Tag: Mark Casse

Ride a Comet outdueled Casa Creed down the Gulfstream Park stretch to win the Tropical Turf last weekend. Duplicating that in the Grade 1 Pegasus Turf Invitational will be a much bigger ask for the 6-year-old. (Image: Lauren King/Coglianese Photos)

Independence Hall, Coastal Defense, Ride a Comet Grab Pegasus Invites

- 2 min read

With Charlatan and Mucho Gusto passing up Pegasus invites, Independence Hall and Coastal Defense became the latest two invites for the Jan. 23, $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational. They’ve earned spots on the also-eligible list for the Grade 1 race. Along with that, Ride a Comet parlayed his victory […]

Fighting Mad captured the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes last May over Hard Not To Love. The two meet again in Saturday's Grade 2 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita Park. (Image: Benoit Photo)

The Older Set Takes Over the Stakes Spotlight at Santa Anita, Gulfstream

- 3 min read

Last week, the sophomores stole the stage. Now, it’s the older horses’ turn to seize the stakes spotlight, dim as it may be this weekend. This weekend’s stakes schedule doesn’t scream “high profile.” After all, 2021’s first Grade 1s are still two weeks away. But, it does raise its voice […]

Furosimide, sold under the name Salix or Lasix, prevents pulmonary bleeding in horses. It is now banned in all Kentucky Derby points races, along with the Derby itself. (Image: Anne M. Eberhardt/The Horse)

You’ll See a Lasix-Free Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks in 2021

- 3 min read

The 2021 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks will mark the first time in the history of those prestigious races that horses may run without furosemide, better known by its brand name Lasix. The ban on the powerful anti-bleeding medication, widely employed at tracks all over the country, extends to the […]

Gretzky the Great won the Soaring Free Stakes to give his sire, Nyquist, his first progeny stakes winner. Gretzky the Great goes for his hat trick in Sunday's Summer Stakes. (Image: Michael Burns)

Gretzky the Great Gunning for Hat Trick in Summer Stakes

- 3 min read

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse won the Grade 1 Summer Stakes three consecutive years from 2013-2015. Now, he sends Gretzky the Great out in search of his own hat trick in one of Woodbine’s two Grade 1 races Sunday. The Grade 1 Summer Stakes sends seven 2-year-olds a mile […]

At 8/1, Marine Stakes winner Shirl's Speight offers high-flying value in his first Grade 1 race. (Image: Kevin Burns Photography)

Eclectic Cast of Characters Takes On the Woodbine Mile

- 4 min read

The Woodbine Mile field defines the term “eclectic.” You’ve got a Preakness winner, a 7-year-old mare with multiple graded stakes victories, and one of Canada’s most promising 3-year-olds. And all three of them could lose to one of the best closers in Canadian racing. The eclectic field of eight tangles […]

Gamine may be the best 3-year-old filly in North America. Bettors treat her as such, making her th 3/5 favorite for Saturday's Test Stakes at Saratoga. (Image: Al Bello/Getty)

Gamine Faces Her Latest Question — at Saratoga’s Test Stakes

- 3 min read

Gamine has passed every test facing her on the track: breaking her maiden, winning an allowance, and romping to a near-record time in her first Grade 1. So Saturday’s Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga is a natural for the 3-year-old, Bob Baffert-trained filly. A seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies, […]

War of Will's 'WOW' factor went on display en route to the 2019 Preakness Stakes title. He will join his sire, War Front, at stud next year. (Image: Coady Photography)

Like Father, Like Son: War of Will Set to Join His Sire at Stud

- 3 min read

The people who run Claiborne Farm expect this to be another case of like father, like son. The large Kentucky breeding farm purchased the breeding rights to War of Will, who will join his sire, War Front, upon his retirement. That gives Claiborne a true rarity that will appeal greatly […]

As chaos befell his chief rivals, Raging Bull enjoyed a perfect trip in May's Shoemaker Mile. Three of his rivals from that race try turning the tables in Friday's Grade 1 Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland. (Image: Benoit Photo)

Distilling the Talent in the Maker’s Mark Mile Produces Raging Bull

- 3 min read

Maybe it’s the bourbon talking, but it’s easy to confuse Friday’s Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes at Keeneland with May’s Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita Park. Yes, the tracks are 2,000 miles and three time zones apart. Details. The similarities go beyond the fact both are Grade […]

Trainer Mark Casse lifted the Belmont Stakes trophy courtesy of Sir Winston last year. He could do it again this year with Tap It To Win. (Image: Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday)

History Calling Trainer Casse; Can Tap It To Win Answer the Call?

- 3 min read

While 10 trainers can claim Triple Crowns – Jim Fitzsimmons and Bob Baffert have two apiece – no one has ever accomplished what Mark Casse could achieve should Tap It To Win capture the Belmont Stakes. To better understand what Casse can achieve at this Saturday’s Grade 1 Belmont Stakes […]

Tiz the Law and Manny Franco can afford to relax right now. Tiz the Law is the 6/5 morning-ione favorite for Saturday's Triple Crown-opening Belmont Stakes. (Image: Ryan Thompson/Gulfstream Park)

Starting From Post 8, Tiz the Law Tabbed Belmont Stakes Favorite

- 3 min read

To nobody’s surprise, Tiz the Law opened as your healthy 6/5 favorite for Saturday’s 152nd running of the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes. He’ll do so out of the eight post in the 10-horse field, drawn Wednesday afternoon at Belmont Park. And Tiz the Law will do so as the only […]

His Preakness Stakes win showed why War of Will was one of the most talented and unpredictable 3-year-olds last year. He's back on turf as one of the favorites in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita. (Image: Eclipse Sportswire)

Preakness Winner War of Will Headlines Deep Shoemaker Mile Field

- 4 min read

Flavien Prat will ride War of Will in Monday’s Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita Park. And if that doesn’t set off the irony bells and whistles – while running red flags from every mast – nothing else will. Last May 4, Prat found himself a Kentucky Derby-winning jockey […]

Wise Dan won 23 races and finished second twice in 31 starts. (Image: SI.com)

Three Centuries of Racing Represented in 2020 Hall of Fame Class

- 4 min read

One of the most accomplished older horses of the last decade, the reigning winning trainer in the Preakness and Belmont, a record-setting former jockey. and the son of a Titanic victim who became one of the pillars of the sport. Those are four of the seven new members of the […]