The 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) was a frenetic experience for Jason Loutsch and the rest of the Albaugh Family Stables team.
In the days leading up to the 149th Run for the Roses, they endured a roller coaster of emotions as they wondered if one, two, or three of their 3-year-olds would crack the field of 20.
"We're on pins and needles," Loutsch said a year ago at this time.
As it turned out, three made it to the starting gate.
But hours before post time, the complexion and pressures of the race changed when 2022 2-year-old champ Forte was scratched and the Albaughs' Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Angel of Empire was installed as the 4-1 betting favorite.
While Jace's Road was 17th and Cyclone Mischief 18th for the Albaugh team and their partners, Angel of Empire staged a strong rally from 16th but settled for third, just 1 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Mage at Churchill Downs.
These days there's been tranquility. A lot of it, which isn't exactly nirvana at this time of year, either for Loutsch or his father-in-law, Dennis Albaugh, who started the stable.
The Albaughs own Catching Freedom, who secured his spot in the field for the May 4 opening leg of the Triple Crown by winning the March 23 Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots for trainer Brad Cox, and each day since then a simple phone call can raise fears that something has gone amiss.
"I was texting with Dennis during Blue Grass (Stakes) week and all the final preps. He told me, 'Man, it is fun to watch these races and have no stress, knowing we are already in the race.' But he added six weeks is a long time to wait," said Loutsch, a co-owner and the stable's racing manager. "I couldn't agree more. It's refreshing to sit back and give your horse time to relax, but six weeks has been hard on us. It's been awhile since he's run and you're thinking about the Derby every day.
"I have two girls in college so I always keep my phone on and whenever the phone pings you wonder what it's about."
There will be some light at the end of a long tunnel of anxiety April 27 when the post positions will be drawn and Catching Freedom will give the Albaugh stable back-to-back years with top contenders in America's most famous race.
That's quite an accomplishment in and of itself considering the stable typically numbers about 25 2-year-olds from sales and a dozen or so mares.
"They do a good job of selecting yearlings," Cox said. "They have a great team in place."
Loutsch said he was thankful to Dennis Albaugh for giving the operation the financial ability to pursue quantity and quality at the sales.
"When we go to the (Keeneland) September sale we have a budget. It's a nice-sized budget that allows me to get some good horses. It comes down to a numbers game and we try to get quantity and some quality individuals because we know this game is so tough. We participate at all levels."
Angel of Empire, who is sidelined with a hyperextended knee and will point to a summer/fall campaign, and Catching Freedom certainly represent different levels of the yearling market.
Angel of Empire, a Pennsylvania-bred son of Classic Empire, was bought for $70,000 and has earned $1.4 million.
Catching Freedom is a son of Constitution , bred by WinStar Farm and bought for $575,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale and has bankrolled $877,350.
"Dennis really likes Constitution as a stallion so it worked out well in buying Catching Freedom," Loutsch said.
While Catching Freedom will not be the post-time favorite, he should be among the top five in the morning line based on a solid length victory in the 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby for his third win in five starts.
Forced to rally eight paths wide, the ground loss enhanced the notion that the son of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Catch My Drift should be able to handle the testing mile-and-a-quarter distance of the Kentucky Derby.
"I really think he's cut out for a mile and a quarter," Cox said.
Loutsch said Catching Freedom has benefitted from the six-week gap between races and should be primed for another top effort.
"He's doing really well and I'm not taking anything for granted but we're confident of a really big effort. We thought the long stretch at Fair Grounds suited him and Churchill is the same way. He's never been the best work horse, but the last month, he has turned it around where he's become a really good work horse," Loutsch said. "He's starting to figure out his job and has matured coming into the race. He's been galloping out strong and that's all you can ask for, a happy, sound horse."
Of course, Loutsch and the rest of the family operation can't be blamed for wanting to take last year's level of excitement during the race one step further.
"I've always told myself that I wanted to experience that feeling of having a horse at the top of the lane with a chance to win the Kentucky Derby and Angel of Empire gave that to me. When he was sweeping outside in the stretch I thought it was going to be like the Arkansas Derby and he's going to run by them," Loutsch said. "You can't explain to anyone what that feeling is like until you experience it. It's an amazing feeling.
"It was tremendous and I am hoping to get that same feeling this year, but this time get the job done."
