Trainer Brad Cox announced that Catching Freedom, the fourth-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, will run in the $2 million Preakness Stakes on Saturday at Pimlico.
After the tough race the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby winner had in the Kentucky Derby when he finished less than two lengths behind the winner Mystik Dan, Cox's first response was to not run Catching Freedom again in two weeks. However, Cox believed that Catching Freedom merited another opportunity to compete in a Triple Crown race because the colt had been training so well at Churchill Downs.
Riding on Catching Freedom is Flavien Prat, who is entered in both the Louisiana and Kentucky derbies.
“Obviously we like how he’s doing,” Cox stated. “It’s just eight days after the Derby. It’s very important to watch the horse. He has been galloping well. I’m happy with the way he’s moving. Tomorrow (Monday) is entry day, and we are going to ship tomorrow. We need to get our ducks in a row, and we feel he’s shown us enough. It’s not ideal to run back in two weeks at this level, but that’s the way the schedule is. This race provides an opportunity to be very competitive in Grade 1. We don’t want to miss that opportunity as long as he’s doing well. The Preakness is a very prestigious race. It’s not only a Grade 1 but a classic.”
Cox has only ever competed in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown once, placing Owendale and Warrior's Charge third and fourth in the 2019 race, respectively. Neither of these horses raced in the Derby. First Mission, the multiple graded stakes winner, was one of his Preakness favourites last year, but the horse was scratched the day before the race.
“We put a lot of focus on the Kentucky Derby, and that obviously does take away from Preakness a little bit,” the lifelong Louisvillian noted. “It’s just not as common to run these horses back in two weeks as maybe it used to be. It basically comes down to how the horse is doing, and we’re happy with the way he’s training. Based on who we hear is running, he stacks up with that group of horses, bottom line.”
According to Cox, Catching Freedom will depart for Baltimore on Monday morning following practice. Blake Cox, his son and assistant trainer, will be in charge of Catching Freedom's Pimlico preparations.