It was two winners in 24 hours for CATHOLIC BOY when Destiny Star broke her maiden a day before Mission Ready registered his second career victory.
Returning to the turf, Destiny Star raced just a length behind the leader in second for much of the five furlong event at Tampa Bay. Going a few paths wide around the turn, she started her march to take over but used much of the stretch to get up to that runner.
Destiny Star had her head in front at the line with the third placed runner watching the battle 6 ¼ lengths behind the pair.
Trained by co-owner Timothy Hamm, Destiny Star is also raced by breeder Siena Farm. The filly is a granddaughter of dual stakes winner Alaura Michelle, who is also a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Isabella Sings as one of three stakes winners out of the stakes placed Isobel Baillie.
Making his 2024 debut, the Edward Fernandez-trained Mission Ready lined up on Thursday night to race over a mile at Turfway Park.
The gelding had plenty to overcome if he wanted to register another win when his run from nearly the back of the pack saw him get blocked in the turn. He was forced to angle out at that point but that gave him the room he needed to show his best in the stretch.
Having to dig deep to catch the leaders, he did just that and won by half a length with all but the third placed runner over nine lengths behind the winner.
Owned by Anthony Foglia, the 3-year-old was a $100,000 Keeneland September purchase from Claiborne’s consignment at that sale. He was bred by Ron Stolich and BRS out of Badge of Silver mare Granby Girl. That mare produced stakes winner and graded stakes-placed Winning Envelope among her four winners from four to race.
Granby Girl is a half-sister to stakes winner Zeta, who produced Group 1 winner Zapeta, and stakes winner Dream Lady, whose three graded stakes winners include dual Grade 1 winner Room Service.
CATHOLIC BOY is the sire of 16 winners from his first crop with his four 2024 winners the best of any second crop sire.