Second Chances: Pit Boss

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. In this edition, Pit Boss (Union Rags) is highlighted following a second-place finish on debut for trainer Wayne Catalano at Oaklawn Park last weekend.

Previous runners featured in this column include: MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Paradise Woods (Union Rags), GSW Backyard Heaven (Tizway), MSW and 'TDN Rising Star' Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), the highly regarded GII San Felipe S. runner-up Honor A. P. (Honor Code) and GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. runner-up Candy Tycoon (Twirling Candy).

Pit Boss (c, 3, Union Rags–Town Flirt, by Speightstown) caught the eye with a flashy rail run from out of the clouds to finish an encouraging second behind the highly regarded Earner (Carpe Diem) while taking on two turns in his unveiling at Oaklawn last Saturday (video).

Off at 9-1 for a barn not known for firing first out, the $250,000 KEESEP yearling purchase hesitated at the start from his rail draw in the 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight and appeared to be climbing a bit beneath Tyler Baze passing the empty grandstand for the first time.

Second from last in 11th through a half mile in :46.96, the Gary and Mary West colorbearer still had his work cut out for him with three furlongs remaining. He began to get into the race as they straightened and leveled off nicely to get up for second while continuing to scrape the paint down the lane, cutting Earner's final margin of victory to 3 3/4 lengths.

Coming home in a field-best :31.95 clocking, Pit Boss continued on with a very strong gallop out, passing the winner on the clubhouse turn. The bay earned a 70 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“We've always had high hopes for him all along,” trainer Wayne Catalano said. “We thought he was going to be a nice colt, he just took a little while to get to the races. He was working well and doing everything we needed him to do. He's got the pedigree for two turns, that's why he was in there. He ran a nice race as everybody saw. If he broke, he might've been in it for the win.”

Pit Boss breezed no fewer than 15 times for the “Catman” dating back to mid-November–14 works coming at his Fair Grounds base–prior to Saturday's debut run in Hot Springs. He was previously in training in Southern California as a 2-year-old last summer and was very highly regarded prior to suffering a minor setback, per Catalano.

“When he was in California, they thought he was one of the better 2-year-olds that Mr. West had,” Catalano said.

As for plans moving forward, Catalano added, “There's not too many tracks open right now [due to the coronavirus outbreak], but we'll just see how he comes out of the race, give him a few days and talk it over with [racing manager] Benny Glass.”

Bred in Kentucky by KatieRich Farms, Pit Boss was produced by four-time winner Town Flirt, a half-sister to stakes winner Financial Modeling (Street Sense). Town Flirt is also represented by a 2-year-old colt by Tonalist and a yearling colt by California Chrome. Pit Boss's third dam is 1994 GII Delaware H. winner With a Wink (Clever Trick).