Catching Freedom

Catching Freedom won at first asking on Oct. 1, 2023, for owner Albaugh Family Stable and trainer Brad Cox, taking a one-turn mile maiden race at Churchill Downs by 3 ¾ lengths. The Constitution colt endured a rough trip in his next start and two-turn debut Nov. 9 at Churchill, finishing fourth of 10 in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming race, and he was then given some time off before returning for his stakes debut on Jan. 1, 2024.

In the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park, Catching Freedom sat near the back of the nine-horse field early on before angling out for his bid nearing the quarter pole. He closed resolutely to win going away by 2 ½ lengths under Cristian Torres as the 1.70-1 favorite and earned 10 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve.

Catching Freedom's next start came in another Kentucky Derby prep race in the Grade 2 $400,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds on Feb. 17. Catching Freedom finished third in a 12-horse field when beaten 1 3/4 lengths in the Risen Star and picked up another 10 qualifying Derby points.

Showing strong improvement in his next outing, Catching Freedom won the $1 million Grade 2 Louisiana Derby going 1 3/16 miles at Fair Grounds on March 23. The Louisiana Derby was a maximum points prep race on the road to the Kentucky Derby, and with his win Catching Freedom earned 100 qualifying Derby points for a total of 125. Catching Freedom closed from near the rear of an 11-horse field in the Louisiana Derby and swept past the rest of the horses on the outside in the stretch to get up to win by a length.

Catching Freedom made his next start in the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve on Saturday, May 4 at Churchill Downs. Catching Freedom was sent off as the fourth choice on the tote board in the 20-horse field and finished fourth.  Catching Freedom then wheeled right back in two weeks for another shot in the 2024 Triple Crown in the Preakness Stakes, where he  rallied to finish third in an eight-horse field going 1 3/16 miles on a sloppy track May 18 at Pimlico.

Albaugh Family Stables purchased Catching Freedom for $575,000 as a yearling at the 2022 Keeneland September sale. He is out of the stakes-winning Pioneerof the Nile mare Catch My Drift, who has also produced two other stakes-placed horses.