Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Catching Freedom
STRENGTHS: Endured an unlucky trip in his second career start following an impressive debut victory and has improved in each subsequent appearance. He packs a strong closing kick in his races, and while he did rally from last to take the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby in his final Kentucky Derby prep, he is not just a deep closer. His trip in the Kentucky Derby was a good one overall, and he did his best with it to finish a gaining fourth while pairing up the 97 Beyer he earned in the Louisiana Derby, figures that make him competitive in this Preakness field. He is, once again, likely to have ground to make up on his main rivals in the stretch, but he has no distance issues to contend with, and he is the strongest finisher in the field.
WEAKNESSES: While he was well clear of 16 other horses when fourth in the Derby, he also worked out one of the better overall trips in that race and was still no match for the three horses that finished in front of him. While he doesn’t have to be last early, a slow pace still plays more to the advantage of his main rivals, who are all more tactical early. He has always been given at least 35 days between starts since beginning his career in October, so wheeling back two weeks after the most demanding race of his life is something new for him.
BETTING VALUE: The two Bob Baffert-trained runners in the field add a level of difficulty to his task, but the fact that he has already defeated the Kentucky Derby winner (he did so convincingly in the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn in January) suggests that his morning-line price of 6-1 is more than fair.
SIRE: Florida Derby and Donn Handicap winner Constitition, by fellow classic sire Tapit, is best known as the sire of four-time Grade 1 winner Tiz the Law, who won the pandemic-adjusted 2020 Belmont Stakes at nine furlongs, but then won the Travers Stakes and was second in the Kentucky Derby, both at 10 furlongs. Constitution’s ability to produce stamina also is evidenced in Chile, where he is a successful shuttle sire. His top runners there include Horse of the Year Breakpoint, a Group 1 winner at up to 12 furlongs before coming to the United States to win the Grade 2 San Juan Capistrano at 1 3/4 miles; and champion Niquense, also a winner at 12 furlongs.
DAM: Catch My Drift, also by a classic sire, won the Summer Colony Stakes at Saratoga and was third in the Grade 1 Beldame Stakes at Belmont, both at nine furlongs. She is the dam of three winners from as many starters, with Louisiana Derby winner Catching Freedom joined by Bishops Bay, a Grade 3 runner-up in both the Ohio Derby and Peter Pan last year; and Strava, who was third in the Ellis Park Derby.
OUTLOOK: For middle to route two-turn distances, it’s nigh impossible to poke holes in Catching Freedom’s pedigree.