Trainer Mark Casse said Friday that Pool Play will be pointed to the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs on November 23, but the seven-year-old son of Silver Deputy might not be the only Clark starter from the Casse barn. Stealcase and Delegation are also under consideration.
"Pool Play loves Churchill Downs," Casse said. "It's coming back a little quick (from the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic), but I think he just kind of went around the track in California. Also, this race is hard to pass up when we know he likes it here."
Pool Play, who trained at Churchill Downs prior to finishing eighth in the Breeders' Cup Classic, won the 2011 Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap in his lone start over the Louisville track.
Delegation could make his Churchill debut in the Clark after running third in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.
"With the exception of (Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner) Trinniberg, (Delegation) was one of the only three-year-olds to get close (in the Breeders' Cup)," Casse said. "I think he's a really good horse."
Delegation also is under consideration for the Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on November 24.
Stealcase could enter the Clark after running third behind Neck 'n Neck and Fort Loudon in the Grade 3 Ack Ack Handicap.
"We'll nominate Stealcase to the Clark and the Cigar Mile, as well," Casse said. "It's possible we'll run two, but we won't run all three."
Other stakes horses in the Casse barn at Churchill Downs include Uncaptured, Lockout, Prospective and Dynamic Sky. Uncaptured is being pointed to the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club on November 24 off a powerful 5 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3 Iroquois.
"Number wise, he ran better than horses in the (Grade 1) Breeders' Cup (Juvenile) and in the (Grade 2) Nashua (at Aqueduct on November 4)," Casse said. "I think he stacks up against the best two-year-olds in the country."
Lockout, winner of the Remington Green in his last start, is scheduled to make his next start in the November 17 Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf at Churchill Downs. Prospective, fifth in the Oklahoma Derby, is being pointed to the Delta Mile at Delta Downs on November 17, and Dynamic Sky, sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, is under consideration for the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct on November 24.