CATHOLIC BOY’s multiple Puerto Rican graded stakes placed El Catolico dominated an Allowance in the country on Thursday with a 5 ¼ length romp.
Racing over 1 1/16 miles on the dirt, the 3-year-old went straight for the lead and never let up. Jockey Edwin Castro put plenty of distance between his mount and the field, opening up by nearly 10 lengths down the backstretch.
Allowed to do his own thing late, El Catolico was still 5 ¼ lengths in front as he crossed the line with the third placed runner 14 lengths behind.
Trained by Eric Betancourt for Denian Stable, the KatieRich Farms-bred has won two of his five starts but never finished off the board. Included on his resume was a third place finish in the Clasico Agustin Mercado Reveron Stakes (PR-G1) in early December, one start after finishing second in a Puerto Rican Grade 2.
This is the first foal out of the stakes winning Parade of Roses, who is a half-sister to champion British Idiom and multiple stakes winner Royal Prince.