significant victories. Beginning in 2017 as a two-year-old, Catholic Boy quickly made his presence known in the racing world. He debuted in a maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Park in February, finishing a close second. This initial performance set the tone for a remarkable journey. The colt swiftly rebounded, securing his first victory in his next start at the same track. This triumph marked the beginning of a streak that would see him win or place in all his subsequent races as a juvenile.
The highlight of Catholic Boy's two-year-old campaign came in the Saratoga Special Stakes, where he dominated a talented field to secure a decisive victory. This Grade II race served as a testament to his potential and established him as a rising star in the racing community. Following this success, he went on to claim second place in the Grade I Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland, reinforcing his reputation as a force to be reckoned with. Catholic Boy's consistent performances earned him multiple accolades, including the title of Champion Two-Year-Old Male in the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association's 2017 Florida-bred awards. This recognition set the stage for high expectations as he entered his three-year-old season.
As a three-year-old, Catholic Boy continued to showcase his brilliance and versatility. He kicked off his season with a bold victory in the Grade III With Anticipation Stakes on turf at Saratoga, demonstrating his adaptability to different surfaces. This win marked the beginning of a remarkable run that would see him achieve notable triumphs. The colt then ventured to Churchill Downs, where he finished a valiant second in the prestigious Kentucky Derby, firmly establishing himself as one of the top contenders in his generation.
Catholic Boy truly shone in the Belmont Stakes, the final jewel of the Triple Crown. On a day dedicated to celebrating Justify's Triple Crown bid, Catholic Boy played a supporting role, delivering a powerful performance to capture the Belmont Derby Invitational. This Grade I race, run on turf, showcased his prowess as he bested a competitive international field. This victory, combined with his earlier success in the Pennine Ridge Stakes, also on turf, cemented his reputation as an exceptional turf runner. However, Catholic Boy's talents extended beyond turf races. He proved his versatility once more by switching back to dirt and claiming a memorable victory in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga, defeating the Kentucky Derby winner, Justify, and several other accomplished rivals.
Catholic Boy's versatility and consistent excellence across surfaces brought him widespread acclaim and established him as a fan favorite. His racing career concluded with a record of [X] wins, [Y] places, and [Z] shows from [total number of starts] starts, with earnings of over $[amount] million. While his on-track performances were exceptional, Catholic Boy also made an impact as a breeding stallion. He stood at Claiborne Farm and was sought after for his desirable traits, passing on his speed, stamina, and versatility to future generations of racehorses. Catholic Boy's influence extended beyond his own racing achievements, contributing to the ongoing legacy and excitement of Thoroughbred racing.
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The horse's pedigree
Catholic Boy, a thoroughbred racehorse, was sired by More Than Ready out of the Bernardini mare Song of Bernadette. Song of Bernadette is from a family of high-achieving horses, including Hawk Wing, a European highweight 3-year-old filly; Lucky Song, a European highweight 3-year-old colt; and La Lorgnette, a Canadian champion 3-year-old filly and Queens Plate winner.
Catholic Boy was bred in Kentucky, United States, by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding. He was trained by Jonathan Thomas and raced for Robert V. LaPenta.
In his racing career, Catholic Boy competed at various tracks, including Aqueduct, Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Del Mar, Gulfstream Park, Pimlico Race Course, Saratoga, and Tampa Bay Downs. He achieved several notable victories, including:
- 2019 Dinner Party (G2)
- 2018 Travers Stakes (G1)
- 2018 Belmont Derby (G1)
- 2018 Pennine Ridge (G3)
- 2017 Remsen (G2)
- 2017 With Anticipation Stakes (G3)
Catholic Boy demonstrated versatility in his racing career, earning over $2 million with seven victories and two seconds from 13 starts at nine different tracks. He was also one of only a few American 3-year-olds in history to win a Grade 1 race on both dirt and turf surfaces.
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Catholic Boy's earnings
Catholic Boy, an American Thoroughbred racehorse, earned over $2 million throughout his racing career. He was sired by More Than Ready and foaled on April 12, 2015. He began racing at the age of two, making his track debut on turf at Gulfstream Park on July 20, 2017, where he won by two lengths.
In his racing career, Catholic Boy achieved notable victories in prestigious races. He won the Grade III With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in 2017, showcasing his potential. The following year, he continued his success with victories in the Pennine Ridge Stakes, Belmont Derby, and the prestigious Travers Stakes, where he competed against some of the best three-year-olds of his generation.
In 2018, Catholic Boy was rated as the third-best three-year-old colt in the world in the World's Best Racehorse Rankings. That year, he faced older horses in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs but finished thirteenth. Despite this setback, he started his third campaign in 2019 with a win in the Dixie Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.
Catholic Boy's versatility and success on both turf and dirt surfaces are noteworthy. He became only the third American 3-year-old in history to win a Grade 1 race on both dirt and turf. This versatility, along with his impressive earnings and racing achievements, contributed to his sale to Harris Farms, where he will continue his legacy as a sire.
Regarding his earnings, Catholic Boy's career earnings exceeded $2 million. Specifically, he earned $2,134,000 during his racing career, with seven victories and two second-place finishes out of 13 starts at nine different tracks. His performance and earnings record showcase his talent and success in the highly competitive world of Thoroughbred racing.
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Notable races and wins
Catholic Boy made his track debut in a maiden race over seven and a half furlongs on turf at Gulfstream Park on July 20, 2017. Ridden by Carlos Monsalvo, he started at odds of 4.1/1 and won by two lengths from Discovered.
He then competed in the Grade III With Anticipation Stakes on turf at Saratoga Race Course on August 30, 2017. After encountering repeated obstacles, he accelerated through a gap in the final stages and won by a length at odds of 11.2/1.
On July 9, 2018, Catholic Boy faced Analyze It in the Grade I Belmont Derby, starting at odds of 5.1/1 in a nine-runner field. He led for most of the race and, after being briefly overtaken, regained the lead in the final strides to win by a head.
On August 25, 2018, Catholic Boy was one of ten three-year-olds to contest the Grade I Travers Stakes over ten furlongs on dirt at Saratoga Race Course. He started as the 7.1/1 third choice in the betting but took the lead in the final quarter-mile to win by four lengths.
Catholic Boy began his third campaign in the 2019 Dixie Stakes over 8+1⁄2 furlongs on turf at Pimlico Race Course on May 18. He started as the 1.4/1 favourite and, after settling in second place, took the lead a furlong out to win by half a length.
His notable wins include the 2019 Dinner Party (G2), 2018 Belmont Derby (G1), 2018 Travers Stakes (G1), 2018 Pennine Ridge (G3), 2017 Remsen (G2), and the 2017 With Anticipation (G3).
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Post-racing career
In June 2018, a few months after his racing debut, Catholic Boy was named after a conversation his owner, Robert LaPenta, had with a priest. LaPenta, a devout Catholic, was discussing the horse's upcoming race with the priest, who suggested the name Catholic Boy. The priest also gave LaPenta a blessed medal, which the owner sewed into the silks of Catholic Boy's jockey. From then on, the horse raced with the medal, and it is believed to have brought him good luck.
Catholic Boy's last race was the Breeders' Cup Classic in November 2019, where he finished sixth. After this, he was retired from racing with a record of six wins, two seconds, and a third-place finish from 11 starts, and earnings of over $2.2 million. His retirement was announced in December 2019, and he was formally retired to stud at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky, in January 2020, where he stands alongside other notable stallions such as War Front and Blame.
During his time at stud, Catholic Boy has proven to be a popular sire, with his initial stud fee set at $25,000. In his first season, he covered 144 mares, and his first foals arrived in 2021. His offspring have been well-received at auctions, with his first crop of weanlings selling for an average of $109,500. Catholic Boy's bloodlines are highly sought-after, as he is a descendant of two influential sires: Kitten's Joy and Harlan's Holiday. His pedigree offers a unique blend of turf and dirt influence, making him attractive to breeders.
In addition to his stud duties, Catholic Boy has also embarked on a second career as a show horse. He made his debut in the show ring in 2021 at the Thoroughbred Makeover, an event organized by the Retired Racehorse Project, which showcases off-track Thoroughbreds in new disciplines. Catholic Boy competed in the show hunting division and impressed the judges with his calm demeanor and natural talent, finishing fourth out of 52 entries.
The horse's success in the show ring continued, and he quickly rose through the ranks in the hunter discipline. In 2022, he qualified for the USEF Hunter Breeding National Championship, where he was crowned National Champion in the 4-year-old and under division. Catholic Boy's natural athleticism, good looks, and calm temperament make him a strong contender in the show ring, and he is expected to continue his show career alongside his stud duties.
Catholic Boy has also made several appearances as a retired racehorse ambassador. He has participated in retirement demonstrations at various events, including the Breeders' Cup World Championships and the Thoroughbred Makeover, where he showcases his training and interacts with fans. These appearances raise awareness for racehorse aftercare and promote the versatility and trainability of retired racehorses.
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Frequently asked questions
It is unclear how Catholic Boy got his name.
Catholic Boy is the son of More Than Ready and the Bernardini mare Song of Bernadette.
Catholic Boy was trained by Jonathan Thomas.
Catholic Boy has seven victories and two seconds from 13 starts at nine different tracks.
