Carroll Thriving in Key Casse Role

David Carroll | Horsephotos

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The wax and wane of the racing game is a tale as old as the industry itself. One moment one is on top, feeling the glory of successful plans well laid, and the next they are dragged to the foul depths of the forlorn. The overall theme, if they are to prosper on any level, seems to be resilience. The key to such, like in so many other aspects of societal life, being adaptability.

Since going out on his own in 1992, David Carroll has been considered by his peers to be a talented trainer of equine athletes and one whose only true vice is his inability to be dishonest or hyperbolize the truth. A witty, friendly and frank blend of personality, the native of County Meath, Ireland, has lived the bittersweet in racing. From training and managing the career of phenomenal race mare Acoma–a Grade I winner with seven overall graded wins–to weathering intense media scrutiny from a videotaped physical altercation with a misbehaving horse, he has been the embodiment of composure and intentions well-born. Even the joy of watching his top 3-year-old to date, Denis of Cork, finish a superb third in the 2009 Kentucky Derby and then an excellent second in the Belmont Stakes in just his fifth and sixth career starts was quelled by a career-ending injury shortly thereafter. Overall, it seems, the father of two has figured out how to roll with the punches and make the most of his opportunities in an industry not meant for the faint of heart.

At the end of the 2015-16 Fair Grounds, as business was dissipating and after losing top client Courtlandt Farm–for whom he had developed graded stakes winner Strike Charmer (Smart Strike)–the 56-year-old announced that he would be disbanding the remaining horses and taking a position as assistant within the powerful and expansive Mark Casse stable. After 461 wins, $17.4 million in earned purses, 61 stakes victories, 17 graded wins and countless accounts of the sweet and the bitter, Carroll turned the page.

“Mark and I have been friends for years and I have the utmost respect for him as a trainer,” Carroll said. “This came about after I asked to train a Louisiana-bred maiden filly he had in his barn named Calamity Jane (Cowboy Cal) that I thought had some talent. He sent her to me at the Fair Grounds and we immediately won with her on the dirt. I thought she would take to the turf and she did so in an allowance next out, winning that one too. Then we sold her for a nice bit of money. Then when Mark had Airoforce (Colonel John) here for the Risen Star (Stakes), he asked me to show him what I had in the barn and when I stopped after a few horses I said 'that's all I got right now.' We got to talking and this led to that and now I'm back here at Fair Grounds in a much different position. Having a kid in college and another soon to be, it was obviously important to make the best economic decision, as well.

“It's a different system where there's a lot of technology involved, but I've adapted to it and it's nice to learn from Mark, as well,” Carroll continued. “He's a heck of a horseman and he's the kind of trainer who always puts the horse first. He gives them time when they need it and when they're in the barn, they're there to run. He believes in giving horses experience, while also being very smart about placement. He is always looking and if a horse fits here and is in Florida, he's going to load it up and send it here.”

Now heading up what will be a newly established New Orleans base for the considerable Casse compass, Carroll has a constantly fluid 25-to-35 head under his care, while Casse and son Norman oversee many of the stable's other top horses in South Florida. More horses, like stable star Catch a Glimpse (City Zip), who have earned vacations are at the family's Ocala training facility. According to Carroll and Casse, some of the Woodbine-based Casse horses will join the Fair Grounds ranks, as well as such highly regarded young horses as Stonestreet Farm's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Valadorna (Curlin) and John C. Oxley and Kinsman Farm's $1.35 million purchase Tour de Force (Tiznow), an unraced sophomore half-brother to Majestic Warrior (A. P. Indy) Casse calls 'perhaps the best-looking horse I've ever trained' who debuts Sunday, Dec. 4.

“I've known David for a long time and have always had great respect for him,” Casse said. “You only need to look and see how well he's done in the past and how many great horses he's been around. More importantly, he's a good person. Last winter we talked and I told him if he ever decided he wanted to join the team, we'd love to have him and shortly after that he contacted me. So far, it has been great and you can see that with how well we have done with our 2-year-olds, like Valadorna, (Grade I winner) Pretty City Dancer (Tapit) and (expected champion colt and Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner) Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile). David has been a big part of bringing those horses along and a big part of our success.

“I've always said that there are two things I stand by,” Casse continued. “One, if you stand still, you get run over, and two, you always have to try to be better. I thought bringing David Carroll along would make us better and he's already done that. It's also only a matter of time before Norm goes out on his own, so having David is a huge advantage. Whether it's a person, a place or thing that I think can make us better, I'm always looking to try to do that. When you try 10 things and nine don't work, it's worth it just for the one that does.”

Carroll, who galloped such greats as Hall of Famers Easy Goer (Alydar) and Personal Ensign (Private Account) when an assistant to Shug McGaughey for half a decade earlier in his career, has an organic feel for what a quality horse feels like. Since commencing his new position he has reveled in such.

“It's really nice to be on top of some good horses again,” Carroll said. “Being involved with the development of a horse like Valadorna, who was with me all summer and fall, was amazing. She is very special. These are talented, fantastic horses.”

For good measure, Carroll considers Easy Goer and Seeking the Gold (Mr. Prospector) to be the best two horses he has sat upon, with the former, to little surprise, getting a slight nod.

“It's great to work for a guy who communicates really well and is also great for the game,” he concluded. “There are always emails between all the assistants and Mark and he is great about incentives and compensating his team properly. It's a different situation, but I couldn't ask for a better man and team to work for, to be honest.”

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