LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stable's multiple Grade 1-winner Casa Creed got the jump on favored Annapolis and held on strong to post a one-length score in Saturday's $175,000 Kelso (G3), a one-mile inner turf test for older horses, at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott and piloted by Luis Saez, the 7-year-old Jimmy Creed horse has now won three graded events traveling one mile over the Saratoga turf, taking the 2019 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (G2) and last year's Fourstardave Handicap (G1).
“It's very rewarding,” said Mott of conditioning the evergreen Casa Creed. “Ordinarily, you don't get any more than two seasons out of a horse running at the top level. To have a horse that can run at two, three, and maybe four seasons to run at the very highest level is very good. You don't find those kind.”
Casa Creed has proven to be proficient at a variety of distances, notching back-to-back editions of the six-furlong Jaipur (G1) in 2021-22 at Belmont Park and missing narrowly when second in the last two runnings of the 6 3/4-furlong 1351 Turf Sprint (G3) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia.
Lee Einsidler of LRE Racing spoke volumes of the hard-trying Casa Creed.
“He's special. He's taken us around the world and he's made a huge difference in our lives, really,” Einsidler said. “When you get into this game, they become part of your family. Life is all about building memories and this is another great one.”
Big Everest, who entered his graded stakes debut on a four-race win streak, led the seven-horse field through splits of :23.35 and :47.07 over the firm going with Filo Di Arianna tracking in second position and English Bee saving ground in third to the inside of Anaconda.
Casa Creed exited the outermost post 7 and settled in sixth position in the early stages to the outside of Annapolis. He advanced with purpose approaching the final turn and quickly swooped the field to take command from Big Everest at the stretch call. Annapolis angled off the rail and attempted to follow Casa Creed's run through the turn, but he could not reel in the winner, who stopped the clock in a final time of 1:35.51.
It was a further 1 1/4-lengths back to English Bee in third with Ice Chocolat, Big Everest, Filo Di Arianna and Anaconda rounding out the order of finish. Mid Day Image and main-track only entrant Gun It were scratched.
Saez said having outside position on his main rival Annapolis proved to be beneficial.
“The key was try to be right there on top of the favorite,” Saez said. “So everything came out perfect, he broke pretty sharp. I can feel it behind the gate, too, he was a little bit tough. So, I don't want to take too much, I just let him break and be comfortable, and he was pretty comfortable. Came to the top of the stretch and gave me a big kick.”
Irad Ortiz Jr., aboard Grade 1 winner Annapolis, said he had no choice but to wait for Saez to make his move.
“He beat me,” Ortiz said. “I kind of waited a little longer than I wanted to, but I kind of had to. There was nowhere to go and I kind of stayed steady waiting for Luis to make his move and then I followed him.”
Mott said he was pleased to see Casa Creed keep the well-regarded Annapolis at bay.
“That was a good horse – it says something for Casa Creed because the horse he beat is a real horse and a real tough competitor. He handled him today,” Mott said.
Mott said he is hopeful Casa Creed can defend his title in the $500,000 Fourstardave on August 12.
“He's a fun horse. We love to see him run and we try to give him enough time to make sure he's ready to go but at this point in time it doesn't have to be a Grade 1. The Fourstardave is and that's a big goal, but to be able to see him and have him compete is great fun,” Mott said. “His owner [Einsidler] loves Saratoga, too. Not only Casa Creed but his owner, too. I guess we all get hyped up about Saratoga right? Casa Creed is one of us.”
Einsidler noted that the $2.1-million earner, a $105,000 purchase from consignor Kelli Mitchell at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, will continue to race as long as he's competitive.
“He wants to run, so as long as he's telling us he wants to run that's what we'll do. When he tells us he wants to retire, we'll find a home for him,” Einsidler said.
Bred in Kentucky by Silver Springs Stud, Casa Creed banked $96,250 in victory, while improving his record to 32-8-5-5. He returned $6.50 for a $2 win bet.
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