Casse Points Souper Sensational To Test Stakes At Saratoga

After acing a proverbial quiz with a 3 1/4-length win in Saturday's Grade 3 Victory Ride at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said Souper Sensational could now be ready for a test – the $500,000 Grade 1 Longines Test on August 7 at Saratoga Race Course  in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. that is – after coming out of her effort yesterday in good order.

Live Oak Plantation's Souper Sensational notched her first career graded stakes score when going five-wide in the upper stretch and surging home under jockey Flavien Prat to win the 6 1/2-furlong main track sprint for 3-year-old fillies. Her win over Ova Charged earned the Curlin filly a personal-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure as she improved her career record to 3-1-1 in seven starts.

Casse had Souper Sensational on the trail for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks earlier in her sophomore campaign, where she finished third in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks in March over a fast track. In her last start, she ran fourth in the Grade 2 Eight Belles in April at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., also over a fast track. The Victory Ride was the first time Souper Sensational ran over a track rated good.

“She's always shown a lot of talent,” said Casse. “We tried to get her to the Oaks and maybe in retrospect, she might just be a good sprinter type or going a mile. But the race set up for her yesterday and Flavien rode her well. She was impressive.”

In the Eight Belles, Hall of Famer John Velazquez was aboard for the seven-furlong sprint, and the veteran rider told Casse afterward he was disappointed in the effort based on Souper Sensational's ability.

“She trained really well into this race. [Assistant trainer] David Carroll, who had her for me at Louisville, thought she trained as well, if not better, than ever coming into the race, and he was right,” Casse said. “The last time she ran at Churchill, Johnny came back and was very frustrated. He said he was following a horse and a horse stopped in front of him and said we should have done a lot better than she did.

“So, we gave her a little break. She had been running hard,” Casse added. “I gave her just a little training beak. Sometimes you don't have to go home to get a break. We just didn't do anything with her for a little while. After the race at Churchill, our goal was the Test, and I figured, what's the best way to get to that race?' And yesterday was a great step.”

The G1 Longines Test for sophomore fillies is held at seven furlongs. Casse said Souper Sensational was headed upstate to Saratoga Springs to begin training for that contest next month.

“She got a 95 Beyer, which is very good for a 3-year-old filly. If you consider the wide trip too, it was impressive,” Casse said reflecting on the Victory Ride. “She's now headed to Saratoga this morning and we'll look at the Test.”

John C. Oxley's Palazzi had a troubled trip and finished sixth in Saturday's $1 million Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational at 1 1/4 miles on the inner turf. After breaking from the inside post under Tyler Gaffalione in the nine-horse field, Palazzi could not find racing room until it was too late, finishing 3 1/4 lengths behind winner Bolshoi Ballet. It was the third time in six starts Palazzi drew the inside post in a stakes race.

“Poor Palazzi, he can't catch a break,” Casse said. “He drew the one-hole again and there wasn't anything Tyler did wrong, but there was nowhere to go and there was too much to do when he finally got loose. I guess we'll go to the next big one in Saratoga.”

With the Belmont Derby Invitational serving as the first leg of the Turf Triple series, the “big one” at Saratoga will host the middle jewel of the series, with the $1 million Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational at 1 3/16 miles set for Whitney Day on August 7.

Casse's other entry in a Turf Triple race, Spanish Loveaffair, ran last-of-eight in the $700,000 Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/4 miles on the inner turf. Casse didn't pick up a next spot yet but said a shorter distance could suit the Karakontie filly better. Spanish Loveaffair is owned by Gary Barber, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Michael Hernon.

“I just think we're going to cut her back and go a mile,” Casse said. “She wants a race where there's a little more pace. The problem is the further you run, the less pace there is. She was just too rambunctious early on yesterday.”

The post Casse Points Souper Sensational To Test Stakes At Saratoga appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Casse-Trained Helium Should ‘Sit A Better Trip’ In Saturday’s Matt Winn Stakes

Trainer Mark Casse's stakes quartet of Helium, Palazzi, Spanish Loveaffair and Tap It to Win are poised to return to form on Saturday's Stephen Foster Preview Day at Churchill Downs.

“I think all four of our horses are very live in those races,” Casse's assistant trainer David Carroll said. “Each one of them fit very well in their respective fields and I think we are setting up for a solid day of racing.”

D J Stable's Kentucky Derby (GI) 10th-place finisher Helium was installed as the co-second choice at 5-2 in the $150,000 Matt Winn (G3). Juddmonte's $300,000 Oaklawn Stakes winner Fulsome also is 5-2. The 2-1 morning line favorite is Bernard Racing, Tagg Team Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds and Terry Stephens' Kentucky Derby fifth-place finisher O Besos.

“He ran a solid effort in the Derby,” Carroll said of Helium. “I think he will be able to sit a better trip in the Matt Winn from just off the pace and I think he matches up with this field better.”

The 1 1/16-mile Matt Winn, carded as Race 9 at 4:55 p.m. (all times Eastern), shares the Saturday spotlight with the $150,000 Audubon (Race 5), $150,000 Blame (Race 6), $150,000 Shawnee (Race 7), $150,000 Regret (G3) (Race 8), $150,000 Aristides (Listed) (Race 10), and $110,000 Douglas Park Overnight Stakes (Race 11). The stellar program gets underway at 12:45 p.m.

The complete field for the Matt Winn (from the rail out with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Ready to Pounce (Brian Hernandez Jr., Neil Pessin, 15-1); Helium (Julien Leparoux, Casse, 5-2); O Besos (Marcelino Pedroza, Greg Foley, 2-1); Southern Passage (Corey Lanerie, Dale Romans, 20-1); Fulsome (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 5-2); Hello Hot Rod (Francisco Arrieta, Caio Caramori, 20-1); Sittin On Go (Joe Talamo, Romans, 8-1); and Game Day Play (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro, 8-1).

One race after the Matt Winn, Live Oak Plantation's four-time winner Tap It to Win will hope to avenge his 11th-place finish in the $500,000 Churchill Downs (G1) as the 3-1 morning line favorite in the six-furlong Aristides.

“We've been working mentally with him a lot following that race,” Carroll said. “I think we've got him to a good place after the Churchill Downs. He got stuck in a speed duel that day and it wasn't the best of trips. I think drawing to the outside of this field should help him sit a better trip.”

The complete field for the Aristides from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Haunt (Gerardo Corrales, Reeve McGaughey, 10-1); Tough Love (Corey Lanerie, Brian Williamson, 10-1); Bango (Marcelino Pedroza, Greg Foley, 4-1); Edgemont Road (Ricardo Santana Jr., Eddie Kenneally, 12-1); Empire of Gold (David Cabrera, Terry Eoff, 7-2); Long Range Toddy (Jon Court, Dallas Stewart, 15-1); Royal Daaher (Drayden Van Dyke, Jimmy DiVito, 10-1); Mojo Man (Francisco Arrieta, DiVito, 10-1); Sir Alfred James (Colby Hernandez, Al Stall Jr., 8-1); and Tap It to Win (Tyler Gaffalione, Casse, 3-1).

Earlier in the card, John Oxley's two-time winner Palazzi will have to overcome the rail draw in the 1 1/8-mile Audubon Stakes run over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

“We are supposed to get some rain Friday so we'll have to wait and see what the turf condition is like,” Carroll said. “He likes to be to the outside of horses and got into a tough trip in the American Turf (G2). He'll have to find a trip breaking from the rail but I think can bounce back from that race fairly well. He's been a very consistent horse since running on the grass.”

The only start Palazzi missed the board on the turf was in the $500,000 American Turf (G2). Arguably his best effort came at the end of January when he got up to win the $200,000 Texas Turf Mile at Sam Houston by a nose under Carroll's son Declan.

The full field for the Audubon from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Palazzi (Tyler Gaffalione, Mark Casse, 7-2); Like the King (Chris Landeros, Wesley Ward, 7-2); Cave Hill (Declan Cannon, Brendan Walsh, 10-1); Hidden Enemy (IRE) (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen, 4-1); Haddassah (Mitchell Murrill, Kevin Attard, 15-1); Cellist (Julien Leparoux, Rusty Arnold II, 8-1); Holy Vow (David Cabrera, John Ortiz, 10-1); and Royal Prince (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 3-1).

Michael Hernon, Gary Barber and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Spanish Loveaffair will be in search of her first graded stakes glory in the Regret (G3). Run at 1 1/8 miles on the turf, Spanish Loveaffair was made the 5-2 morning line favorite.

“She took a little longer to come out of the (April 3) Appalachian (G2) but we got her back to Churchill and she's picked things up nicely the last few weeks,” Carroll said. “She's really flourished the last couple of weeks and I think will be ready for a top effort in this spot.”

The complete field for the Regret from the inside out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Oyster Box (Chris Landeros, Graham Motion, 6-1); Munnyfor Ro (Drayden Van Dyke, Brian Lynch, 12-1); Line Dancing (Julien Leparoux, Michael Matz, 12-1); Spanish Loveaffair (Tyler Gaffalione, Mark Casse, 5-1); Barista (James Graham, Jimmy Baker, 5-1); Postnup (Brian Hernandez Jr., Cherie DeVaux, 12-1); Gam's Mission (Adam Beschizza, Cherie DeVaux, 5-1); Flown (Ricardo Santana Jr., Brendan Walsh, 9-2); and Saranya (Forent Geroux, Brad Cox, 5-1).

The post Casse-Trained Helium Should ‘Sit A Better Trip’ In Saturday’s Matt Winn Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Undefeated Annex Headlines Saturday’s American Turf Stakes

LNJ Foxwoods' and Eclipse Thoroughbreds' undefeated Annex, along with Stuart Janney III's Scarlett Sky and John Oxley's Palazzi, the one-two finishers in the recent Transylvania (G3) at Keeneland, top a field of 14 3-year-olds for Saturday's 30th running of the $500,000 American Turf presented by Derby City Gaming (G2) at Churchill Downs.

The 1 1/16-mile grass test serves as the ninth race on Saturday's Kentucky Derby day card with a 3:40 p.m. post time.

Trained by Bill Mott, Annex comes into Saturday's race off victories in the Palm Beach and Cutler Bay at Gulfstream Park. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount and will exit post four.

Trained by Shug McGaughey, Scarlett Sky rallied from far back to win the Transylvania by a half-length after being beaten by a head in the Palm Beach by Annex. Joel Rosario has the mount Saturday and will break from post 13.

Palazzi, who took the Texas Turf Mile to start his 2021 campaign, is trained by Mark Casse and will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione from post 14.

The field for the American Turf, with riders and weights from the inside, is:

  1. Excellent Timing (Umberto Rispoli, 118 pounds)
  2. Winfromwithin (Luis Saez, 118)
  3. Chess's Dream (Jose Ortiz, 120)
  4. Annex (Irad Ortiz Jr., 118)
  5. Du Jour (Flavien Prat, 118)
  6. Royal Prince (Javier Castellano, 118)
  7. Dyn O Mite (James Graham, 118)
  8. Barrister Tom (Drayden Van Dyke, 118)
  9. Holy Vow (Sophie Doyle, 118)
  10. Next (John Velazquez, 118)
  11. Hidden Enemy (Mike Smith, 118)
  12. Lucky Law (Florent Geroux, 118)
  13. Scarlett Sky (Joel Rosario, 120)
  14. Palazzi (Tyler Gaffalione, 118)

The post Undefeated Annex Headlines Saturday’s American Turf Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Houston Racing Festival Celebrates Record Handle Of $5.3 Million

While the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic and the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf may have attracted the greatest interest from the media and the national racing audience, there were impressive performances in the four Houston Racing Festival undercard stakes. The Houston Racing Festival 10-race card set a handle record for the track with $5.3 million wagered.

“We are thrilled with the success of this year's Houston Racing Festival and setting a record handle of $5.3 million,” said Frank Hopf, Senior Director of Racing. “It was a team effort from everyone at Sam Houston and our thanks go out to all the horsemen and owners for supporting our meet. This would not be possible without our horseplayers, both here in Texas and nationally. It was a great day!”

In the day's running of the $200,000 Texas Turf Mile, Palazzi emerged as the photo finish winner of the one-mile turf route to win his stakes debut. The 3-year-old Pioneerof the Nile colt stalked from mid-pack and closed swiftly in the stretch to defeat a full field of ten with a time of 1:36.89.

Palazzi is owned by Mark Oxley and trained by Mark Casse; Declan Carroll had the call on the colt for the first time.

'I have to thank Mark Casse and Mr. Oxley; it was huge,” said Carroll, who is the son of David Carroll. “The horse was training well and gained a lot of confidence at Fair Grounds. I was in a beautiful position, saved ground all the way, relaxed nicely and kicked home.”

With two wins in six career starts, Palazzi ($7.00) has earned $158,520 and is undefeated on the turf after breaking his maiden in his most recent start at the Fair Grounds.

“This horse came to Fair Grounds after his debut at Keeneland,” said Shane Tripp, who saddled for Casse. “A lot of the credit goes to David Carroll and his wife, Kim, as Palazzi really got comfortable and won his last [on December 19]. Declan saved ground and finished well on him today. We ran Jack and Noah in this race last year and think it's a great race for these 3-year-old turf horses.”

Excess Magic finished a nose behind Palazzi in second place for trainer Bret Calhoun with Miguel Mena aboard. Longshot Dyn O Mite threatened and led briefly in the stretch before finishing third. Fighting Force, Catman, Texas Bad Boy, Flash of Mischief, Bobby Brinkley, Red N Wild and Invincibility completed the order of finish.

The post Houston Racing Festival Celebrates Record Handle Of $5.3 Million appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights