Who cares if the pace was slow, or the winning time was far from impressive: trainer Brad Cox has himself a top contender for the Kentucky Derby (G1) in Catching Freedom.
With the best closing run of all from the far outside, Catching Freedom powered from last to first in winning the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) at the Fair Grounds on Saturday, stamping him as a serious threat on the first Saturday in May.
Catching Freedom’s Commanding Performance Secures Derby Qualification
Despite slow fractions set by 2-1 favorite Track Phantom, 3-1 second choice Catching Freedom was given a perfect ride by Flavien Prat and beat Honor Marie by a length, with Tuscan Gold third. Track Phantom was fourth and Common Defense fifth in the field of 11.
“He showed up, he ran big,” Cox said after the race. “He’s a tricky horse, he’s tough to get a line on, but he shows up in the afternoon.
“We’ve got six weeks to prepare (for the Derby). Let’s hope he’s happy, healthy, and in good shape.”
Exciting Derby Qualifying Race Results: Track Phantom Leads the Pack
Honor Marie also clinched a spot in the Derby field limited to 20 starters with his runner-up finished for 50 points; Tuscan Gold earned 25 points, Track Phantom picked up 15 (to move to 70), and Common Defense earned 10 points (up to 37 and likely on the bubble for a Derby spot).
Exciting Derby Qualifying Race Results: Track Phantom Leads the Pack
Track Phantom, winner of the Gun Runner and Lecomte (G3), and second in the Risen Star, set the pace as expected with Common Defense in pursuit. As the field came around the final turn of the 1 3/16th-mile race, Catching Freedom was taken at least eight wide and overtook the field for his third win in five starts.
The winning time was 1:56.16, nearly two seconds off the track record set by Epicenter in 2022.
For the record, the US Racing Team picked Catching Freedom to win, with Honor Marie second.