Tag: Mark Casse

Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Returns To NBC Sports This Weekend

The “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing” will be at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto for two live  programs of outstanding turf racing on Saturday, Sept. 18 on NBCSN (5:30-6:30 p.m. ET) ― featuring the $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1) ― and on Sunday, Sept. 19 on NBCSN (4:30-6 p.m. ET), headlined by the $400,000 Natalma Stakes (G1) and the $400,000 Summer Stakes (G1).

This weekend's programs mark the seventh and eighth telecasts this year in the “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing” on NBC and NBCSN from some of North America's most iconic racetracks. The series leads to the 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6, which will be shown live on NBC and NBCSN. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here.

NBC Sports' coverage will feature commentary and discussion from its International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., led by host Britney Eurton, and analysts Randy Moss and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, who won 15 Breeders' Cup races including five victories in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Reporter Nick Luck and handicapper Matt Bernier will be on-site at Woodbine.

Additional highlights of NBC Sports' coverage include:

  • The first live race on Saturday's show is the prestigious Pattison Canadian International
  • Saturday's show will include a feature on Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse
  • Sunday's show will feature an interview with celebrity chef Bobby Flay, the owner and breeder of Pizza Bianca, who runs in Sunday's Natalma Stakes

A field of 10 has been entered in the 25th Ricoh Woodbine Mile, which will give the winner a free berth into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF (G1). The race is led by Juddmonte's 5-year-old gelding Set Piece (GB), trained by Brad Cox. A talented stretch-runner, Set Piece reeled off three straight victories at Churchill Downs earlier this year, taking the Opening Verse Stakes in April, the Douglas Park Stakes in May, and the Wise Dan Stakes (G2) in June. His streak ended with a second-place finish behind Got Stormy in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 14, which was also a “Win and You're In” for the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile.

Peter Brant's Raging Bull (FR) had a big chance in the 2019 Woodbine Mile, but was impeded in the stretch. He finished fourth but was moved up to third via disqualification. Trained by Chad Brown, Raging Bull has a Grade 1 win this year, taking the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes at Keeneland in April. He will try to rebound from a lackluster performance in the Fourstardave, where he did not accelerate in the final furlong and wound up sixth as the even-money favorite.

The Canadian-based starters are led by Live Oak Plantation's March to the Arch and Gary Barber's Olympic Runner. Both are trained by Mark Casse, who has been inducted into both the Canadian and American Racing Halls of Fame. March to the Arch finished second in last year's race, losing by 1 length after a powerful drive in the stretch came up short. This year, the 5-year-old won the Niagara Stakes over the Woodbine course on July 25, and was recently third in the King Edward Stakes (G3) on Aug. 15. Olympic Runner won the King Edward for his fifth career score. He finished second at Woodbine in the Connaught Cup (G2) prior to the King Edward.

Casse has also entered John Oxley and My Meadowview Farm's 6-year-old Ride a Comet, who has eight wins in 17 races, and is unbeaten in all four of his starts at Woodbine. Racing in the U.S. this year, Ride a Comet has one win in five starts, and was third behind Set Piece in the Wise Dan Stakes.

Clipper Logistics' Space Traveller (GB) will be making his second start in the U.S. this year for trainer Brendan Walsh, after 19 races in the care of Richard Fahey. The 5-year-old Space Traveller rallied well to finish fourth in the Mr. D. Stakes (G1) at Arlington Park on Aug. 14. In 2019, Space Traveller finished eighth in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).

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On Sunday, the 1-mile Natalma Stakes for 2-year-old fillies will award an automatic starting position into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), and the 1-mile Summer Stakes for 2-year-olds will offer a free berth into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

Mark Casse has entered four runners in the Natalma, led by D.J. Stable and Nexus Racing Club's undefeated Diabolic (IRE). After breaking her maiden in May at Gulfstream Park, Diabolic won her last two starts at Woodbine, taking the 5 ½-furlong My Dear Stakes on July 31 on the all-weather surface, and the 6 ½-furlong Catch a Glimpse Stakes on Aug. 21 on the turf course. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber's Canadian-bred Baksheesh broke her maiden by 4-lengths when she won the Muskoka Stakes at Woodbine on Aug. 29 on the all-weather surface.

Godolphin's Wild Beauty GB) has won two races in England this year for trainer Charlie Appleby. After breaking her maiden and winning a novice race, Wild Beauty comes into the Natalma off two-second place finishes, the most recent one being a 1-length defeat as the 5-2 favorite in the Sweet Solera Stakes (G3) on Aug. 7 at Newmarket.

Casse has also entered four starters in the Summer Stakes. His best chance appears to be with Harlequin Ranches' Canadian-bred First Empire, a son of 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner, Classic Empire, out of Silsita by 2000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Macho Uno. First Empire has two wins in three starts, with a 1 ¾-length victory last time out in the Soaring Free Stakes at Woodbine on Aug 21.

Godolphin's Albahr (GB) has won his last three races in England, and each time as the odds-on favorite. Also trained by Appleby, in his most recent start, Albahr captured the 1-mile EBF Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury by three-quarters of length on Aug. 20. The American runners are led by West Point Thoroughbreds, John Ballantyne, and Titletown Racing Stables' Dripping Gold.  A son of Lemon Drop Kid, Dripping Gold was an impressive debut winner at Saratoga on Aug. 7, taking a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight by 2 ¼ lengths for trainer Shug McGaughey.

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Casse Will Saddle Four In ‘Win And You’re In’ Summer Stakes

The more, the merrier could be the mantra of trainer Mark Casse when it comes to racing at Woodbine.

Take, for example, Sunday's $400,000 Summer Stakes, a Grade 1 for 2-year-olds in which Casse will field four of the nine entrants in the one-mile turf race.

The Summer is also a Breeders' Cup Challenge event with an all-fees berth in Del Mar's 1 1/16 mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 5 earmarked for the winner.

Last year Casse sent forth winner Gretzky the Great, who went on to finish a decent sixth of 14 in the Juvenile Turf, and third-place finisher Dolder Grand.

This time around, Casse will send out First Empire, Souper Legacy, Luckman, and Grafton Street in quest of present and perhaps future glory.

First Empire is the most prominent member of the quartet, having followed up on a rather disappointing debut here on the main track with back-to-back turf scores including the 6 ½-furlong Soaring Free, a race which Gretzky the Great had also used as a successful Summer stepping-stone.

“His last race ended up being very good,” said Casse. “He's doing everything right, he definitely loves the turf, and he's coming into this race good, whereas this is a little tougher task. But, I don't see the mile being an issue.”

Patrick Husbands, in the irons for First Empire's turf scores, retains the mount.

Souper Legacy is 1-for-1, having captured an off-the-turf maiden race over seven furlongs, while Luckman ran second when debuting in a split of that race on the August 29 card.

“I thought his first race was good,” said Casse, of Souper Legacy. “We definitely think he's a little better on the grass.”

Antonio Gallardo replaces Husbands on the gelding.

Luckman, also ridden by Husbands in his opener, will have Emma-Jayne Wilson aboard this time.

“We were hoping to give both those horses a race over the turf but he's another horse who should move up on the grass,” said Casse, who does not anticipate the mile being a problem for either runner.

Grafton Street has not seen action since May 29 when he debuted with a third-place finish in a race scheduled for turf but contested over five furlongs of sloppy going at Belmont.

“He's by War Front, and he's kind of my version of War of Will this year,” said Casse, who sent out that son of the Danzig sire to finish second in the 2018 Summer and then go on to achieve Grade 1 heroics in the Preakness and later the Maker's Mark Mile on Keeneland's turf course. “I've kind of always thought he was one of our better colts.

“The race came off the grass at Belmont, he ran, and that was hard on him. It took him a while to bounce back.”

Getting back down to business at Saratoga, Grafton Street recorded a bullet turf breeze on August 13.

“It was phenomenal,” said Casse. “Then I shipped him to Woodbine, to get a race on the grass, and it came off so I scratched him. But he's trained very, very well.”

Rafael Hernandez gets the call.

In addition to Gretzky the Great, Casse took down three consecutive Summer Stakes beginning in 2013 with My Conquestadory and continuing with Conquest Typhoon and Conquest Daddyo.

Albahr, based in England with trainer Charlie Appleby, has shipped in for the Summer with some interesting credentials.

After ending a troubled third in his debut the English-bred gelding has rattled off three straight wins, the first two at seven furlongs and the most recent over one mile of “good” going at Salisbury.

“He's done little wrong this year,” said travelling head lad Chris Durham. “He won a listed race in Salisbury, probably not on the ground you'd want. It rained, and it got a bit of water on it. The ground wouldn't have been in his favour, and he still won. Charlie's really happy with him. This has been his plan.”

Albahr will be looking to become the first European shipper to win the Summer in very limited representations. Vitalogy, trained in Ireland by Joseph O'Brien, finished third in the race in 2019.

The presence of Frankie Dettori in the irons will add to the Godolphin homebred's allure.

Invading from south of the Canadian border will be Dripping Gold and Degree of Risk.

Dripping Gold, trained by Shug McGaughey, was an impressive winner of his only start at Saratoga, a 1 1/16 mile race over firm turf. Joel Rosario picks up the mount.

Degree of Risk, based at Arlington with conditioner Eoin Harty, returns to Woodbine after finishing second in the Soaring Free. The Godolphin homebred again will have locally-based Justin Stein in the irons.

Rounding out the lineup will be Ready for the Lady and Heat Merchant.

Ready for the Lady, conditioned by Roger Attfield, ran second to Souper Legacy on the Tapeta surface in his only appearance.

Heat Merchant, trained by Ralph Biamonte, also will be making his turf debut after graduating over six furlongs in his third outing.

$400,000 Summer Stakes (Grade 1)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Dripping Gold – Joel Rosario – Shug McGaughey

2 – Luckman – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse

3 – Grafton Street – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

4 – Albahr – Frankie Dettori – Charles Appleby

5 – Heat Merchant – Gary Boulanger – Ralph Biamonte

6 – Degree of Risk – Justin Stein – Eoin Harty

7 – Souper Legacy – Antonio Gallardo – Mark Casse

8 – First Empire – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

9 – Ready for the Lady – Keveh Nicholls – Roger Attfield

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Casse Trio Earns Top Billing In ‘Win And You’re In’ Woodbine Mile

Hall of Fame conditioner Mark Casse will send out the talented trio of March to the Arch, Olympic Runner and Ride a Comet, in the Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile, part of a stellar Saturday stakes showcase that also includes the Grade 1 $600,000 Pattison Canadian International and Grade 2 $250,000 Canadian Stakes.

The 25th running of the Mile, worth $1 million and contested over the world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course, has attracted a strong field of 10 hopefuls. The Mile and International will be showcased on a live broadcast airing on TSN1 and TSN3 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. ET.

Under the terms of the Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' Challenge Series, the Woodbine Mile winner will be entitled to a fees-paid berth for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile, to be run on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

The silver anniversary edition of the Mile features a gold-standard mix of local and international turf stars, as well as some of the top trainers and jockeys in the sport.

Casse, who won back-to-back runnings of the race, in 2016 with Tepin and 2017 with World Approval, will look for his third victory with three formidable runners.

A six-year-old son of Arch, March to the Arch, a Live Oak Plantation homebred, is no stranger to Woodbine or the Woodbine Mile.

The bay gelding sports a record of 4-3-1 from eight starts at the Toronto oval and an overall record of 8-4-4 from 28 races.

March to the Arch, who was second, a length behind Starship Jubilee in the 2020 Mile, was third in the Grade 3 Dominion Day on July 1 and then won the Niagara Stakes on July 25.

The Florida-bred heads into the Mile off a third-place finish in the Grade 2 King Edward Stakes on August 15 where he made a late surge after encountering traffic troubles down the long E.P. Taylor Turf Course stretch.

“March to the Arch prefers a little more time between his races, plus we brought him in off a mile-and-an-eighth, so he might not have been as sharp that day,” noted Casse. “But he's a great horse, very consistent, and he's doing very well ahead of the race.”

Olympic Runner, owned by Gary Barber, arrives at Saturday's $1 million classic off a sensational score in the King Edward.

With Rafael Hernandez in the irons, the five-year-old son of Gio Ponti found daylight down the lane and went on to notch a 1 ½-length victory.

Sporting a record of 3-5-2 from 13 Woodbine engagements, the gelding, bred by Eutrophia Farm LTD, just missed winning his previous start, the Grade 2 Connaught Cup, finishing a nose behind Avie's Flatter, who is also set to contest the Mile.

Olympic Runner has a 5-7-2 mark from 23 starts, including a 2-2-0 line from seven appearances this year.

“I thought Raffi [jockey, Hernandez] did a great job,” said Casse, of the King Edward. “The pace was moderate, I guess, so he was able to position him a little closer to the pace. That horse has been so close to having a breakout performance. I kept waiting and waiting for it, and it finally came in that race. It was an excellent effort.”

Multiple graded stakes winner Ride a Comet will seek to keep his perfect record at Woodbine intact.

A six-year-old son of Candy Ride co-owned by John Oxley and breeder My Meadowview LLC, Ride a Comet is undefeated in his four Woodbine starts.

The Kentucky-bred bay's most recent triumph at the Toronto oval came in the 2020 Grade 2 Kennedy Road.

Ride a Comet, 8-1-2 from 17 starts, comes into the Mile off a third-place effort in the Grade 2 Wise Dan at Churchill Downs on June 26.

“We felt he wasn't training that well, so we gave him a bit of a break. And that seems to have really helped. He's training much better coming into this race. He'll be ready. He's a nice horse and he obviously like running at Woodbine.”

Casse is grateful to have three shots at winning the Mile.

“I am. Everybody is coming into the race in good order. I think each one has a legitimate chance to win the race.”

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Ian Dalos' consistent graded stakes-winning homebred Avie's Flatter will chase his seventh win in what will be his 17th career start.

The five-year-old son of Flatter has two wins from three races this year, and goes into the Mile off a fourth in the King Edward.

Trained by Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Josie Carroll, Avie's Flatter contested all three jewels of the 2019 Canadian Triple Crown, finishing second in both the Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales, and third in the Breeders' Stakes.

Change of Control, trained by Michelle Lovell for Perry Harrison, finished third in her first start at Woodbine, the Grade 2 Royal North Stakes, on August 1.

The five-year-old daughter of Fed Biz, who has compiled a 7-6-6 mark from 28 lifetime starts, will be testing out the Grade 1 ranks for the first time.

She notched her first graded title with a win in the Grade 3 Intercontinental Stakes at Belmont this June.

A bay son of Lope de Vega (IRE), the Mile will represent the Canadian debut for Duke of Hazzard (FR).

Trained by Paul Cole for Mrs. F. Hay, the five-year-old hasn't made a trip to the winner's circle since 2019 when he notched a natural hat trick with two victories at Goodwood and another at Newmarket.

Raging Bull (FR) will get his second shot at Mile glory after finishing fourth, placed third, in the 2019 running.

A multiple graded stakes winner trained by Chad Brown for Peter Brant, the son of Dark Angel is 7-4-3 from 20 starts, his victories including last year's Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile and this year's Grade 1 Makers Mark Mile.

The six-year-old bay, bred by Dayton Investments Limited, was recently sixth as the even-money choice in the Grade 1 Fourstardave on August 14 at Saratoga.

Bred and owned by Juddmonte Farms, Set Piece (GB) has been the model of consistency over 17 career races, sporting a 9-2-1 stat line.

The five-year-old son of Dansili has three wins and a pair of seconds in his last five appearances, including a victory in the Grade 2 Wise Dan.

Trained by Brad Cox, the dark bay was off a step slowly in the Grade 1 Fourstardave, but regrouped to finish second.

Space Traveller (GB), a five-time winner from 20 starts, will look to get back to the form that saw the son of Bated Breath (GB) triumph at York this June.

Owned by Clipper Logistics, the Brendan Walsh trainee has competed twice in the U.S., the first assignment coming in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Mile (10th). The five-year-old dark bay was recently fourth in the Grade 1 Mr. D. Stakes at Arlington on August 14.

The Mile will be his first start in Canada.

Trained, owned and co-bred (along with his father Terrance) by Brandon Greer, popular local entrant Town Cruise will make his 14th career start – all at Woodbine – this Saturday.

A six-year-old son of Town Prize, the chestnut, with a 5-2-1 record from 13 starts, finished a gutsy second to Olympic Runner in the King Edward.

The Mile will be the gelding's foray into Grade 1 waters.

“Town is coming in with very good energy and high confidence, something I see increasing with each of his races this year,” said Brandon Greer. It's quite a privilege having the opportunity to run with some of the best horses in Canada and internationally. I'm sure Town will give it his best shot, which could never be disappointing to us. We're happy to be here.”

The outstanding Ricoh Woodbine Mile program will also feature the Grade 2 $250,000 Canadian Stakes, part of the Ladies of the Lawn series in support of Rethink Breast Cancer.

First race post time on Saturday is set for 1:10 p.m. For more information, visit Woodbine.com.

$1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Town Cruise – Daisuke Fukumoto – Brandon Greer

2 – Olympic Runner – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

3 – March to the Arch – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

4 – Ride a Comet – Antonio Gallardo – Mark Casse

5 – Set Piece (GB) – Joel Rosario – Brad Cox

6 – Change of Control – Colby Hernandez – Michelle Lovell

7 – Raging Bull (FR) – Frankie Dettori – Chad Brown

8 – Avie's Flatter – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll

9 – Duke of Hazzard (GB) – Kazushi Kimura – Paul Cole

10 – Space Traveller (GB) – Daniel Tudhope – Brendan Walsh

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Skygaze Romps To Victory In Belle Mahone At Woodbine

Skygaze, full of run late under rider Patrick Husbands, dashed away from her rivals with ease down the stretch en route to a three-length win in Sunday's $100,000 Belle Mahone Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

Trained by Mark Casse, who won both Woodbine stakes on Saturday, Skygaze, a four-year-old daughter of American Pharoah-Skyscape, broke alertly in the Belle Mahone and sat second to pacesetter Fate Factor, who led the way through the opening quarter timed in :24.79.

Skygaze continued to track Fate Factor through a half in :48.73, but by the three-quarters mark, the positions were reversed.

It was game over mid-way down the lane as Skygaze romped to her fifth victory from 11 career starts for owner Tracy Farmer.

Crystal Glacier, also a Casse trainee, was second, a neck ahead of No Mo Lady. Art of Almost, another Casse charge, was fourth. Final time for the race was 1:42.72.

“By the three-quarter pole, I was loaded,” said Husbands. “She was the best today.”

It was the first stakes win for Skygaze, who was bred by Normandy Farm LLC. She was third in the 2019 edition of the Grade 3 Mazarine and third in the Grade 3 Trillium on June 26, her last start before the Belle Mahone.

“Last time I rode her, she was a little bit quiet,” noted Husbands. “Today, I went alone and warmed her up. It showed in her form that she likes to be in the race and the last time I rode her, she was flat the whole way with me. Today, she showed me that she really wanted to be in the race. She showed she was the best.”

Skygaze paid $5.50 to win.

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