CATHOLIC BOY ALL THE RAGE IN THE TRAVERS

Considering the rather sordid news coming out of the Vatican in recent weeks, the unfortunately named Catholic Boy put the scandal behind him by romping home in the 149th version of the Travers at Saratoga. The race was supposed to be a coming out party of sorts for the classy Good Magic, but he never was in the race and was not even mentioned by the track commentator.Instead the 7-1 shot Catholic Boy took the spoils for trainer Jonathan Thomas and jockey Javier Castellano. It was the sixth Travers for the jockey, and the biggest win of the trainer’s fledgling career. Thomas was a former assistant to Todd Fletcher and an up and coming steeplechase jockey who was paralyzed for a month after a nasty fall.As for the race itself, Mendellsohn , the second place finisher ran a terrific front running race under Ryan Moore before being swept up in the stretch by the winner.Catholic Boy won by four lengths going away and earned a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic where he will be a lively contender.Many considered Catholic Boy more of a turf specialist after his recent win at Belmont Park, and his only previous dirt win had come in the Rensen.