Trainer Mark Casse looks to have a strong one-two punch in the $500,000 Penn Mile (gr. IIIT) for 3-year-olds June 4 at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.
Casse has entered Gary Barber, Michael James Ambler, and Windways Farm's Canadian Horse of the Year Catch a Glimpse, the lone filly in the seven-horse field; and John Oxley's Airoforce, whose last win came in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) last fall.
The Penn Mile is the fourth race on a nine-race card that features four stakes. The program begins at 6 p.m. EDT, with the Penn Mile set for 7:40 p.m.
Catch a Glimpse, by City Zip, has won six in a row, five of them stakes. Last fall she won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT) and the Natalma Stakes (Can-II), which no doubt ensured her Horse of the Year honors in Canada. In her previous start May 6, the $75,000 Keeneland September yearling sale purchase won the Edgewood Stakes (gr. IIIT) at 1 1/16 miles on the grass at Churchill Downs.
"Prior to her last race at Churchill, we tried to school her," Casse said. "She planted her feet and wouldn't move for 15 minutes. Finally, we were able to coax her to returning to the barn. She will do anything as long as her pony horse is with her. As long as he's around, she's fine."
Catch a Glimpse, to be ridden as usual by Florent Geroux from post 4 at 117 pounds, is undefeated on the grass in six attempts. She'll face males for the first time.
Airoforce showed signs of life May 7 with a fourth-place finish in the American Turf Stakes (gr. IIT) at Churchill after two dull efforts on dirt and Polytrack in Triple Crown prep races. Last year the Colonel John colt won the Dixiana Bourbon Stakes (gr. IIIT) and finished a close second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT), both at Keeneland.
Trevor McCarthy, who is based in the Mid-Atlantic region, has the call from post 2 at 122 pounds.
"He was hoping that Catch a Glimpse would go in the filly stakes," said Casse in reference to the $200,000 Penn Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on the turf earlier on the June 4 program. "He ran well in his last race and should have been third."
Trevor McCarthy, who is based in the Mid-Atlantic region, has the call from post 2 at 122 pounds.
James Covello, Sheep Pond Partners, and Head of Plains Partners' Beach Patrol enters the Penn Mile off a second-place finish in the American Turf. Now trained by Chad Brown after a private purchase, the Lemon Drop Kid colt will be ridden by Joel Rosario from post 3 at 122 pounds.
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Oscar Nominated, 17th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) after winning in the Horseshoe Cincinnati Casino Spiral Stakes (gr. III) on Polytrack, returns to turf in the Penn Mile. Claimed for $75,000 last fall at Belmont Park, Oscar Nominated, by Ramsey Farm stallion Kitten's Joy, should appreciate the return to the grass.
Oscar Nominated will be ridden by Kendrick Carmouche from post 5 at 122 pounds.
The Penn Mile goes head-to-head with the $200,000 Pennine Ridge Stakes (gr. IIIT) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on the grass the same day. The race at Belmont Park attracted 10 entrants, none of which are cross-entered at Penn National.