She was a handful all week, and one day leading up to the $150,000 Edgewood Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs, Catch a Glimpse refused to leave the backside when trainer Mark Casse wanted to send her over for paddock schooling. Video: Edgewood S. (G3T)
But when the rubber hit the road on raceday May 6, the 3-year-old Canadian Horse of the Year was in the zone for her sixth straight victory—at least until she hit the lead coming down the grassy stretch.
"I was a little worried, because she makes her lead and pulls herself up," Casse said. "And also when she does that, she goes from her right lead to her left lead and pulls herself up. But then, if you watch, galloping out, they don't go by her."
Catch a Glimpse sat off the pace set by longshot Born to Be Winner, and reeled that one to open up by daylight after turning for home. She had another longshot, Auntie Joy, closing on her heels as she geared herself down, but jockey Florent Geroux was able to keep her to the task for the win. She races for Gary Barber, Michael James Ambler, and Windways Farm.
"She's been a challenge, but I think that's one of the things that makes her so great," Casse said. "I've been forutnate enough to train a couple really good fillies that were ornery. But today she was really good. Flo said she was a different horse from when she ran at Keeneland."
Catch a Glimpse, who finished 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.92, came off a three-quarters of a length score in the April 14 Appalachian Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland after making her season debut with a 2 1/2-length victory in the Feb. 27 Herecomesthebride (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park. She won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT) to give Casse his first Breeders' Cup World Championships victory. Her long-range target is the July 9 Belmont Oaks Invitational (gr. IT), and Casse said she will not head overseas to Royal Ascot with champion Tepin.
"Not there; this was the biggest challenge, Oaks Day," Casse said. "She's got to go somewhere quiet. Obviously the big goal will be the Belmont Oaks. It's a mile and a quarter; I'm sure all the experts will say she can't go that far, and they may be right, but they also may be wrong, so we'll give it a try."
