Trainer Brad Cox summed up watching the Louisiana Derby (G2) and his student CATCHING FREEDOM like this: “I didn’t know what to make of it early on, being so far back and with not much pace.”
He wasn’t alone in his concern, as no doubt anyone who wagered on the stretch-running colt, as well as rival Honor Marie, would have been surprised to see them anywhere from eight to 10 lengths behind the leaders after a half mile in 48.33 and six furlongs in 1:12.54.
The race favourite, the smooth-striding front-runner Track Phantom, managed to get to the lead from his wide post but he had several pursuers. That Steve Asmussen-trainee was still in front by half a length into the long stretch run at Fair Grounds but 1 3/16 miles proved to be a bit too much for the favourite. Meanwhile, on the final turn, jockey Ben Curtis on Honor Marie, trained by Whitworth Beckman, started a four-wide rally with Catching Freedom under Flavien Prat right behind him.
The pair charged down the centre of the track with Catching Freedom always having a slight edge on his rival and he won by a length in a time of 1:56.17 for a winning Beyer Figure of 98.
Tuscan Gold, trained by Chad Brown, flopped back to his left lead as he was overtaken by those two but securely finished third.
“Flavien (Prat) did a great job of letting him inch up,” said Cox of the Albaugh Family Stables’ colt. “He needed pretty much the entire stretch to get there and I am very proud of the effort. We’ll make sure he is happy and healthy. We’ll ship him up to Churchill next week. He broke his maiden there so he knows the place. Hopefully he can have a great six weeks and a big run the first Saturday in May.”
With the Southwest Stakes victory and a third-place run in the Risen Star (G2), Catching Freedom now stands atop the Road to the Kentucky Derby Points Leaderboard with 125 points. Honor Marie had earned five in the Risen Star, 10 with his Kentucky Jockey Club win, and now totals 65 qualifying points. Tuscan Gold earned 25, the first leaderboard points for the last-out maiden winner. Track Phantom’s fourth-place finish padded his position to 70 points. Together with his success in Derby preps at Oaklawn, Common Defense adds 10 points for finishing fifth in the Louisiana Derby to total 37.
Sent off as the 3-1 second choice, Catching Freedom’s backers cashed at $8.60, $4.40, and $3.20.
Additional Quotes:
Ben Curtis, jockey of second place finisher Honor Marie
“He ran a big race. He’s tough. He can get any trip, he’s so relaxed. I’m thankful to Whit (Beckman) for this opportunity.”
Tyler Gaffalione, jockey of third-place finisher Tuscan Gold
“This colt is still learning. He’s got a lot of natural ability. My question coming into the race was seasoning. He had a couple hiccups in the race, but definitely a lot of room to improve and I think he has a bright future.”
Joel Rosario, jockey of fourth-place finisher Track Phantom
“He ran very nice out there. I don’t know if it was the distance. It looked like it was a comfortable pace. He was relaxed and he gave me a kick but the others came strong at the end. Sometimes it’s hard to tell, but maybe he got tired at the end.”
Pedigree Notes
Purchased for $575,000 from the 2022 Keeneland September yearling sale by the Albaughs from Winstar Farm, LLC, Catching Freedom is by Constitution, a son of Tapit who won the Florida Derby (G1) and Donn Handicap (G1).
Catching Freedom is one of six named foals for Catch My Drift, by Pioneerof the Nile, who was bred by Toronto’s John Fielding and Fred Hertrich. Catch My Drift was a $95,000 yearling purchase and she raced for Hidden Brook Farm, winning the Summer Colony Stakes at Saratoga, a 1 1/8 mile dirt race. Catch My Drift was also second in the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm Stakes. In 2015, Catch My Drift was bought by WinStar for $400,000 from the Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed sale.
The mare’s first two foals did not race but her next two, Strava and Bishops Bay, are both stakes placed. After Catching Freedom, Catch My Drift produced Indeed, a 2022 $385,000 filly by Improbable.
Catch My Drift is out of the winning mare Drift to the Lead (Yonaguska), who is a half-sister to stakes winners Alberta Sun and Mindy Sue.
Watch the full Louisiana Derby and Catching Freedom's crazy comeback! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/JYC5V5Gm7t
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) March 23, 2024
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