Catholic Boy held off a late-charging Admission Office by a half-length to win the Grade 2, $250,000 Dixie at Pimlico on Saturday, his first start in six months.

Last year at 3, Catholic Boy won the Grade 1 Belmont Derby on turf and the Grade 1 Travers on dirt for trainer Jonathan Thomas. The Dixie was his first start since a13th-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.

Catholic Boy broke from the outside post in the 10-horse field and took up a stalking position behind pacesetting Real Story. He moved to the lead in the stretch under Javier Castellano and then lasted over Admission Office.

He paid $4.80 as the favorite in the 1 1/16-mile turf race. He was timed over firm ground in 1:41.09

Just Howard finished third, a neck behind Admission Office. It was a nose farther back to Real Story in fourth.