FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019 BLOODHORSE.COM/DAILY ANNE M. EBERHARDT ANNE M. PIVOTAL Catholic Boy Faces Defining Test in Suburban See page 3 IN THIS ISSUE 9 National HBPA, THA Call for Fair Process for Horsemen 11 Concrete Rose, Newspaperofrecord Meet Again at Belmont 16 Hubbard Enjoys Quick Success With Sayjay Racing BLOODHORSE DAILY Download the FREE smartphone app PAGE 1 OF 37 CONTENTS 3 Catholic Boy Faces Defining Test in Suburban 6 Leading Third-Crop Sires 9 National HBPA, THA Call for Fair Process for Horsemen 11 Concrete Rose, Newspaperofrecord Meet Again at Belmont 14 Promises Fulfilled Seeks Rebound in John A. Nerud 16 Hubbard Enjoys Quick Success With Sayjay Racing 19 R Sea Smoke Becomes First Winner for Lea 20 Kitty Jak Becomes First Winner for Admiral Kitten 21 Amplify Launch Planned at Fasig-Tipton 22 Jaywalk Seeks First Win of Season in Delaware Oaks 23 Empire of War Evenly Matched in Kent Stakes 25 MATCH Series Movesto Delaware Park on Del Cap Day 27 Fewer Fixtures Scheduled by BHA for 2020 29 Goodwood Cup or Irish St. Leger Next for Kew Gardens 30 Results 34 Entries ANNE M. EBERHARDT ANNE M. ON THE COVER Catholic Boy trains at Belmont Park LATEST HEADLINES from BloodHorse.com FREE BLOODHORSE DAILY APP Providing updated news and analysis throughout the day. EMIGH REACHES CAREER WIN NO. 4,000 AT ARLINGTON The veteran jockey was aboard Mr LISTEN ON ALEXA Haney in the first race on the July 4 card. Use your Amazon Alexa devices to listen to the BloodHorse Daily feature stories! 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Eberhardt Ellen Lambertus Amanda Ramey Bloodstock Editor Eric Mitchell Senior Bloodstock Columnist Sales Editor Bill Oppenheim Ron Mitchell Digital Designer Associate Daily Editor Erin Morgan Meredith Daugherty Digital Media Group Copy Editor Michelle Benson Mark Sonka Christine Wittmer BLOODHORSE DAILY FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019 PAGE 2 OF 37 CATHOLIC BOY FACES DEFINING TEST IN SUBURBAN By Bob Ehalt t @BobEhalt hen all is said and done Wat the end of the year, the $700,000 Suburban Stakes (G2) could turn out to be a pivotal moment. It's not that the July 6 event at Belmont Park offers a showdown to rival last month's Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1). Rather, the key element involves how well Catholic Boy fares in the 1 1/4-mile dirt stakes, and how it shapes the rest of the season for a 4-year-old who looms as a major player for Horse of the Year EBERHARDT ANNE M. honors. Trainer Jonathan Thomas will send Catholic Boy back to dirt in the Suburban Stakes "This is a big race because it will set the dial for what we want to do Madaket Stables, Siena Farm, and Twin Creeks Racing for the rest of the year," said majority owner Robert Stables. LaPenta. "The ultimate goal is the Breeders' Cup, and Catholic Boy's versatility was put on full display in the plan as of now is this race, one at the end of the his 2019 debut when trainer Jonathan Thomas opted Saratoga meet, and then the Breeders' Cup. for the Dixie Stakes (G2T), a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes at "There's a lot riding on this weekend on how he Pimlico Race Course on the May 18 Preakness Stakes performs." (G1) card, as the steppingstone to the Suburban, and As much as his 9-5 morning-line price against 10 the bay ridgling responded with a half-length victory. rivals in the Suburban paints him as the horse to beat, "There's some wonderful turf races out there, and what happens will be heavily scrutinized because of a he has a deep body of races on turf. I didn't think rather delightful problem Catholic Boy poses for his anyone is averse to putting him back on turf. But for connections. now, it's more about the distances we are running and His victory in last year's Runhappy Travers Stakes the timing. The seven weeks between the Dixie and the (G1) speaks volumes for his ability on the main track, Suburban was perfect," Thomas said. yet the son of More Than Ready also won the Belmont Depending on what happens Saturday, there are Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) in 2018. He's that rare several options for the rest of Catholic Boy's campaign. Thoroughbred who can win at a classic distance on If he runs to expectations, the 1 1/8-mile, $750,000 both turf and dirt. Woodward Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1, Aug. "I don't know if he's better on turf or dirt. Some of 31 at Saratoga Race Course) is an intriguing possibility, his turf races have been spectacular. They were races I with the 1 1/4-mile, $1 million TVG Pacific Classic (G1) could watch once a day every day," said LaPenta, who at Del Mar Aug. 17 a longshot possibility because of its owns Catholic Boy in a partnership with Sol Kumin's distance. (continued on page 4) BLOODHORSE DAILY FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019 PAGE 3 OF 37 CATHOLIC BOY FACES DEFINING TEST IN SUBURBAN (continued from page 3) If the Suburban turns out to be a replay of his 2018 finale, a 13th-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), then turf stakes like the 1 1/4- mile, $1 million Arlington Million XXXVII Stakes (G1T) at Arlington Park Aug. 10 or possibly the 1 1/2-mile, $850,000 Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Aug. 24 could come into play. But for now, Thomas wants to focus on what should be a revealing test in the Suburban. "It's premature to settle on plans until he runs on Saturday," Thomas said. The Dixie was a highly useful prep as Catholic Boy cut back to a 1 1/16-mile distance for the first time since a runner-up finish in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) on Feb. 10, 2018. "I was worried because there were some sneaky good horses in the Dixie, and we didn't crank him because we wanted him to be fresh for the rest of the year," Thomas said. "But he came through." Since then, Catholic Boy has been training in a manner that indicates he's getting better with age and experience. "All through his 3-year-old campaign, Jonathan said that when this horse gets to be 4, he would be unbelievable," LaPenta said. "He looks phenomenal now. (Regular rider Javier Castellano) got on him recently and compared him to Ghostzapper." Acquired privately after he RNA'd for $170,000 from the Taylor Sales Made Agency's consignment at the 2016 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, Catholic Boy has won seven of 11 starts, with earnings of $1,992,000. He was bred in Kentucky by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding out of the Bernardini mare Song of Bernadette. Catholic Boy is headed to stud at Claiborne Farm in 2020, and LaPenta is confident he'll be equally successful as a stallion. (continued on page 5) BLOODHORSE DAILY FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019 PAGE 4 OF 37 CATHOLIC BOY FACES DEFINING victory in the June 8 Woodford Reserve Brooklyn TEST IN SUBURBAN Invitational Stakes (G2) at 1 1/2 miles. Owned by Bridlewood Farm, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick (continued from page 4) Smith, and Michael Tabor, he has four wins in nine starts, with earnings of $424,702. "Claiborne is salivating to get him. I think they Centennial Farms' Rocketry was second to filled his book in a day. He will have international Marconi in both the Brooklyn and the 1 3/8-mile appeal as a stallion. More Than Ready has really Flat Out Stakes in his past two starts. The 5-year-old stuck his head up and turned out some really good son of Hard Spun trained by Jimmy Jerkens should horses recently," LaPenta said. have little problem with the distance as reflected in Before that, Catholic Boy may close his career his Nov. 2 victory in the 1 3/4-mile Marathon Stakes in January in the Pegasus Invitational, where his Presented by TAA (G2) at Churchill Downs. connections will face a familiar dilemma. Centennial and Jerkens will also send out "The Pegasus would definitely be on our radar," Preservationist, a 6-year-old son of Arch who is LaPenta said. "The question is turf or dirt." making his stakes debut after winning four of his Among the main threats for Catholic Boy in past five starts, including his past two outings. Saturday's stakes is Marconi, a $2 million buy from GMB Racing's late-running Lone Sailor should Eaton Sales' consignment at the 2016 Keeneland be a stretch threat after the son of Majestic Warrior September Yearling Sale who owns a three-race closed to finish third in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita winning streak for trainer Todd Pletcher, all in Stakes (G1) at 1 1/4 miles and was second—a neck stakes at 1 3/16 miles or more. behind Quip—in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) at 1 1/8 The 4-year-old son of Tapit, bred in Kentucky miles.