After competing in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, Catching Freedom catches easier in the June 22 Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown. He leads a field of 10 3-year-olds racing 1 1/8 miles.
The Louisiana Derby (G2) winner, fourth in the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1) and third in the May 18 Preakness Stakes (G1), is among three Preakness starters in the $500,000 Ohio Derby, the others being sixth-place Uncle Heavy and last-of-eight finisher Mugatu. Catching Freedom lost by 2 1/4 lengths in the Preakness after a 1 3/4-length defeat in the Derby, when he followed victorious Mystik Dan with a ground-saving rally but could not threaten the top three runners. He missed catching Mystik Dan for second in the Preakness in a race controlled throughout by Seize the Grey.
SEIZE THE GREY SEIZES THE DAY.
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 18, 2024
WATCH HIM DENY MYSTIK DAN THE CHANCE TO RUN FOR THE TRIPLE CROWN IN THE FULL 149TH PREAKNESS STAKES. pic.twitter.com/c2nLV0Ov1j
Luis Saez takes over for Flavien Prat in riding the Brad Cox trainee, who is 3-0-2 in seven starts and has earned more than $1.3 million.
Besides those exiting the Preakness, other contenders in the Ohio Derby include the well-bred maiden winner Batten Down, Federico Tesio Stakes winner Copper Tax, and Sir Barton Stakes runner-up Gould's Gold.
Copper Tax Could Earn His Fifth Stakes Victory
Rose Petal Stable's Copper Tax is the 7-2 second choice on the morning line behind 9-5 favorite Catching Freedom. He seeks his third straight win, fifth in a stakes, and eighth overall for trainer Gary Capuano in the Ohio Derby.
"We're excited by it. I think he has a real shot," Rose Petal's Chris Loso said. "We wanted to take some time away and make sure he was OK, make sure he was good to go. Although it was hard to give up on a stakes race (like the Preakness), we think putting him in the Ohio Derby will be a great next step for him."
Loso said their game plan with Copper Tax is to keep up with the pace.
"The thing that he does best is at the end of the race, he's always got that gas left in him," he added. "So, the prudent thing is to stick away from the inside, monitor the pace, and when the time comes in the stretch to make his move."
J.G. Torrealba will ride Copper Tax for the third straight race. This comes after an initial late-running neck victory in the Private Terms Stakes March 23 at Laurel Park and a three-quarter-length triumph in the Tesio.
The Ohio Derby is the last of 13 races on the card. The Saturday program concludes with five consecutive stakes, including the $250,000 Lady Jacqueline Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles.
Thistledown, Saturday, June 22, 2024, Race 13Entries: Ohio Derby (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Frizzante (KY) Isaac Castillo 126 Gregory D. Sacco 15/1 2 2Gould's Gold (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 126 Kenneth G. McPeek 5/1 3 3Charleston (KY) Luis Raul Rivera 126 Michael L. Rone 30/1 4 4Copper Tax (KY) J.G. Torrealba 126 Gary Capuano 7/2 5 5Uncle Heavy (PA) Mychel J. Sanchez 126 Robert E. Reid, Jr. 6/1 6 6Deposition (KY) Dexter Haddock 126 Uriah St. Lewis 12/1 7 7Who's the King (KY) Rocco Bowen 126 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 20/1 8 8Catching Freedom (KY) Luis Saez 126 Brad H. Cox 9/5 9 9Batten Down (KY) Junior Alvarado 126 William I. Mott 8/1 10 10Mugatu (KY) Ramon A. Vazquez 126 Jeff Engler 12/1
