Casse-Trained Trio Top Saturday’s Trillium Stakes Field At Woodbine

Conditioner Mark Casse has three chances, in the form of Crystal Glacier, Heavenly Curlin and Skygaze, to capture his third Grade 3 Trillium Stakes title, Saturday at Woodbine.

Having won the 2013 and 2019 editions of the Trillium with Sisterly Love and Miss Mo Mentum, respectively, Casse will look to complete the stakes hat trick in the 1 1/16-mile, $150,000 main track event, with three serious contenders.

Crystal Glacier, a 4-year-old daughter of Curlin, has assembled a record of three wins and a second from nine career starts for Live Oak Plantation.

Bred in Kentucky by Southern Equine Stables, the dark bay has a pair of score in her past three races, back-to-back victories coming at Turfway Park this February.

“She's another one that ran well at Turfway,” offered Casse. “We tried there this year and actually had a very good meet. The horses ran well there, including her.”

The Trillium represents the first stakes appearance for Crystal Glacier, who won her career bow on August 9, 2019 at Ellis Park.

“She's a very nice horse and she really does like it at Woodbine.”

Heavenly Curlin, also a daughter of Curlin, will no doubt appreciate a return to the Woodbine Tapeta.

Owned by Gary Barber and John Oxley, the 4-year-old bay rhymed off three consecutive triumphs at the Toronto oval in 2020, including a 5 ¾-length romp in the Grade 3 Maple Leaf Stakes on November 7.

Bred by Elevage II, LLC, Heavenly Curlin arrives at the Trillium off a fifth and ninth in two grass starts at Gulfstream.

She sports a record of 3-0-1 from seven career races with all three wins coming in her three Woodbine engagements.

“It was a tremendous effort in the Maple Leaf last year. We took her down to Florida and ran her in some tough spots. She just doesn't like the grass as much as Tapeta.”

Skygaze, who has contested five of her nine career starts at Woodbine, returns to Canada on a three-race win streak that began last fall in Ontario.

After rallying to secure a neck nod in a seven-furlong main track allowance race on October 3, Skygaze took her talents to Turfway Park where the 4-year-old daughter of American Pharoah made a late charge to eke out another neck win on December 10.

Owned by Tracy Farmer and bred in Kentucky by Normandy Farm, the bay was 'much the best' in taking a 1 1/16-mile Tapeta event by three lengths.

Skygaze brings a record of 4-0-2 from nine races into the Trillium.

“She won the Mazarine [at Woodbine] last year, but was disqualified,” noted Casse. “It took her awhile to get on track, but she ran really well at Turfway. We had planned on running her in a stake on Jeff Ruby Steaks day, but she didn't get in. She was on the AE's and didn't get in. So, we've been sitting and waiting for this spot for a long time. She's been training very well.”

Casse believes any of his Trillium starters could take all the spoils.

“They all like to win. They're all solid fillies and it wouldn't shock me for any of them to win.”

The Trillium is Race 7 on Saturday's 10-race card. First post time is 1:20 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.

FIELD FOR THE GRADE 3 $150,000 TRILLIUM

POST – HORSE – JOCKEY – TRAINER

1 – Crystal Glacier – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse

2 – Souper Escape – Luis Contreras – Michael Trombetta

3 – Red Cabernet – Steven Bahen – Ian Black

4 – Royal Wedding – Simon Husbands – Nathan Squires

5 – Merveilleux – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard

6 – Brassy – Daisuke Fukumoto – Eoin Harty

7 – Skygaze – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

8 – Heavenly Curlin – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse

The post Casse-Trained Trio Top Saturday’s Trillium Stakes Field At Woodbine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Casse, Rafael Hernandez Team Up For Graded Stakes Double At Woodbine

Woodbine's meet-leading trainer Mark Casse teamed up with jockey Rafael Hernandez to sweep Saturday's graded stakes action at the Toronto, Ontario, oval.

Three-year-old filly Heavenly Curlin continued her winning momentum when facing stakes company for the first time in the co-featured $125,000 Maple Leaf Stakes (Grade 3).

With Hernandez picking up the mount, Heavenly Curlin trounced her older rivals with ease, launching her attack from the backfield on the final turn and drawing away by 5 3/4 lengths. Her winning time was 2:03.24 over 1 1/4 miles on the Tapeta.

Auntie Katherine and Juliana traded turns on the lead through fractions of :23.93, :48.79 and 1:13.04 before Heavenly Curlin moved into contention as they raced past the mile mark in 1:37.91. She took command as the fillies and mares headed into the homestretch en route to her third straight victory.

After posting a pair of wins over 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta, Heavenly Curlin was sent postward as the 5-2 second choice and returned $7.60 to win. Art of Almost, the 2-1 favorite, settled for second-place honors after closing from mid-pack while Peace Seeker rode the rail to finish 1 1/4 lengths back in third after tracking the pacesetters.

Multiple graded stakes winner Elizabeth Way was fourth with Juliana, Gun Society, the winner's stablemate Tappitty Tappitty, A Broken Breeze, Silent Tango and Auntie Katherine completing the order of finish.

“There was too much speed in the race, so the main thing was getting her relaxed,” said Hernandez of the winning trip. “We just sat behind the 10 [Art of Almost] and when we turned for home, I just put her in the clear. She was doing her thing and just rolling down the lane.”

Owned by Gary Barber and John Oxley, the lightly-raced Kentucky-bred daughter of Curlin is now three-for-five in her career and boasts a perfect three-race Woodbine record.

Team Casse struck again two races later in the $175,000 Autumn, as Skywire went from last to first in the Grade 2 main track stakes event for horses three years old and up over 1 1/16 miles.

After a first quarter in :24.21, Skywire was trailing the field – reduced to five starters following the scratch of the Casse-trained Dream Maker.

It was another stablemate, the favored Salute With Honor, who controlled the pace after crossing to command before the first turn. Fresh off his Grade 3 Durham Cup triumph last month, Salute With Honor continued to lead through a half-mile in :48.10 before Armistice Day headed him past the 1:11.85 three-quarters mark.

However, Skywire had improved to third down the backside and rallied three-wide on the final turn as Armistice Day took the lead. They battled briefly down the lane before Skywire surged by to score in 1:42.70 by 1 3/4 lengths. Armistice Day stayed for second while Timeskip, who was denied racing room between rivals down the lane, finished third after moving inside. Vanzzy was fourth while Salute With Honor faded to fifth.

Skywire, winner of the Grade 2 Eclipse over the same course and distance this summer, paid $6.70 as the 2-1 second pick. He entered the Autumn after putting forth a strong rally to finish one-length behind Salute With Honor in the Durham Cup.

“Last time, we were stuck inside and by the time he was clear and started running, it was too late, but today I made sure he had a clear path the whole way and you see the results,” said Hernandez, who knew turning for home it was his race to win. “Every time he switches leads, he gives you another gear. When he switched leads, I thought, that's it. If they're going to beat me, they have to come running because my horse was running.”

Bred in Ontario by the late Bill Graham, the 4-year-old son of Afleet Alex now has five wins to go along with three seconds from 14 starts lifetime.

Gary Barber celebrated a Saturday stakes double at Woodbine as co-owner of the Autumn champ with Lou Tucci.

With a training triple on the 12-race card, Casse moved within three wins of joining the 3,000-win club.

Live Thoroughbred racing resumes at Woodbine Racetrack on Sunday, with post time set for 1:25 p.m. Please note new post times are in effect for the remainder of the meet with live racing four days a week on Thursdays (2:25 p.m.), Fridays (4:45 p.m.), Saturdays (1:25 p.m.) and Sundays (1:25 p.m.).

The post Casse, Rafael Hernandez Team Up For Graded Stakes Double At Woodbine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights