Trainer Mark Casse swept the top three spots in the the $193,574 Grey Stakes (Can-III) (VIDEO) when upset-minded Prospective outfought his better fancied stablemate Lockout by two lengths at Woodbine Oct. 9.
John C. Oxley owns both Prospective and Lockout. The Casse-trained Bluedacious ran on late in the 1 1/16-mile event for 2-year-olds to edge 6-5 favorite Excaper for third. The final time was 1:44.55 over Woodbine's Polytrack.
Casse, who started the day with 94 wins at Woodbine in 2011, has already set a single-season record for victories by a trainer at the track. The all-Casse trifecta, with Prospective (8-1), Lockout (2-1), and Bluedacious (15-1), paid $365.70.
Leading Woodbine rider Luis Contreras was aboard Prospective, who broke his maiden in his second start Aug. 27 over seven furlongs at Woodbine. The Grey was the Malibu Moon offspring's first try around two turns.
Bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farm, the dark bay/brown colt is out of the Awesome Again mare Spirited Away. He sold for $250,000 as a select yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale in August 2010.
Excaper broke on top in the Grey but settled into second as Bwana Be Gone took over on the outside. Lockout, along the inside, and Prospective were forwardly placed as well while Bwana Be Gone took the field of eight juveniles through even fractions of :24.34, :48.52, and 1:12.48.
Lockout, advancing at the rail coming off the far turn, took over as Bwana Be Gone gave way. He dueled with Excaper and Prospective, who lost some ground when forced extremely wide off the far turn, through the lane. Prospective, on the outside of his rivals, put his head in front at the furlong pole and edged away in the final sixteenth to win smartly under a drive from Contreras.
Lockout, ridden by Patrick Husbands, finished three-quarters of a length in front of the late-running Bluedacious and Eurico Da Silva, who rallied from seventh on the turn. Excaper, giving way grudgingly late, finished just a neck farther back in fourth.
Prospective earned $115,452 for the Grey victory, his second win in three starts, and boosted his total to $160,172.
Under 115 pounds, Prospective paid $18.50, $6, and $4.40 as fourth choice. Lockout returned $3.90 and $3.10, completing a $59.90 exacta. WinStar Farm's Bluedacious paid $6.20 to show.
Excaper finished a neck in front King of England. Then came Bear's Taurus, Seen It All Before, and Bwana Be Gone.
Prospective wins the Grey Stakes.
