Mark Casse | Horse Racing Free Tips

Pletcher Sends Out Lucifer’s Lair In Quest Of Sixth Victory In Adirondack

Impressive debut winners Ava's Grace and Lucifer's Lair along with Make Mischief, runner-up in the Grade 3 Schuylerville on Opening Day, headline a compact but competitive field of six for Wednesday's 104th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Adirondack for 2-year-old fillies at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The 6 1/2-furlong Adirondack is the second in Saratoga's series of three races for juvenile fillies, following the six-furlong Schuylerville on July 16 and preceding the Grade 1, $250,000 Spinaway at seven furlongs on September 6.

Trainer Todd Pletcher is a five-time winner of the Adirondack, one fewer than his Hall of Fame mentor D. Wayne Lukas, most recently taking back-to-back editions in 2016-17 with Nonna Mela and Pure Silver, respectively.

Pletcher will be represented this year by The Elkstone Group's Maryland homebred Lucifer's Lair. The bay's sire, Quality Road, won the Grade 2 Amsterdam in 2009 and Grade 1 Woodward in 2010 at Saratoga, while the dam, Devil's Cave, also was a graded-stakes winner going long on the dirt.

Lucifer's Lair was unveiled on July 19 at the Spa, pressing a brisk pace going 5 ½ furlongs before forging a short lead entering the stretch and going on to win by three lengths in 1:05.33.

“She had trained like a filly that was capable of winning her debut. She's a pretty professional, straightforward sort so we were hoping for a good race,” Pletcher said. “She was early to come in and we had a good foundation into her, so we felt like we had her pretty fit going into that. By Quality Road, you would think that she would improve stretching out, as well.”

Lucifer's Lair tuned up for the Adirondack with a half-mile work in 49.49 seconds over Saratoga's main track on August 6. Meet-leading rider Irad Ortiz, Jr., aboard for her debut triumph, gets the return call from post 5.

“We were very pleased with her debut. She's been training good since then and had a nice breeze yesterday, so it seems like she's ready to go again,” Pletcher said. “Certainly it's going to be a tough race, but it's the logical next move.”

Southern Equine Stables' homebred Ava's Grace will be making her Saratoga debut in the Adirondack, exiting a come-from-behind half-length victory in 59.38 seconds for five furlongs on July 3 at Ellis Park.

The bay Laoban filly was then shipped to Saratoga where she shows three breezes over the main track, the most recent a five-furlong drill in 1:01.19 on August 4 for trainer Robertino Diodoro.

“We worked her the other day and she handled it impressively. To work five-eighths by herself as a 2-year-old, she's really developing into a nice filly,” Diodoro said. “It's going to be a big test for her, but she's doing everything right. What I like is she's doing everything right and her works have been a little better and a little better each time.

“I always say a big part of all these horses, but especially young horses, is the mental part,” he added. “Especially with fillies. She's about as smart as they come and as classy as they come. She's a very classy filly.”

Ava's Grace broke from the rail in her debut and rated in fifth before steadily making up ground to get within a neck of the lead at the top of the stretch under jockey David Cohen, who gets the assignment again from post 1.

“She wasn't as prepared a first-time starter as we usually have them. It was kind of a rush situation for a couple different reasons but she handled everything amazingly well, from the paddock to the gate,” Diodoro said. “A lot of times when you do stuff like that with a filly you'll blow their mind, but it didn't even faze her. She's come back really well and shipped up here well. We've had her up to the gate, we've had her in the paddock. She acts like a nice, late 3-year-old filly. She's just very professional.”

Diodoro said her poise may come from the sire. Also campaigned by Southern Equine with McCormick Racing, Laoban ran third in the Grade 3 Sham and second in the Grade 3 Gotham in 2016, not breaking his maiden until later that summer in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga, following off-the-board efforts in the Grade 1 Blue Grass and Grade 1 Preakness.

“We've got a couple more Laobans down at Ellis and they're all the same way. They're just very professional, they're good-looking horses and very smart horses. I know it's a new sire, but it could be a little trademark coming here,” Diodoro said. “A friend of mine has got one at Prairie Meadows and without me even saying anything, he started telling me about this Laoban he's got. He said the same thing, he acts like a nice 3-year-old.”

Diodoro said he will leave the decision up to Cohen but expects Ava's Grace to be among the top flight in the Adirondack.

“I think she could be closer. She broke out of the one hole last time. She's had a little more gate experience now. I think she'll be forwardly placed, very forwardly placed. It's going to be interesting. It's always neat with these young horses, to watch them develop,” Diodoro said. “She's a good-sized filly. She'll grow a little more in height but, to be honest, I think she's the perfect size. She's just put together nice.”

Trainer Mark Casse won last year's Adirondack with Perfect Alibi, and he'll attempt to defend his title with Gary Barber's Make Mischief. The daughter of Into Mischief, debuted with a five-furlong maiden special weight victory on June 18 at Belmont Park, then set the pace in the Schuylerville for a half-mile before giving way to finish second behind Dayoutoftheoffice.

Hall of Famer John Velazquez and Make Mischief will break from post 2.

Heider Family Stables' Thoughtfully first made headlines last summer at Saratoga by fetching $950,000 at Fasig-Tipton's Selected Yearling Sale, then ran to her price tag in debut, an 8 ¾-length maiden special weight romp on June 11 at Churchill Downs for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, a two-time Adirondack winner. She has breezed five times at Saratoga including a bullet five furlongs in 1:00.91 on August 3.

Up on the Tapit filly in debut, Ricardo Santana, Jr. rides back from post 4.

AVQ Racing's Lilac Lace will try the dirt after graduating at first asking in a 5 ½-furlong turf sprint on July 12 at Keeneland. Trainer Anthony Quartorolo enlisted Hall of Famer Javier Castellano to ride from post 3.

Completing the field is Michael J. Ryan's Beautiful Farewell, winless in two starts including a fifth, beaten 2 ½ lengths, in a six-furlong maiden special weight on August 2 at Saratoga. Joel Rosario climbs aboard for the first time from outside post 6.

The Adirondack is slated as Race 9 on Wednesday's 10-race card, which offers a first post of 12:50 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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5 Sophomore Fillies Set To Take On Gamine In Test

Michael Lund Petersen's Gamine headlines a field of six in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 Longines Test, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The Longines Test is one of three Grade 1 events on Saturday's 12-race Runhappy Travers Day card, headlined by the “Mid-Summer Derby” at 1 1/4 miles for the country's most talented 3-year-olds and the $300,000 Ballerina presented by NYRA Bets for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going seven furlongs offering a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

The card is bolstered by the Grade 3, $200,000 Troy, a 5 ½-furlong turf sprint for older males, and the Grade 3, $150,000 Waya, a 1 ½-mile turf route for older fillies and mares. The card will be broadcast on Saratoga Live on FOX Sports and MSG Networks.

Gamine, an Into Mischief bay trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, has crossed the wire first in all three career starts, winning her March debut at Santa Anita by 6 1/4-lengths when sprinting 6 1/2-furlongs. In May, she edged Speech, who two starts later captured the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland, in an optional-claiming sprint at Oaklawn where she was subsequently disqualified from purse money.

Last out, the $1.8 million Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale purchase annexed a field of seven in the Grade 1 Longines Acorn by 18 3/4-lengths on June 20 at Belmont Park.

Gamine led the seven-horse field wire-to-wire, completing the course in 1:32.55, marking the fastest of 90 editions of the Acorn and just missed Najran's track record of 1:32.24 set in May 2003.

Baffert said Gamine, who breezed six furlongs in 1:12.80 in company with Eclair on Sunday at Del Mar, is coming into Saturday's test in good order as she marches a path toward the nine-furlong Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on September 4 at Churchill Downs.

“She looks great. We're keeping her one turn,” said Baffert. “I would have liked to stretch her out one more time, but the timing wasn't just right for it, but she's doing really well. She's a really exciting filly, so hopefully she runs as well as in the past and then we can run her in the Kentucky Oaks.”

Bred in Kentucky by Grace Thoroughbred Holdings, Gamine is out of the Kafwain mare Peggy Jane and will be piloted by Hall of Famer John Velazquez from post 5.

Tracy Farmer's Grade 1-winner Perfect Alibi, trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, owns a perfect record from two starts at the Spa. The dark bay daughter of Sky Mesa, bred in Kentucky by Pin Oak Stud, graduated by 9 1/2-lengths at first asking in May 2019 in a Churchill Downs maiden sprint.

Following a runner-up effort in the Astoria in June 2019 at Belmont, she shipped upstate to Saratoga and rallied to smart scores in the Grade 2 Adirondack and Grade 1 Spinaway.

She completed a productive 2-year-old campaign with a second in the Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland and a closing fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita.

After opening her sophomore season with a distant fifth in the Longines Acorn, Perfect Alibi will look to get back on track after a distant fifth in the Acorn.

“It was such a crazy race and the one filly [Gamine] was so awesome, it's hard to say what happened,” said Casse of the Acorn effort. “She was coming back off a long layoff and it wasn't an ideal spot, but it was the best spot that was out there for her and it just didn't work out.”

Perfect Alibi has worked four times since the Acorn, including a half-mile breeze from the gate in 49.44 on July 26 and a swift four furlongs in 48.63 on Sunday both at Saratoga. Casse said he is hoping to motivate the filly for a sharper performance on Saturday.

“She's not a very good work horse, which also made it difficult coming off the long layoff,” said Casse. “Some horses are easier to get ready than others. We gave her the gate work to get her excited and I thought her last work was very good.”

With a perfect 2-for-2 record at Saratoga, Casse said he is hoping a return to the Spa will be beneficial.

“I'm not sure what to expect this weekend, but the good thing is that she has shown she likes Saratoga,” said Casse. “I'm hoping being at Saratoga will push her along and help her run a little better. We thought about finding an easier spot, but we know much she likes it there.”

Tyler Gaffalione has the call from post 2.

Ciaglia Racing, Highland Yard, River Oak Farm and Dominic Savides' Venetian Harbor, a sophomore daughter of Munnings bred in Kentucky by Colts Neck Stables, completed the exacta behind Speech last out on July 11 in the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland.

Trained by Richard Baltas, the pacey filly romped at second asking by 10 3/4-lengths on December 29 at Santa Anita in a 6 ½-furlong maiden sprint and followed up with a frontrunning 9 1/4-length score in the one-mile Grade 2 Las Virgenes at Santa Anita in February to kick off her 3-year-old campaign.

Venetian Harbor stretched out to 1 1/16-miles when second behind Swiss Skydiver in the Grade 3 Fantasy at Oaklawn July 11 ahead of the Ashland and will return to sprinting on Saturday.

A $110,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Venetian Harbor shipped in under the care of assistant trainer Aimee Dollase at Saratoga on Tuesday.

“She traveled well yesterday and ate up well last night. We jogged her this morning and she seems pretty comfortable,” said Dollase. “We'll gallop her again on Thursday and go to the gate on Friday.

“She's settled in really well and she's a smart filly,” added Dollase. “She's very well-balanced. She's a nice filly with a good mind and she tries hard.”

Dollase, who traveled with the filly to Oaklawn and Keeneland, said Venetian Harbor should appreciate a turnback in distance after her route efforts.

“At some point, she could get the [route] distance with the right scenario,” said Dollase. “She trained well into those races. She set a quick pace in the Fantasy but the other filly, Swiss Skydiver, is obviously a very good filly and she just ran her down in the last part.

“She ran a big race in the Ashland, as well. She set a nice pace but Speech is coming into her own,” continued Dollase. “She's been beaten by two very good fillies going long, which is probably more what those fillies wanted to do, so we'll see how she runs here with a cutback in distance.”

Joel Rosario, aboard for the maiden score, has the call from post 6.

“Joel rides her well and has a lot of confidence in her. It's always good to have someone on who knows her well. He's the ultimate professional,” said Dollase.

Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's Wicked Whisper, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, sprinted to a memorable first-out graduation last August going six furlongs at Saratoga before stretching out to a one-turn mile to win the Grade 1 Frizette over Frank's Rockette.

The Liam's Map chestnut, a $500,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, completed her 2-year-old campaign with a fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and made her seasonal debut on July 10 with a fourth in the Grade 3 Beaumont traveling seven furlongs on the Keeneland main. Ricardo Santana, Jr., aboard for the maiden voyage, returns to the irons from post 4.

Black Type Thoroughbreds and R.A. Hill Stable's Florida-bred Up in Smoke has won 4-of-6 starts, but arrives at the Test looking for her first win outside of Gulfstream Park.

Trained by George Weaver, the grey daughter of The Big Beast bested fellow Florida-breds in her first two starts, both at six furlongs at the Hallandale Beach oval, including a rallying four-length score in an optional-claimer on March 5.

Following an open-company optional-claiming win in April at six furlongs, Up in Smoke stretched out to 1 1/16-miles for the Hollywood Wildcat on May 15 and finished fourth. Up in Smoke returned to sprinting in the 6 1/2-furlong Game Face on June 6 and bested Boerne, who exited that effort to win the Azalea at Gulfstream.

Last out, in her first start outside of Gulfstream Park, Up in Smoke finished an even fourth in the Grade 3 Victory Ride at 6 1/2-furlongs on July 4 at Belmont Park.

Up in Smoke has breezed twice at Saratoga since the Victory Ride, including a five-eighths effort in 1:02.12 on the main track on July 3.

Luis Saez has the call from the inside post.

Rounding out the field is Allen Stable's Mrs. Danvers, a homebred daughter of Tapit out of the Awesome Again mare Gracie Square.

Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, who won the Test with Lass Trump [1983] and Versailles Treaty [1991], Mrs. Danvers graduated at second asking last August at Saratoga in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden sprint.

The late-running grey has finished second in a pair of allowance efforts at Belmont to start her sophomore season. On June 20, traveling 6 1/2-furlongs, she finished 2 3/4-lengths back of Indian Pride, who exited that effort to the win the Shine Again impressively at the Spa on July 17. Last out, traveling a one-turn mile on July 9, Mrs. Danvers lunged at the start before rallying from last-of-6 to complete the exacta, four lengths back of undefeated Grand Cru Classe. Jose Ortiz, who won the Test with American Gal [2017] and Separationofpowers [2018], retains the mount from post 3.

The Grade 1 Longines Test is slated as Race 10 on Saturday's 12-race card, which offers a first post of 12 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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Casse: Enforceable ‘Has Grown Up A Lot,’ But Will Need ‘Plenty Of Pace’ In Kentucky Derby

Grade 3 winner Enforceable will enter the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby off a two-month layoff, trainer Mark Casse told The Canadian Press this week. Most recently fourth in the G2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on July 11, the 3-year-old son of Tapit is still ranked 12th on the Derby points leaderboard (43).

Enforceable is therefore expected to earn a spot in the starting gate for the classic, delayed by COVID-19 to Sept. 5.

The royally-bred Enforceable is a full brother to multiple graded stakes-winner Mohaymen and half-brother to Grade 1 winner New Year's Day, and races for owner John Oxley. A late-closing type, the colt's other starts in 2020 include a win in the G3 Lecomte (Jan. 18), a second in the G2 Risen Star (Feb. 15), and a fifth in the G2 Louisiana Derby (Mar. 21).

“He has grown up a lot,” Casse told The Canadian Press. “It's a tough Derby, he is going to need things to go his way. He needs there to be plenty of pace . . . that makes him much more effective.”

Bred in Kentucky by Clearsky Farms, Enforceable's total earnings stand at $397,150 with a record of 2-2-2 from 10 starts. He was a $775,000 RNA at the Keeneland September yearling sale.

His most recent workout was a five-furlong move at Churchill in 1:02.60 on Aug. 1. Enforceable, under jockey Declan Carroll, started about two lengths behind his stablemate and worked through fractions of :12.80, :25.60 and :38.40. Enforceable finished about a half-length to the good at the wire but continued in front through a six-furlong gallop out of 1:15.80 and finished his work with a seven-furlong time of 1:29.60.

“I was very happy with how he worked this morning,” said 21-year-old Carroll, whose father, David, oversees Casse's Churchill Downs string. “He did everything in stride. I was just the pilot.”

Casse was not in town for the work but reported via text following watching a short video of his stretch run, “I really like what I'm seeing.”

Nyquist Colt Posts Easy Win at Woodbine

6th-Woodbine, C$108,646, Msw, 8-2, 2yo, 6f (AWT) (off turf), 1:09.84, ft.
GRETZKY THE GREAT (c, 2, Nyquist–Pearl Turn {MSP, $182,560}, by Bernardini), sent off the hot 1-2 choice, jumped out to an early advantage, led through splits of :22.77 and :45.09 and turned on all boosters late, crossing the wire 4 1/2 lengths ahead of Liars Club (Broken Vow). The Ontario bred kicked off his career for Mark Casse with a second-place effort sprinting five panels over the local turf July 12 behind Ready to Repeat (More Than Ready), who would go on to air in the Victoria S. later on this card. Gretzky the Great’s victory made him the second winner for his freshman sire (by Uncle Mo). The Darley stallion recorded his third winner minutes later in Saratoga’s sixth race with Lady Lilly. Gretzky the Great has a yearling half-brother by Quality Road and his dam, who was multiple stakes-place routing on the dirt before being acquired for $310,000 by David Anderson in foal to Pioneerof the Nile at KEENOV ’16, was bred to Nyquist’s sire for 2021. Gretzky the Great is bred on the same Uncle Mo–Bernardini cross as GISW Mo Town and Grade II winners Modernist and Mopotism. Sales history: $295,000 RNA Ylg ’19 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $61,234. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Gary Barber; B-Anderson Farms Ont. Inc. (ON); T-Mark E. Casse.

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