Top Blood upsets optional claimer
Mongan earns first win in over eight years

LAUREL, MD – Trainer Rodolfo "Rudy" Sanchez-Salomon has always liked Cataleya Strike. He debuted the then-colt in a two-turn stakes heat at Timonium in 2023.

Although he trailed throughout that race, Cataleya Strike has benefited from Sanchez-Salomon's various tinkerings throughout his career. The 4-year-old rallied from off the pace to take Friday's featured eighth race at Laurel, a $56,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles.

Cataleya Strike won once as a juvenile, was gelded during his 3-year-old season, had blinkers removed following two off-the-board efforts in stakes, and underwent throat surgery to correct breathing problems.

Since those changes took effect, Cataleya Strike continued to improve. He won two allowance races before earning a stakes-placing in the Richard W. Small on Nov. 29.

"He's getting better and better. You have to take your time with him," Sanchez-Salomon said after Friday's victory.

Although winless in his subsequent three races, the late-running, long-striding Cataleya Strike didn't receive the pace he craved.

There wasn't much speed on paper on Friday, so jockey Jevian Toledo made a concerted effort to keep Cataleya Strike closer to the lead.

Regalo beat the gate and eventually grabbed the lead and the rail from Wild Vine through fractions of 24.99 and 49.20 seconds but faced a stiff challenge from a wide-rallying Union Fleet following a three-quarter clocking of 1:14.06.

Cataleya Strike, who tracked between horses in the second flight down the backstretch, dropped back to fifth.

"For a minute there, I thought I was done at the quarter pole," Sanchez-Salomon admitted. "You have to ride him out [all the way] to the end. If you hold him a little bit, you take his momentum away, and he's done. Luckily, he came back and ran his race.

Regalo and Union Fleet hooked up in the upper stretch, but Toledo angled Cataleya Strike to the outside for the stretch drive. He soon found his best stride and got up in the shadow of the wire to deny Union Fleet by a neck in 1:47.01 over the fast track. Regalo was another neck back in third. Wild Vine and Crabs N Beer were next. Brilliant Ice scratched.

Cataleya Strike returned $5.60 as the betting favorite. He is owned by J R Sanchez Racing Stable.

Bred in Kentucky by Erik Johnson, Cataleya Strike is by Catalina Cruiser. He sold for $20,000 as a weanling before being bought back for that price as an April juvenile.

Sanchez-Salomon is looking forward to stretching Cataleya Strike out even more in distance.

"[Nine furlongs] is better," Sanchez-Salomon concluded. "The longer they go, the better."

Top Blood upsets optional claimer.

Top Blood had been consistently inconsistent throughout his career, but the good version showed up in today's fourth race, a first-level allowance with a $50,000 claiming option for 3-year-olds at one mile.

Ridden by Denis Araujo for trainer Jose Corrales, Top Blood raced three wide in third position as odds-on favorite Lifting set solid fractions of 23.44 and 46.74 while pressured by Bjorn, who rushed up to push the pace after breaking slowly from the inside post.

Bjorn gave way on the turn, but Lifting didn't have time to take a deep breath. Araujo forced the issue into the long stretch, and Top Blood drove past Lifting after six furlongs in 1:12.40.

Araujo kept Top Blood to his task to complete the distance in 1:39.92 while three lengths clear of a rail-skimming Amy's Music, who nipped Lifting for third by a nose. Roll On Jesse, Bjorn, and Mr. Mendelslew were next.

Entered for the $50,000 claiming price, Top Blood returned $39.60 as the longest shot on the tote board.

Top Blood hit the board in only one of his first five starts but took a big step forward when stretching his legs around two turns in his final start as a 2-year-old, a $30,000 maiden claimer on Dec. 13. He won that race by 12 lengths after making a confident outside burst to the lead at the three-eighths pole.

Top Blood wasn't as successful when he raced on wet tracks in his two subsequent starts. He finished fifth of six, beaten 23 ¼ lengths when racing for the $50,000 claiming option on Feb. 8. Eight days later, when cut back to six furlongs, Top Blood faltered to finish last of six, beaten 12 ¾ lengths in a $40,000 claimer.

"After he won [his maiden], it took him a long time to recover," Araujo said. "He broke well today. I sat behind those two leaders, but he was forward. From the half-mile pole to the wire, he was just running. He was very comfortable."

Top Blood was bred in Kentucky by Pope McLean, Marc McLean, Pope McLean Jr., and William Schiffman. By War of Will, Top Blood sold for $50,000 as a yearling, was bought back for $42,000 as an OBS April juvenile, and was purchased for $15,000 by owner Pramote Changsila two months later at Fasig-Tipton.

His second dam is Grade 2 winner My Princess Jess and the third dam is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Jewel Princess.

"I really trust this horse," Araujo said. "I really like this horse."

Mongan earns first win in over eight years

Ten-pound apprentice rider Corey Mongan schooled them in the sixth race at Laurel Park as he piloted Honors Due ($20) to a gate-to-wire victory for trainer John Salzman Sr.

It was Mongan’s first victory since Aug. 11, 2016, when he scored with Arabian CHNDAKASEXPRESS in the ninth race at Delaware. Mongan also rode two thoroughbred winners at Delaware that season before going on hiatus.”

“I taught for five years,” Mongan said after weighing out. “I taught elementary physical education. I gallop in the summer. It was always like my hobby. I went back [to teaching], and I was bummed out and depressed. I still had my bug but didn’t know if I would get light enough. Fortunately, some higher being got me to where I was light enough again.”

Mongan gave Honors Due his flowers after the gelding held off Finn d’Oro by a nose in the $12,500 maiden claimer for 3-year-olds at six furlongs. It was Honors Due’s first top-three finish in eight starts.

“He’s awesome,” Mongan gushed. “I’ve worked him several times. I told Mr. Salzman all along that I really think there’s something here. I was hoping to get the lead. I’m just glad he held on because I didn’t really know if I got it or not.”

Although this wasn’t Mongan’s maiden victory, he received the standard post-race dousing from his fellow riders as he walked back to the jock’s room after the race.

Around the track:

Stakes-winning 3-year-old It’s Hammertime, most recently fourth as the odds-on favorite in Aqueduct’s Nashua Stakes on Nov. 2, breezed a bullet half-mile in 48.20 on Friday morning for trainer Gary Capuano…Stakes-winner Spencerian worked a bullet five-eighths in 1:00.60 for trainer Hugh McMahon. Recently third in the What a Summer Stakes on Jan. 18, Spencerian seems likely for next Saturday’s $75,000 Conniver Stakes for Maryland-bred or -sired fillies and mares at seven furlongs….Grade 3 winner Apple Picker breezed for the first time this year, working three-eighths in 37 flat on Thursday morning. The 5-year-old mare last raced over the summer, finishing fifth in Charles Town’s Pink Ribbon Stakes for trainer Brittany Russell… Russell’s Post Time was named 2024 Maryland-bred Horse of the Year, Maryland-bred Champion Older Male, and Maryland-bred Champion Sprinter by the Maryland Horse Breeders’ Association…Other award winners named include Future Is Now (Champion Turf and Champion Older Female), Call Another Play (3-year-old filly), Mindframe (3-year-old male), Shkhara Fire (2-year-old filly), and Studlydoright (2-year-old male)…Great Notion earned his ninth consecutive Maryland Stallion of the Year award after leading the state by progeny earnings, stakes winners, winners, wins, and 2-year-old winners. Post Time’s dam, Vielsalm, was Broodmare of the Year…The late R. Larry Johnson was named Breeder of the Year…Racing resumes Saturday with a nine-race card. The first post time is 12:10 p.m. ET… Laurel Park hosts a Mardi Gras celebration on Saturday beginning at Noon ET. The party is open to the public with food and drink specials.