(Trainer Wayne Catalano / Coady Photography)

From the Churchill Downs Media Team:

‘COOKIN WIT CAT’: CATALANO SHARES RECIPES AHEAD OF THANKSGIIVNG DAY

Trainer Wayne Catalano has built a large social media presence in the past few years posting his cooking videos. Now, in part 1 of a special series of Thanksgiving Day recipes, Catalano shares his simple recipe for a baked mac and cheese.

          “This one is a really good one and it comes with a special touch from my wife, Renee, that she suggested,” Catalano said. “There are a million recipes out there to make macaroni and cheese. But, what you do with it after you make it in the pot makes this one unique.

          “Mix up the macaroni and cheese however you want to do it. I like to add a bunch of different cheeses but it’s really whatever you have in the fridge. Throw it all in there with the seasonings and such. When I made this for the first time, I was on the road in Kentucky while my wife was back in Chicago and didn’t have an oven. So, my wife told me, ‘Just throw it on the grill.’ It turned out great. Even if you have an oven, it’ll save some space if you’re cooking all the rest of the Thanksgiving stuff and you can get some smoky flavor. I just took my pot off the stove after all the cheese melted and put it on the grill and closed the lid. I just checked on it until all the cheese started to bubble and it was ready to go.”

How popular has Catalano’s cooking become? He has a 2-year-old in his barn named Cookn Wit Catman who debuted Oct. 29 at Churchill Downs and is on schedule to run again in the coming weeks.

          On Sunday, Nov. 19 Catalano will share his second recipe for his Thanksgiving dinner.

          “I never expected these videos to be as popular as they are,” Catalano joked. “Now I’m ready for a cookoff with Bobby Flay.”

          Fans can follow along with Catalano’s cooking and his horses on X at @CATRacingStable.

TOP SPRINTER WICKED HALO CLOSES CAREER WITH VICTORY IN DREAM SUPREME:

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Wicked Halo made the final start of her storied career a winning one by defeating five rivals by two lengths in Saturday’s $300,000 Dream Supreme. Now, the daughter of Gun Runner will head off to Winchell’s broodmare band.

          “You feel like a proud parent for Gun Runner to do what he did on the racetrack and now have his offspring do what they’re doing on the racetrack,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “Now you know they’re going to be in racing forever.”

          Wicked Halo closed her career with a stout record of 18-9-3-5 with purse earnings of $1,579,400. The now 4-year-old filly began her career in 2021 at Lone Star Park and would go on to become an eight-time stakes winner. Overall, Wicked Halo was victorious in three Grade II races: the 2021 Adirondak and the 2022 Prioress and Raven Run.

DOWN THE STRETCH – Racing resumed Sunday with a first post of 1 p.m. There was a $106,217 carryover in the Derby City 6 that spanned Races 5-10 and Race 3 had a $20,088 carryover in the $1 Super Hi-5. … Jockey Cristian Torres will begin serving a 15-day suspension Monday. He’ll miss the remainder of the Fall Meet and return to ride at the start of Oaklawn’s season. …  Wednesday is Senior Day and guests 60 and older can enjoy lunch on Millionaires Row for only $34. Tickets can be purchased by calling (502) 636-4450. … Winter stall applications for Churchill Downs’ Trackside Louisville are due Friday. Applications are available in the Churchill Downs Stable Office. … On Saturday, Norton Healthcare will hold their second Athlete Wellness and Performance educational meeting with jockeys and their families. The meeting will be held starting at 11:30 a.m. in the Churchill Downs Backside Recreation Center. … For more information about the Churchill Downs Fall Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.

ABOUT CHURCHILL DOWNS RACETRACK

Churchill Downs Racetrack (“CDRT”), the world’s most legendary racetrack, has been the home of The Kentucky Derby, the longest continually held annual sporting event in the United States, since 1875. Located in Louisville, CDRT features a series of themed race days during Derby Week, including the Kentucky Oaks, and conducts Thoroughbred horse racing during three race meets in the Spring, September, and the Fall. CDRT is located on 175 acres and has a one-mile dirt track, a 7/8-mile turf track, a stabling area, and provides seating for approximately 60,000 guests. The saddling paddock and the stable area has barns sufficient to accommodate 1,400 horses and a 114-room dormitory for backstretch personnel. CDRT also has a year-round Race and Sports Book and simulcast wagering facility. www.churchilldowns.com.