Mark Casse | Horse Racing Free Tips

New Hall of Famer Mark Casse Joins Writers’ Room

Fresh off of a year-delayed induction into racing's Hall of Fame Friday, Mark Casse joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland Wednesday morning for an expansive discussion on his career and the sport at large. Calling in via Zoom as the Green Group Guest of the Week, Casse reflected on his family's growing legacy in the sport, remembered arguably his most famous pupil Tepin (Bernstein) and assessed where the industry stands on stamping out its drug problems.

Asked about the emotion of his Hall of Fame speech, Casse said, “[Racing] is all I've ever done. I was raised on the racetrack. Saratoga has been my life since I was a little boy. Horse racing has been my life. My father passed away five years ago, and I have so many memories of him at Saratoga and in the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion and the Hall of Fame. Then I sired my first graded stakes-winning trainer son. It wasn't easy to get out, but to have him there and have the family continue on, I know my dad would be very proud.”

Casse has been instrumental in the movement to ban clenbuterol in racing ever since he penned an op/ed in the TDN talking about its performance-enhancing effects. Since then, a number of jurisdictions and racetracks have moved to restrict its use or ban it altogether. Casse was asked about the progress racing is making on that drug and others that have plagued the sport for years.

“I'm very proud of that,” he said of his letter and its aftereffects. “I just felt that at this time of my life, it was time to give back to sport, and the sport has some issues with it that need to be cleaned up. I just felt, you know what, I really don't care who I upset. I'm going to tell it the way I feel it is. I think there's been some serious movement. We saw a quick turnaround in Canada. They moved quickly. Things have changed in New York and Kentucky has been a little slow to adapt, but they're getting there. What's the one thing still going on that is disappointing to me? We've made a lot of new rules and rules are good, but they're only good if they can be enforced. So what happens is the men and women that play by the rules, every time you add a rule, it gives us that much bigger disadvantage. There's a lot of people out there that they only live for today and they're not looking long term. I just recently had a conversation with a big official and I said, if we're going to have these rules, it's your job to make sure that they're abided by. When they're not, [trainers] need to go. If we could do that, it would make our sport much better. It's very, very frustrating to me. Very frustrating.”

Elsewhere on the show, which is also sponsored by West Point Thoroughbreds, Spendthrift Farm, Legacy Bloodstock and the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association's 2021 Yearling Sale, the writers reacted to a huge weekend of racing at Saratoga that included Steve Asmussen's record-breaking victory, and, in late-breaking news, analyzed the development of Jorge Navarro's guilty plea. Click here to watch the podcast; click here for the audio-only version or find it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Raging Bull Headlines Talented Field Readying For ‘Win And You’re In’ Fourstardave

Peter Brant's Raging Bull will be out for redemption against an all-graded stakes winning field for Saturday's 37th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave for 4-year-olds and upward going one mile over the inner turf at Saratoga Race Course.

Raging Bull, who finished second in 2019 and fifth a year ago, will look to give trainer Chad Brown his first win in the Fourstardave, a “Win And You're In” event offering an automatic entry into the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile on November 6 at Del Mar.

Four of the last ten editions of the Fourstardave were captured by the subsequent winner of the Breeders' Cup Mile with World Approval [2017], Tourist [2016] and Wise Dan [2012-13] securing the Fourstardave-Breeders' Cup Mile double.

This year's Fourstardave field has won a cumulative 22 graded stakes races, which will see Raging Bull attempt a fourth graded stakes triumph.

Raging Bull, a three-time Grade 1-winner with earnings in excess of $1.5 million, secured his top-flight triumphs over three different ovals. At three, he shipped to Southern California to capture the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar after earning graded stakes triumphs at the Spa in the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame and the Grade 3 Saranac. The French-bred 6-year-old son of Dark Angel commenced his last two seasons in Grade 1-winning fashion with victories in the Shoemaker Mile in May 2020 at Santa Anita and the Makers' Mark Mile on April 9 at Keeneland.

Raging Bull enters off a troubled second in the Grade 3 Poker on June 20 at Belmont Park, racing in fifth along the rail down the backstretch while four horses battled up front. Lacking racing room in upper stretch, he made an inside rally at the eighth-pole but was unable to catch in-the-clear outside runner Oleksandra, losing by a head.

“I'm hoping he can stay off the inside with a better trip,” Brown said. “His turn of foot seems to be his best characteristic. He's in as good of form as he's ever been in. I love the way he's been training. He's a remarkable horse, very consistent.”

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. retains the mount from post 1.

Raging Bull will face seven other challengers, including stablemate and fellow Peter Brant color-bearer Blowout, who is one of three accomplished distaffers taking on males in the Fourstardave.

Known for her frontrunning fashion, Blowout was a last-out pacesetting winner of the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile on May 1 at Churchill Downs. Never worse than third – and never beaten more than three-quarters of a length in 11 lifetime starts – the daughter of Dansili made her lone Grade 1 start when second beaten a nose to stablemate Viadera in the Grade 1 Matriarch in November at Del Mar.

Both Raging Bull and Blowout were bred by Dayton Investments. Raging Bull is out of the Mr. Greeley mare Rosa Bonheur. Blowout is out of the Group 1-winning Deep Impact mare Beauty Parlour.

Jockey Joel Rosario, a two-time Fourstardave winner, rides Blowout from post 8.

Jim and Susan Hill, who owned 2015 Fourstardave winner Grand Arch, will be represented by four-time Grade 1-placed Daddy Is a Legend, who makes her first start against males for trainer George Weaver.

The 6-year-old daughter of Scat Daddy was a late-closing third in the Grade 1 Longines Just a Game on June 5 at Belmont Park behind the Godolphin-owned Althiqa and Summer Romance who replicated said exacta in the Grade 1 Diana on the Spa's opening weekend.

Also third in the 2019 Just a Game behind Rushing Fall and Beau Recall, Daddy Is a Legend notched Grade 1 black type with runner-up efforts in the Matriarch at Del Mar in 2018 and 2019.

“I think a mile is her best distance,” Weaver said. “We were looking at this race after she ran big in the Just a Game and those two fillies came back and ran well here. If she takes another step forward, we're hoping that Saturday can be her day.”

Daddy Is a Legend made the grade in December 2017, capturing the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante in November 2017 at Del Mar. She won the following year's Grade 3 Lake George at Saratoga.

“She's a very good racehorse. She's talented but the other thing she has that all good racehorses have is the fact that she shows up. She gives what she has,” Weaver said. “Right now, she's doing well, she's happy and she's all business. We're looking forward to running her.”

Jockey Manny Franco rides from post 3.

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse will send out Got Stormy, who seeks a non-consecutive victory in the Fourstardave. Owned by MyRacehorse Stable and Spendthrift Farm, the outstanding daughter of 2010 Fourstardave winner Get Stormy faced males for the first time off one week's rest in the 2019 Fourstardave, which she won by 2 ½ lengths in a track record 1:32 flat while recording a career best 109 Beyer. A six-time graded stakes winner, Got Stormy boasts the highest bankroll in the field with earnings in excess of $2.1 million.

A victory would make Got Stormy the first dual Fourstardave winner since two-time Horse of the Year and recent Hall of Fame inductee Wise Dan [2012-13].

Breaking from post 6, Got Stormy will be ridden by regular pilot Tyler Gaffalione.

Trainer Brad Cox will carry momentum from recent victories with Grade 2 Jim Dandy winner Essential Quality and Grade 1 Whitney winner Knicks Go when saddling Juddmonte's Set Piece for his Grade 1 debut. The Dansili homebred brings three straight wins to Saturday's engagement. After Churchill Downs stakes victories in the Opening Verse on April 29 and the Douglass Park on May 29, Set Piece defeated graded stakes winners Somelikeithotbrown and Ride a Comet in the Grade 2 Wise Dan on June 26 over the Louisville oval.

“He's a Grade 2 winner and obviously he has a good pedigree that all Juddmonte horses do, and it helps some of the siblings that come up from the broodmare band as well,” Cox said. “He deserves the opportunity to take a swing at a Grade 1 and we'll see what he can do.”

Florent Geroux returns to the saddle from post 5.

Following a victory in the Grade 1 Jackpocket Jaipur on June 5 at Belmont Park going six furlongs, Casa Creed will stretch back out to one mile for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. The 5-year-old Jimmy Creed bay, third in last year's Fourstardave, took the Grade 2 Hall of Fame in August 2019 going one mile over Saratoga's inner turf.

Owned by LRE Racing and JEH Racing, Casa Creed looks to became a fifth Fourstardave winner for Mott, who campaigned Hap [2000], Silver Tree [2007], Seek Again [2014] and Tourist [2016].

Jockey Junior Alvarado will ride from post 4.

Three Diamonds Farm's Field Pass is a four-time graded stakes winner at four different tracks for trainer Mike Maker. The gray or roan son of Lemon Drop Kid won the Grade 3 Baltimore Washington International Cup on July 24 at Pimlico last out. During his sophomore season, he won the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park and the Grade 3 Ontario Derby at Woodbine – both over synthetic surfaces. He also won the Grade 3 Transylvania last July over the Keeneland turf.

Jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. rides from post 7.

Rounding out the field is Electric City Racing, Madaket Stables, Christopher Dunn and Jeremy Peskoff's Whisper Not, who won the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile two starts back for trainer Richard Baltas.

Jockey Jose Ortiz picks up the mount from post 2.

The prestigious Fourstardave honors the “Sultan of Saratoga” who earned his nickname by winning at least one race at the Spa from 1987-94. Trained by Leo O'Brien and owned by Richard Bomze and Bernard Connaughton, Fourstardave's signature Spa wins included the 1988 Albany Handicap as well as two non-consecutive wins in the West Point [1989 and 1991]. Fourstardave secured two triumphs in his namesake race when run as the Daryl's Joy [1990-91].

The Fourstardave is carded as Race 9 on Saturday's 11-race program at Saratoga Race Course, which also includes the Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special presented by Miller Lite, a 6 ½-furlong sprint for juveniles over the main track. First post is 1:05 p.m. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the summer meet on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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Home, Sweet (Woodbine) Home For Antonio Gallardo

Antonio Gallardo didn't need to say a word to let it be known he felt right at home.

First came the victory, the one aboard Diabolic in the My Dear Stakes on July 31, then came the winning walk to the Woodbine winner's circle, and then came the ear-to-ear smile.

He duplicated the feat – and same expression – the following day when he guided Queen's Plate-bound Avoman to a score in the Plate Trial.

The jockey from Jerez de la Frontera, in Cadiz, Spain, who had just started riding at Canada's Showplace of Racing, was in familiar territory.

“I like Woodbine,” said the 34-year-old. “I like it a lot. The racetrack, the facility, the people – everyone and everything is very nice. Obviously, I was very happy to have success in the Plate Trial and the day before with Mark Casse's filly. They are two very good horses and it was nice to win with them.”

Winning races is nothing new for Gallardo, even if it didn't start out that way nearly 13 years ago.

Although didn't hit the board when he launched his life in the irons in the U.S. with a single mount on New Year's Eve in 2008, success would soon come.

A modest seven-win campaign in 2009 was followed by seasons of 41, 31 and 42 victories.

It was in 2013, however, when Gallardo established himself as a rider on the rise, his confidence and win total hitting stride simultaneously.

With the first 100-win campaign (101, to be exact) in the U.S. under his saddle, business and opportunities flourished, with one of the highlights coming aboard 14-1 Flatter in the 2013 Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Gallardo has excelled in the Sunshine State over the years.

To date, he counts five riding championships at Tampa, and is the track's single-season record holder with 147 winners, established in 2014-15.

He also has four riding titles at Presque Isle Downs, where he took the 2018 and 2019 editions of the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (G2) aboard Hotshot Anna.

But his successes don't end there.

Gallardo has finished in the top six in races won in North America in five of the last six years, including second-place finishes in 2015 and 2016. He has nine graded stakes on his resume, highlighted by Chad Brown trainee Funtastic's triumph in the 2018 running of the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth Park.

He's even made headlines off the track.

After an interview with a reporter from Fuera de Serie, a lifestyle and leisure supplement found in Spain's El Mundo newspaper, Gallardo became the first athlete to grace the magazine's cover since soccer megastar Cristiano Ronaldo.

Now, Gallardo will look to become front-page racing news at Woodbine. He likes what he sees.

“The track gives you three different courses, which I like. The turf [E.P. Taylor Turf Course] with the long stretch, it teaches you to be patient, the Inner Turf, it's about speed and you have to be close. I'm very happy with the way things have gone so far.”

It might be enough for Gallardo to shed the nomadic ways he's known over the past few racing seasons.

Setting up shop at Woodbine for the long-term might not be such a longshot.

“My goal is to try and see how I do this year and if all goes well, to come back next year. I really like it. I'm tired of moving my tack everywhere and travelling so much. I think Woodbine is perfect for me – riding in one place eight months of the year. I want to work hard, find good horses, and make the most of my opportunities. If things go well in the next few years here, maybe the other four months I can just relax with my family, go on vacations, something like that. Who knows? I don't know yet. I try to go with the flow and see how things play out. But I do like the idea of racing eight months at one track, and to not travel so much.”

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Regardless of where Gallardo finds himself or what career choices he has made and will make, he knows he'll have the support of those closest to him.

FaceTime with his family, currently living in Florida, is a daily routine. He also keeps in touch with his parents, Antonio and Paqui, who live in Spain.

“My family has always been there for me,” said Gallardo, who was joined by his wife Polliana and the couple's children, Carlos and Christa, when he achieved his 2,000th win in his 9,807th start, this February at Tampa Bay Downs. “Being a jockey is a tough life and a tough job, but they make it easy for me to focus on what I do. They inspire me every day.”

That inspiration is one of many reasons Gallardo is off to a hot start at Woodbine.

“I approach every race the same way. I do as much homework as I can on my horse so that I can give them the best chance to win the race. So far, things have gone really well here. I'm very happy.”

It's what happens, smiled Gallardo, when you feel right at home.

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Regal Glory Moves Late To Take De La Rose At Saratoga

Regal Glory put in a potent late move from well off the pace to capture Sunday's $120,000 Fasig-Tipton De La Rose at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Regal Glory was one of two entrants for trainer Chad Brown, along with Viadera, in the one-mile inner-turf test for older fillies and mares who haven't won a graded race this year.

Under an aggressive hand ride from Jose Ortiz, the daughter of Animal Kingdom took command of the field on the far turn and then she kicked clear through the lane to run down Hendy Woods, who enjoyed a ground-saving trip from Tyler Gaffalione, and Shifty She, who had set honest splits of :23.89, :48.58, and 1:12.20 on the firm turf.

Owned by Peter M. Brant, the five-year-old mare prevailed by one-half length over Hendy Woods. Shifty She faded to third, 1 ¼ lengths behind, as Regal Glory covered the one-mile in a final time of 1:34.85.

Regal Glory, who had captured the Plenty of Grace at Aqueduct in Ozone Park, N.Y., in April two starts back, took good advantage of the drop in class from her most recent outing in the Grade 1 Longines Just a Game on June 5 on the Belmont Park turf.

“She got a really bad trip in the Just a Game, which was unfortunate because she was really primed to run a big one and she did, it just didn't work out for her,” Brown explained. “But we regrouped. I spoke to Mr. Brant and said, 'Let's get her to Saratoga and let's put her in a race where she can get a good trip,' and hopefully put a W under her belt with the eye of trying to win a Grade 1 with her this year, which is why he kept her in training after he bought her. We'll see what's next for her, but, for now, we'll just enjoy this.”

Ortiz said he felt confident there was pace to close into when the usually prominent Raven's Cry, piloted by Luis Saez, wasn't up top.

“I broke running but I knew the pace was fast when Saez wasn't anywhere close,” Ortiz said. “I just sat there and followed him [Saez]. I was following the right horse but Tyler had a great trip on the inside and it made it closer than it should be. I knew I had him.”

Viadera, the 6-5 favorite piloted by Joel Rosario, finished fourth after having a less auspicious run around the course than her stablemate.

“She had a rough trip for her first time back. It happens sometimes when you have a late-running horse like that,” Brown said. “I spoke to Joel briefly and he was frustrated because he had to stop a couple of different times and by the time she got clear, it was just too late.”

Viadera was making her first start since capturing the Grade 1 Matriarch in November at Del Mar.

“She got started a lot later than we had hoped this year,” said Brown. “Now that she has a race under her belt, hopefully she'll move forward. She's another one that, already being a Grade 1-winner, we're probably headed into Grade 1s with her. It's her abbreviated last season of racing and we're going to try and make the most of it.”

Hendy Woods, who was bred by her owner Stonestreet Stables and trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, outran her 10-1 odds while also gaining late but was no match for the winner.

“Everything went to plan. The speed set a nice tempo in front of us and I was able to tuck in and save some ground,” Gaffalione said. “I had every chance down the stretch. She gave me a huge run. We just couldn't get the bob today. That's horse racing. I'm super proud of my filly. She ran big today.”

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Raven's Cry, Star Command, and Belle Laura completed the order of finish.

The Kentucky-bred Regal Glory, who won the Grade 2 Lake Placid Stakes and the Grade 3 Lake George Stakes at Saratoga in 2019, returned $5.20 for a $2 wager. She now has a record of 8-3-0 in 14 starts for her connections.

Live racing resumes Wednesday at Saratoga with a 10-race card highlighted by the $120,000 Mahony for 3-year-olds going 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf in Race 9 and the $100,000 Evan Shipman for New York-bred 3-year-olds and up competing at 1 1/8 miles in Race 3. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

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