Down the Shedrow with Mark Casse

It has been quite a memorable year for trainer Mark Casse in 2015. The 54-year-old scored a career high just last month when landing his first Breeders' Cup victory courtesy of Catch a Glimpse (City Zip) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Oct. 30. He didn't have to wait long for his second one as the talented Tepin (Bernstein) bested the boys with an impressive victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile the very next day. The Casse barn has a total of 17 graded stakes wins so far this year, with five of those being Grade Is. Casse gave the TDN's Christie DeBernardis the latest on all of his top runners and also pointed out some up-and-coming juveniles to watch for in the future.

CATCH A GLIMPSE (f, 2, City Zip)

After a failed attempt in an off-the-turfer on debut at Saratoga July 30, Catch a Glimpse really came into her own when switched to the turf, starting with an impressive allowance win at Woodbine Aug. 22. Capturing the GII Natalma S. there next out Sept. 12, the Gary Barber, Michael Ambler and Windways Farm runner rose to the top of her division with a victory in the Juvenile Fillies Turf (video).

“She's doing great. She's actually at Palm Meadows. She is galloping and we are aiming for the [GIII] Sweetest Chant [S. Jan. 30]. We are just taking it one race at a time right now. I would say, we will aim her for the Sweetest Chant and then probably the [GIII] Florida Oaks at Tampa [Mar. 12].”

“It was special for sure [getting his first Breeders' Cup win in the Juvenile Fillies Turf]. What's so special about her is that we had a lot of issues with her early on. She was just so nervous. We wanted to run her on the grass, but then it came off and we had to run on the dirt. I thought she had ability, but boy, when she got on the grass she was just a totally different horse. It was a good race and she is a really good horse. I think she proved that.”

AIROFORCE (c, 2, Colonel John)

A debut winner on the turf at Kentucky Downs Sept. 5, John Oxley's Airoforce followed suit with another success in Keeneland's grassy GIII Dixiana Bourbon S. Oct. 4. A gutsy second by just a neck in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Oct. 30, the gray proved to be quite versatile when capturing a sloppy renewal of the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. on the Churchill main track Nov. 28 (video).

“He's in South Florida and he is just kind of chilling. He's just taking it easy. He's had a couple of weeks of just going around the shedrow. He starts back galloping Monday. I haven't really decided where we are going to bring him back yet. That's a discussion Mr. Oxley and I will probably have in the next couple of weeks. We'll see how he does. My only concern with running at Gulfstream would be how speed oriented that track is, so we'll see. We have had some luck going the Derby way through Tampa, so that would be a possibility.”

“Going into the Breeders' Cup, I had a lot of confidence in him. I thought he was going to be very tough to beat. I thought he really struggled with the course on Breeders' Cup day. At the half-mile pole, if you told me he was going to be second, I would have hugged and kissed you. I really didn't think he was going to finish anywhere. My dad still talks about it. He says, 'I just wish that horse could have won, so you could have won three Breeders' Cup races instead of two.' I said, 'Dad, I'm okay with it!' [laughing]. At the half-mile pole, he was just struggling, so I think he ran second just on pure ability and pure determination. Of all our Breeders' Cup horses, he was the most exhausted after the race. He laid down for two or three days, which would go along with our feeling that he just didn't handle the turf that well that day.”

“He always trained very well on the dirt. The only reason we ran him on the grass the first time was because I believe a maiden special at Churchill was only $38,000 and a maiden special weight at Kentucky Downs was $120,000. So, we ran him on the grass just because of the bigger purse, and because of his breeding, we figured he shouldn't have any problem handling the grass. We weren't sure that he would, but we didn't think he would have a problem with it. We were more sure he would handle dirt, obviously, but we tried him [on grass] and he ran so well that we didn't want to take him off of it. The first thing I thought when he won the way he won was the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. In our mind, we always wanted to try him on the dirt, so that is how he ended up in the [Kentucky] Jockey Club.”

“All that being said, I'm quite proud of him because how many horses, especially 2-year-olds, can you say have the kind of record he has. He has shown ability on the dirt and on the turf. Obviously, Nyquist (Uncle Mo) is going to be the champion 2-year-old colt, but I think Airoforce should be in the final three.”

CONQUEST BIG E (c, 2, Tapit)

A $700,000 KEESEP purchase by Ernie Semersky's Conquest Stables last year, Conquest Big E was impressive enough in his second-out graduation at Keeneland Oct. 2 to give Casse the confidence to go to the Breeders' Cup (Click here for catalogue page). Eighth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Oct. 31, the gray bested late-running “TDN Rising Star” Unexplained (Ghostzapper) in a Churchill allowance last time Nov. 28.

“He is in the same boat as Airoforce. He got a couple of weeks of just going around the shedrow. He starts back Monday. That will be a conversation as he gets a little closer to running that Ernie Semersky and I will have on whether we will go the Florida route, the New Orleans route or the Hot Springs route. He is definitely a Derby horse and we will give him every opportunity to prove us right.”

“[Airoforce and Conquest Big E] have different running styles, so off the top of my head, I would think Conquest Big E would like Gulfstream a little more than Airoforce. I think Airoforce would prefer to have a track where he can sit back and come with a bigger run, where a horse like 'Big E' likes to sit a bit closer to the pace.”

TEPIN (f, 4, Bernstein):

Robert Masterson's Tepin stamped herself as one of the best turf milers of either sex this term when taking down some of both Europe and America's top grass horses in the Breeders' Cup Mile (video). That was just the grand finale to an already sensational season following the filly's victories in the GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. May 2, GI Longines Just a Game S. June 6 and GI First Lady S. Oct. 3. The bay was also second in both the GI Diana S. July 25 and GII Ballston Spa S. Aug. 29, respectively.

“Tepin is doing great. She is in South Florida and her goal is going to be the [GIII Endeavor S.] at Tampa [Feb. 13]. Our main goal for her would be to be back Derby day at Churchill and defend her title in the [GII] Churchill Distaff Turf Mile [S.].”

NOBLE BIRD (c, 4, Birdstone)

Runner-up in the GII Alysheba S. May 1, John Oxley's Noble Bird got the better of favored Lea (First Samurai) with a neck victory in Churchill's GI Stephen Foster H. June 13. The chestnut exited a ninth-place effort in Saratoga's GI Whitney S. Aug. 8 with a hip injury and has been sidelined since.

“Noble Bird is just about ready to start breezing. I watched him train this morning. He is doing well. He will probably come back in an allowance race, probably at Oaklawn. He is in Florida, but we will send him to Oaklawn when it gets closer. He could start at Gulfstream. It would just depend as we get further along and where there is a race for him. He would start in an allowance race, more likely on the dirt.”

LEXIE LOU (f, 4, Sligo Bay {Ire})

Another runner Casse is nursing back from the sidelines is 2014 Queen's Plate S. victress Lexie Lou. The Gary Barber colorbearer captured the Woodbine Oaks prior to her defeat of males in the Queen's Plate and also took the 2014 Wonder Where S. Closing out that season with a victory in Santa Anita's GIII Autumn Miss S. and a runner-up effort behind Horse of the Year California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) in the GI Hollywood Derby, the bay has not been seen since finishing second when switched to the dirt in Arcadia's GII La Canada S. Jan. 17.

“Lexie Lou is just about a month [away] from running. She had just a small injury [after the La Canada]. We had her all ready. We actually had her in at Woodbine this fall and she hurt her eye. She missed about 60 days because of her eye, but she's back and she's doing well. She'll pop up in the entries some time in January. She will probably run in some type of allowance race on the grass [at Gulfstream].”

WORLD APPROVAL (c, 3, Northern Afleet)

Live Oak Plantation homebred World Approval comes from a long line of talented turf runners being a half-brother to champion Miesque's Approval (Miesque's Son), MGSW and MGISP Za Approval (Ghostzapper) and MGSW millionaire Revved Up (Sultry Song). The sophomore already has a pair of black-type wins of his own with victories in the GIII American Derby at Arlington July 11 and Saratoga's GIII Saranac S. Sept. 5. The gray was last seen finishing fourth in Belmont's GIII Hill Prince S. Oct. 3.

“I just saw him [Wednesday]. He looks wonderful. He's at Live Oak. Mrs. Webber loves to bring the horses home for a little while and give them a break, so we sent him home after his last start. He's galloping and he looks better than ever. He will probably go down to South Florida at the beginning of the year and get ready down there.”

OL' FASHION GAL (f, 3, Sky Mesa)

Winner of last term's GIII Jimmy Durante S. at Del Mar, Bill & Vicki Poston Racing's Ol Fashion Gal finished off the board in her next two tries in graded company, but captured Woodbine's GIII Selene S. when last seen May 24.

“She is just starting to breeze. We will probably do the same thing that we did with Tepin. I try, especially with our 3 year olds once they have to start competing in stakes against older horses, to give them some time off to grow up and that's what I did with her. I could see her being ready somewhere around the first of the year for an allowance race.”

SIDING SPRING (c, 2, Warrior's Reward)

A debut winner at Kentucky Downs Sept. 14, Siding Spring finished third behind stablemate Airoforce in the Bourbon. The Gabe Grossberg runner tried his hand at the dirt last time out, finishing 10th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

“Siding Spring actually ran very well in the Breeders' Cup. I think overall he had the third best Thorograph number or something like that. He just had a difficult trip. I thought it was a really good race first time on dirt. He didn't get beat that far. My feeling is that he is a Derby horse as well. He did have a quarter crack after the Breeders' Cup and he has been back training now for maybe a week. He will get a couple of weeks of galloping and then breeze. We are hoping to get him started somewhere in the middle to the latter part of January and hopefully he is a Derby prospect as well.”

“He is another horse who showed a lot of ability on the dirt. The only reason we started him on the grass is because of the economics of it. If I could do it, I'd love to start every first-time starter on the grass. I think it is a much better and easier first experience for them because if they get away a little bad or something, the kick back is not as severe on the turf. I just think it's a great learning experience for them.”

CONQUEST BEBOP (f, 2, Scat Daddy)

Conquest Stables' 2-year-old Conquest Bebop romped by 7 1/4 lengths in her career bow going 1 1/16 miles over the Woodbine synthetic Nov. 7 (video).

“She was [impressive]. She is in South Florida. We will see how she trains on the dirt, but most likely she will come back in an allowance race on the grass.”

CONQUEST BABAYAGA (f, 2, Uncle Mo)

Ernie Semersky stretched to $425,000 to acquire Conquest Babayaga at the OBS June sale after the juvenile breezed a furlong in :09 4/5 (Click here for catalogue page). The dark bay earned her diploma by 6 3/4 lengths sprinting on the Woodbine synthetic Oct. 31 and finished second behind undefeated “TDN Rising Star” Ami's Mesa (Sky Mesa) in that venue's Glorious Song S. Nov. 21.

“She broke her maiden impressively and she was second in the Glorious Song. I think she got a 90 Beyer which is quite good for a 2-year-old. She will probably show up on the dirt in some type of allowance race.”

JENNIFER LYNNETTE (f, 2, Elusive Quality)

Jennifer Lynnette was tabbed as a “TDN Rising Star” after an impressive 5 1/4-length success in her Woodbine unveling Oct. 18 (video). The Conrad Farms colorbearer overcame a difficult trip to finish third last time in the Glorious Song.

“Jennifer Lynnette is a really good filly. She had a troubled trip in the Glorious Song. She finished strongly and galloped out well after the race. She is a Canadian-bred. I'm not exactly sure whether we will start her back on the dirt or the grass, but her main goal would be to try to get back to Canada for the Canadian Oaks next year. I don't know how we are going to do that just yet, but we will let her tell us when she is ready to run. The [Queen's Plate] is always a possibility [after the Canadian Oaks]. I have been impressed with her.”

CONQUEST DADDYO (c, 2, Scat Daddy)

Conquest Daddyo graduated at first asking at Woodbine July 16 and finished second in that venue's Vandal S. next out Aug. 15. Winner of the GII Summer S. there Sept. 12, the Conquest Stables runner finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

“He will probably aim for an allowance race. He is definitely a nice grass horse. The thing with 'Daddyo' is the farther they run, the better. We will have to spot him around. I thought he worked well enough on the dirt–Joe Bravo worked him–that he could possibly get a chance on the dirt as well.”

“I thought he ran really well [in the Breeders' Cup]. I think he finished really strong. It was only a mile, so he is going to get better.”

CONQUEST ENFORCER (c, 2, Into Mischief)

Casse thought highly enough of Conquest Enforcer to debut him in the Summer, a move reminiscent of fellow Conquest colorbearer My Conquestadory (Artie Schiller), who bested the boys in the 2013 Summer and went on to take the GI Darley Alcibiades S. next out. Conquest Enforcer finished fourth to Conquest Daddyo in that test, but impressively earned his diploma next out in the Cup and Saucer S. going 1 1/16 miles on the Woodbine turf Oct. 11 (video).

“A horse we haven't mentioned yet that is as good as any 2-year-old we have is a horse named Conquest Enforcer. He made his first start in the Summer S. and he was fourth to Conquest Daddyo. Patrick Husbands chose to ride him versus Daddyo and then we ran him back in the Cup and Saucer and he won by six or seven lengths. He was blocked the entire way down the lane and got loose at the eighth pole and just opened up. Patrick Husbands says he is as good a horse as he has ever sat on.”

“He is a Canadian-bred. He is at the farm in Ocala, had a little time off and is just coming back. He is going to be aiming for the Queen's Plate.”

CONQUEST WINDYCITY (c, 2, Tiznow)

Conquest Windycity, who is out of a full sister to GSW and GISP Jump Start (A.P. Indy), brought $800,000 from Semersky at the OBS March sale after breezing a quarter-mile in :21 4/5 (Click here for catalogue page). Second on debut over the Saratoga lawn Aug. 8, the dark bay finished third in Churchill's GIII Iroquois S. Sept. 12 and graduated next out when switched to the dirt at Keeneland Oct. 2.

“He broke his maiden the same day Conquest Big E did at Keeneland. He is a nice horse. We gave him a little time off, but we feel he is possibly a Derby horse as well. He is in Ocala right now, but he will be going to South Florida pretty soon to get ready for the Derby.”

GREATEST GAME (c, 2, Giant's Causeway)

John Oxley's Greatest Game opened his account with a first out success sprinting over the Woodbine synthetic Oct. 18 and was third when stretched out to 1 1/16 miles in an allowance over that strip Nov. 8. The chestnut was second last time over that track and trip in the Display S. Nov. 29.

“He broke his maiden impressively first time out and then he was third in an allowance race. He was just third in the Display S. at Woodbine. He kind of got shut down on the rail, which may have cost him the win. They went very fast. He got a pretty good number. He is another horse that could possibly be a Derby horse. We are going to give him an opportunity to see.”

STREET GRAY (c, 2, Street Cry {Ire})

Out of a half-sister to GISW multi-millionaire Honey Ryder (Lasting Approval), Street Gray is an unraced juvenile colt purchased by Oxley for $750,000 at the OBS April sale after he breezed a furlong in :09 4/5 (Click here for catalogue page). The gray displays a steady string of works at Palm Meadows, most recently breezing five furlongs from the gate in 1:01 (2/25).

“One horse to watch for that hasn't started but we like a lot is a horse of Mr. Oxley's called Street Gray. He is a first time starter that is getting ready to run that we think a lot of, too. We are hoping he will be a good horse. He will [start in Florida]. We are hoping to get him started this year at the end of the month, and if not, the beginning of next year.”