But becoming Chairman of the Breeders' Cup effectively puts
Hertrich in the glare of the future of the annual Thoroughbred
World Championships, combined with a perfect storm of his
breeding business that has produced some talented stock for
him and partner John Fielding. They bred GII Remsen Stakes
winner Catholic Boy, one of the top contenders for the 2018
Kentucky Derby, and Rushing Fall, who won the 2017 Breeders'
Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Hertrich and Fielding also bred Di-
versify, winner of the 2017 GI Jockey Club Gold Cup. Hertrich
and Fielding had quite a run for two months–unlike anything
they've ever done—in 2017. Hertrich calls it a "huge, huge" pe-
riod, saying the stars aligned, but 2018 could top that. Of the
70 or so yearlings the two sold in 2016, 40 started and 23
won at least one race. Early in 2018, Empire Line won
the Damon Runyon Stakes at Aqueduct to go unde-
feated in two starts, giving the Hertrich/Fielding
breeding machine another Kentucky
Derby prospect.
Catholic Boy
