Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse expressed excitement for the debut of the well-bred Coinage in Friday's opening race at Belmont Park; a five-furlong sprint for state-bred juveniles on Big Sandy.
By Tapit, Coinage is out of Bar of Gold, an upset winner of the 2017 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Owned by Leonard Green's DJ Stable in partnership with breeders Chester and Mary Broman, Coinage was a $450,000 purchase from Sequel New York's consignment at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
“After the Greens bought the filly, Mr. Broman said that he would like to partner in the horse,” Casse explained. “I've known Mr. Broman for 25 years. He's a class act, as are the Greens. Both are great people.”
Coinage has prepped for his career debut at Casse Training Center in Ocala, Florida, where he had five recorded works before shipping to Belmont Park in early April. His most recent work was a half-mile move in 48.45 seconds over the main track on May 15.
“We definitely think he has some talent, and I would hope and think that this horse would be better the further he goes,” Casse said. “His mother, oddly enough, was a sprinter, but she was by Medaglia d'Oro. I don't know how far he'll go, but he'll like some more ground, like most Tapits do.”
Coinage, listed as the 7-5 morning-line favorite, will exit post 4 under Junior Alvarado.
Casse said he will be represented by several runners at the upcoming Belmont Stakes Racing festival from June 3-5, including Got Stormy, who will see a cutback in distance for the Grade 1, $400,000 Jackpocket Jaipur at six furlongs on the turf for 3-year-olds and up.
The 6-year-old daughter of Get Stormy made her seasonal bow a winning one in the one-mile Grade 3 Honey Fox on February 27 at Gulfstream Park before a last out fifth in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile on May 1.
Got Stormy asserted herself a force to be reckoned with after defeating males in course record time in the one-mile Grade 1 Fourstardave in 2019 at Saratoga and followed with Grade 1-placings, in the Woodbine Mile and Breeders' Cup Mile. After a few disappointing results in the first half of 2020, Casse regrouped and shortened the talented mare in distance to win the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint in September and the 5 1/2-furlong Grade 3 Buffalo Trace Franklin County in October at Keeneland.
“We're going to try it and see,” Casse said. “She came out of her last race well. It was a bit of a head scratcher, but she's done that before and rebounded, so we'll see.”
Following a fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, Got Stormy was offered at the Keeneland November Sale, where she was hammered down to $2.75 million. She was acquired by Spendthrift Farm, who opted to keep her in training for a 2021 campaign and is now co-owned with MyRacehorse.com.
Casse said Gary Barber's Make Mischief is targeting the Grade 1, $500,000 Acorn, a one-turn mile on Big Sandy for sophomore fillies on June 5.
The New York-bred daughter of Into Mischief was a gallant third in the Grade 2 Eight Belles on April 30 at Churchill Downs, which was her first start for Casse since finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Chandelier in September 2020 at Santa Anita.
Make Mischief spent the winter months in New York under the care of Chris Englehart, for whom she won 3-of-4 starts including the Maddie May on February 20.
“Chris and I have been friends for about 40 years, and he did a tremendous job with her over the winter,” Casse said. “Last race, we ran her at Churchill, and it was a good run. The Acorn is a big step up, but she should love the mile.”
Bred by Avanti Stable, Make Mischief is out of the Speightstown mare Speightful Lady, who has produced four other runners of racing age, all of which are winners.
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