At six years old, Casa Creed isn't slowing down. Under Luis Saez, the veteran turf horse took the win in the Grade 1 Fourstardave at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 13.
Saez and Casa Creed hung back out of the gate in the one-mile race, letting Get Smokin set the pace followed closely by Masen (GB). Favored mare Regal Glory was tucked in behind the early leaders and made a move going into the final turn. Casa Creed continued to bide his time, tracking the mare and unwinding through the stretch, catching the leaders inside the sixteenth pole.
The final time for the mile was 1:34.20, with fractions of :24.01, :47.94, and 1:11.24. Regal Glory held on for second, one and a half lengths behind Casa Creed. Masen finished third, followed by Get Smokin. Front Run the Fed was the last of the five-horse field.
Bill Mott trains Casa Creed for owners LRE Racing and JEH Racing. The race is the third Grade 1 for Casa Creed, who came to this race off a repeat win in the G1 Jaipur. He has twice been third in the Fourstardave, and earlier this year was second in the G3 1351 Turf Sprint Cup in Saudi Arabia. He also has past wins in the Kitten's Joy Stakes, the G2 Hall of Fame, and Elusive Quality Stakes to his credit.
Casa Creed was a $15,000 yearling at the 2017 OBS Winter Mixed Sale, where he was consigned by Janie Roper and purchased by Amalio Ruiz-Lozano. He was then a $105,000 yearling at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale later that year, where he was consigned by Kelli Mitchell and bought by LRE Racing.
Casa Creed went off at odds of 4-1 and paid $10.40, $3.30, and $2.30. See the full chart here.
The Fourstardave is a Win And You're In race for this year's Breeders' Cup Mile, meaning that Casa Creed will automatically be granted entry to that race.
G1 Fourstardave Quotes
Bill Mott, winning trainer of Casa Creed (No. 1, $10.40): “He's in great form and won two Grade 1s since coming back [from Dubai], so scrap that theory that they can't travel and do good. We've always felt he was capable of going a mile and I think it's a matter of getting his run timed properly and having the right trip, and he did it today. He's run good races at a mile before and got very good speed figures, and today he got his picture taken.
“I always wait and let the horse do the talking. You can be excited and feel good about him, but they've got to run the race. We kind of thought he'd be a little [closer], but he looked like he was where he wanted to be. He [Luis Saez] let him break and the horse found his own spot. I don't think he put him there, I think that's the rhythm the horse wanted to be in and he gradually picked up the back as he went down the backside and got within striking range by the time he hit the half-mile pole. He waited very patiently – he didn't tip him out way wide. He waited until he got around the turn and then tipped him out so he didn't lose all the ground.”
On if this was his best race: “I wouldn't be surprised. He's run two pretty good Jaipurs and incredible races, but he's put several races back-to-back. He's put four races back-to-back this year. He's traveled and come back and still run well.”
On having a berth to both the Breeders' Cup Mile and Sprint: “We'll talk about that. We're already hashing that over, but we'll see. I think 6-to-7 [furlongs] is probably his best – he's somewhere in between. But he was drawing away going a mile today. I guess it depends on the trip and how he's doing on the day.”
Luis Saez, winning jockey aboard Casa Creed (No. 1): “It was a pretty good trip. That was the plan. We tried to break and settle down right there and have one move with him. He did it pretty great. He made a big move at the top of the stretch and came away with a victory.”
On coming back from Dubai in good form: “It's a big thing. It's a good feeling and spot right now and we're grateful and thankful [that] we're doing great.”
Chad Brown, trainer of runner-up Regal Glory (No. 3) and third-place finisher Masen (No. 4): “She [No. 3, Regal Glory] just looked like she was second-best today. It was a bit of a wide trip but, you know, that's what it is, that's the way she likes to run clear though. Today, she just didn't have what it took to win. She ran really well in defeat. She did run second.”
On Masen: “Not really sure yet. We'll just have to re-evaluate afterwards. I was disappointed he didn't kick on a little better. He ran credibly but I just thought he would have a little more punch in the lane.”
Jose Ortiz, jockey aboard runner-up Regal Glory (No. 3): “It was a good trip. The pace was a little slow the first part but then it started developing and I was in a good position and that horse [No. 1, Casa Creed] beat me down the lane.”
The post Mott’s Casa Creed Comes From Last To Take Grade 1 Fourstardave appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
