Schuylerville Kicks Things Off at the Spa

Nonna Madeline | Equi-Photo

A wide-open field of 10 juvenile fillies will take center stage in Friday's co-featured GIII Schuylerville S. on Saratoga's opening day card.

Nonna Madeline (Candy Ride {Arg}) earned her 'TDN Rising Star' badge after scoring impressively first out at Monmouth Park June 23. Trainer Todd Pletcher has won this race six times, and saddled 2016 heroine Sweet Loretta (Tapit), who also graduated on the Jersey Shore on debut.

Catherinethegreat (Uncaptured), the 5-2 morning-line favorite, boasts the field's highest Beyer Speed Figure after earning an 80 rating in her 10 1/4-length graduation at second asking in the Gulfstream slop June 23.

“She's training well and we're happy with her,” trainer Mark Casse said. “I would have liked a post a little further out, but we'll take it. A lot of times our horses tend to improve from the first start.”

Casse's son and former assistant Norm will saddle Fightress (Tapizar), a sharp debut winner after a slow start in a muddy off-the-turfer at Churchill June 22.

“It's a little surreal,” Norm Casse said. “Everyone gets caught up that I'm running against my dad in a stakes, but I don't see it that way. I have a 2-year-old running in a stakes at Saratoga against Todd Pletcher and Steve Asmussen, and my dad is in there. So I'm here with people I looked up to my whole life, so I'm very proud of that.”

Only two-the maiden Lady Apple (Curlin) and Eyeinthesky (Sky Mesa)–enter with stakes experience after finishing a close second and third, respectively, in the Astoria S. at Belmont Park June 7.

Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.

Copy Article Link

X

Never miss another story from the TDN

Click Here to sign up for a free subscription.