Albaugh Family Stable kicked off the 2024 season for 3-year-olds the right way Jan. 1 by taking the $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park with Catching Freedom, who became a stakes winner in his stakes debut.
The son of Constitution also became the first 3-year-old to win qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby (G1) by capturing the first race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby prep schedule. The Smarty Jones offers a 10-5-3-2-1 distribution of points to the top five finishers.
Catching Freedom broke from the gate as an 8/5 favorite in the 1 1/16-mile race. The colt has been highly regarded since agent Barry Berkelhammer bought him for $575,000 for the Albaugh Family at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from Warrendale Sale's consignment. Warrendale sold the horse on behalf of WinStar Farm, which bred the colt and stands Constitution.
When he debuted at Churchill Downs Oct. 1, Catching Freedom won by 3 3/4 lengths for trainer Brad Cox as the even-money favorite. He offered the same short price Nov. 9 in his second start in a $100,000 optional claimer going 8 1/2 furlongs but wound up fourth in his first test around two turns. Bettors were not dissuaded by his off-the-board finish last out, expecting that he would improve with experience.
The colt most certainly did. Cristian Torres gave Catching Freedom a patient ride, tucking the colt down along the rail heading into the first turn and leaving him tracking at an even pace behind all but one challenger down the backstretch. As pacesetter Lagynos, with Mystik Dan in a close stalking position, took the field through modest opening fractions of :23.02 and :47.01, Torres started easing forward and weaving his way toward the outside. Catching Freedom was five-wide off the rail as the field entered the stretch and with clear running began to run down Just Steel, who had taken the lead. Catching Freedom kept the momentum building and was 2 1/2 lengths the best at the wire ahead of Just Steel, who was a neck in front of a fast-closing Informed Patriot, who got up for third. Gettysburg Address, another son of Constitution, finished fourth by a neck. The final time was 1:44.59.
"We were able to have a great trip. I saved all the ground the first part of the race. As soon as I got him out, he accelerated like he always does," said Torres, who won three races on the card.
"Very proud of the horse. I think he's still learning," said Cox. "I think he was a little green there down the lane, but overall showed that he does have a lot of stamina and talent. I thought he stepped up and ran well against a solid group of 3-year-olds."
WinStar Farm bred Catching Freedom out of grade 1-placed stakes winner Catch My Drift, a daughter of Pioneerof the Nile. The mare has produced three winners from as many to race, including stakes-placed winners Starva (Into Mischief) and Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo). The mare has a 2-year-old filly by Improbable named Indeed and produced a filly by Not This Time last year.
Constitution is a multiple grade 1-winning son of leading sire Tapit . Catching Freedom became his sire's 40th black-type winner from six Northern Hemisphere crops of racing age. The sire's top performers include Belmont Stakes (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1) winner Tiz the Law , grade 1 winner Americanrevolution , and multiple graded stakes winners Independence Hall , Laura's Light, and Glass Ceiling.
