Trainer Mark Casse sends out the trifecta of Join the Dance, Mrs. Barbara, and Summertime Magic in Saturday's $100,000 Ruling Angel Stakes, at Woodbine.
Set for seven furlongs on the Toronto oval Tapeta, the Ruling Angel, for three-year-old fillies, has attracted six starters, including a strong contingent from the Casse barn.
A bay daughter of Shackleford-Moondancer, Join the Dance, to be ridden by Emma-Jayne Wilson, is currently riding a two-race win streak.
The D.J. Stable LLC sophomore broke her maiden in the final race of her two-year-old campaign last November and then doubled up with a victory in her three-year-old debut on April 23.
Bred in Kentucky by Mike and Pat Freeny, Join the Dance will now join the stakes ranks, bringing a record of 2-2-1 from six starts, all at Woodbine, into the Ruling Angel.
“I thought she ran really well in both of her wins,” praised Casse. “I think her optimum distance is a little bit farther than this race, but she doesn't have a whole lot of options. She's a three-year-old who has already won two races, and beat older horses, so this is a good spot for her.”
After making her past two starts in the U.S., Mrs. Barbara, Canada's champion two-year-old female in 2021, will return to Woodbine looking to emulate her Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes triumph at the end of November.
Bred in Kentucky by Jim Dandy Stable and owned by Spruce Stable, the daughter of Bodemeister-Destroy was fourth in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks in March and fifth in the Bourbonette Oaks in early April.
The dark bay filly, sporting a mark of 2-1-1 from eight starts, has been training forwardly ahead of her fourth straight stakes engagement.
“Obviously, she is the most accomplished of the three,” started Casse. “She's training extremely well, and I think she will be extremely competitive in the race. She always shows up. She's tough. And like I said, she's training so well right now.”
Summertime Magic will look to spring forward in her second start and stakes debut.
The daughter of Carpe Diem-Tap Softly had a strong career bow on April 17 at Woodbine, stalking three-wide before seizing control of the five-furlong Tapeta race to notch a two-length win in a time of :57.77.
Casse was most impressed by what happened after the wire.
“I think what stood out was what she did afterwards. If you watch her, she must have galloped out 20 lengths in front. She just kept going. She's one we always thought was a pretty good horse. She's had some minor knee injuries and that has held her back on a couple of occasions.”
Bred in Kentucky by Sandra Sexton and Silver Fern Farm, the grey, owned by John Oxley, has already caught the eye of her conditioner.
“She's a filly that has a lot of talent, but she's a little short on experience. It may be asking a bit much of her.”
The Ruling Angel is listed as race three on the 10-race card, with a first post of 1:10 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app. Live racing resumes Sunday at 1:10 p.m., highlighted by the running of the King Corrie Stakes.
FIELD FOR THE RULING ANGEL
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Join the Dance – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse
2 – Outfoxed – Justin Stein – William Mott
3 – Mrs. Barbara – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse
4 – Summertime Magic – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
5 – Guileful – Simon Husbands – Nathan Squires
6 – Urban – Kazushi Kimura – Josie Carroll
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