Analyze It, Catholic Boy renew rivalry in Grade 1 Belmont Deby

By Rick Francis —-

Catholic Boy; Susie Raisher Photo
BELMONT PARK

Race 10) 1&1/4 Mile. (Inner Turf) Belmont Derby Invitational S. Grade I. Purse $1,200,000
Post Time: ( 6:50)/ 5:50/ 4:50/ 3:50

3) Analyze It – colt out of Point of Entry is but a neck away from a perfect 4-for-4 record, losing by that neck last out to Catholic Boy in a stirring Grade 3 Pennine Ridge stretch duel here last month. Always forwardly placed, so catch him if you can.

4) Hunting Horn – Irish-bred colt gets first lasix for his North American debut; will make his fourth start at today’s distance, winning two of the first three, the last at fabled Ascot. Top connections will have him ready to fire.

7) Catholic Boy – gutsy effort last out to win the Pennine Ridge, his first turf start since a close fourth in last years Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. So much upside here, distance is the only question.

8) Hawkish – gelding out of Atrie Schiller has done wrong in winning -3-of-4 career starts, two in a row, the last in clearing fashion over a nice field in the G2 Penn Mile. He’s got a solid worktab here; don’t discount for the top spot.

Selections: 3, 4, 7, 8

The field from the rail out:

1) Channel Cat (Pletcher/Saez)
2) Encumbered (Callaghan/Gutierrez)
3) Analyze It (Brown/Ortiz, J)
4) Hunting Horn (O’Brien/Moore)
5) Maraud (Pletcher/Velazquez)
6) Kingstar (Brandt/Boudot-Pierre)
7) Catholic Boy (Thomas/Castellano)
8) Hawkish (Toner/Franco
9 My Boy Jack (Desormeaux/Desormeaux)

Cover Photo: Analyze It; Benoit Photo