John Oxley's reigning juvenile male champion Classic Empire is scheduled to resume galloping the morning of July 22 following an easy week at Saratoga Race Course, said Norman Casse, assistant trainer to his father Mark.
A well-matched group of sophomore fillies accustomed to trading blows with one another co-headline the opening day of Saratoga as graded stakes winners Fifty Five, Dream Dancing, and Sweeping Paddy are set to start in the Lake George Stakes (G3T).
The 1 1/8-mile Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) was tabbed by trainer Mark Casse as Salty's upcoming target following her five-furlong breeze in 1:00 1/5 at Churchill Downs July 7.
Stronach Stables' Holy Helena, a daughter of Ghostzapper and winner of the June 11 Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser, is the 3-1 morning-line choice for the July 2 Queen's Plate at Woodbine.
Just how far ahead of the curve Copper Bullet is will get a litmus test June 30 when the bay colt breaks from post 5 for the $100,000 Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) on the closing night of the Churchill Downs spring/summer meeting.
Trainer Mark Casse was at the Royal Ascot meet June 23 to saddle La Coronel to a fifth-place run in the Coronation Stakes (G1) and July 2 he'll be at Woodbine to watch King and His Court and State of Honor compete in the Queen's Plate.
One year after sending champion Tepin to Royal Ascot to make a little American history, Mark Casse's barn has another firecracker in John Oxley's La Coronel set for the prestigious meeting, this one a planned start in the Coronation Stakes (G1).
East West Stable's Enstone (by Tiznow), holds a class edge over her fellow 3-year-old fillies in Sunday's Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser. The nine-furlong filly classic drew a field of 12 Canadian-breds.
Newly minted Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) favorite Irish War Cry got his first look at the massive Belmont Park oval the morning of June 8, when he hit the main track for a 1 1/2-mile gallop with trainer Graham Motion keeping tabs.
A foot abscess knocked Classic Empire out of the June 10 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), and left the rest of the entrants' connections to wonder how the race will play out in his absence.
Claire Novak interviews trainer Mark Casse about Classic Empire's defection from the Belmont Stakes (G1), and checks in on the juvenile champion on a busy Wednesday morning as the remaining Belmont contenders gear up for the race.
Champion Classic Empire will not run in the June 10 Belmont Stakes (G1) because of a hoof abscess in his right front, trainer Mark Casse said June 7.
With fellow John Oxley-owned La Coronel prepping for a trip to Royal Ascot to contest the Coronation Stakes (G1), Dream Dancing has an opportunity to shine in the Wonder Again Stakes (G3T) at Belmont Park.
Dealing with curveballs has become the norm for Casse Racing where Classic Empire is concerned. In that respect, the champion colt's lone timed move in advance of the June 10 Belmont Stakes (G1) was business as usual.
Live Oak Plantation's homebred Souper Tapit seized control as the field of the Marine Stakes (G3) headed for home and widened his advantage down the lane at Woodbine May 28.
Trainer Mark Casse gratefully reported Sunday that Canadian champion Catch a Glimpse had eaten up and was in good order in the hours after and the morning following her collapse during the Nassau Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine May 27.
A tale of two emotions played out during the $175,000 Nassau Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine May 27, as the ascent of former claimer Starship Jubilee was juxtaposed against concern for the well-being of 2015 Canadian Horse of the Year Catch a Glimpse.
John Oxley's Classic Empire, who finished second in the May 20 Preakness Stakes (G1) by a head, is scheduled to begin preparations for the June 10 Belmont Stakes (G1) with a morning jog May 25 at Churchill Downs.
Led by a Curlin colt sold for a sale-record $1.5 million, the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale in Timonium, Md., produced solid across-the-board gains during the two-day stand.
Trainer Mark Casse looks to invade and score at Royal Ascot again this year with John Oxley's multiple graded stakes winner La Coronel in the one-mile Coronation Stakes (G1).
With the glow of the sun pink on the horizon and most of the Pimlico Race Course stakes barn just beginning to rustle with activity, Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Cloud Computing departed from Baltimore to return to his Belmont Park home base May 21.
If the 116th edition of the Longines Dixie Stakes (G2T) is any indication, the current vintage of Live Oak Plantation's homebred World Approval may be as good as ever.
Since Always Dreaming's Kentucky Derby triumph, there has been ample reason for both his camp and Classic Empire's to feel emboldened about the prospect of their horses throwing down something exceptional 14 days later.
John Oxley's Noble Bird has been scratched out of May 19 Pimlico Special Handicap (G3), a race he captured last season by 11 1/4 lengths.
The half-moon was still high in the sky when Always Dreaming went to the track at Pimlico Race Course at 5:30 a.m. the morning of May 19, putting in his final exercise in preparation for the following day’s Preakness Stakes (G1).
When he enters the gate May 20 at Pimlico Race Course for the Preakness Stakes (G1), just how well Conquest Mo Money can run will be put to its toughest test.
Having started his 2017 campaign off in smashing fashion last month, World Approval will try and duplicate that top-level form when he headlines a field of 10 in the $250,000 Longines Dixie Stakes (G2T) at Pimlico Race Course May 20.
Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Always Dreaming was assigned post 4 and installed as the 4-5 morning-line favorite May 17 at the post position draw for the May 20 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course.
Mark Casse discusses Classic Empire's Kentucky Derby trip and his preparations for the upcoming Preakness
Gary Barber's Summer Luck didn't get the scratch she needed to run in the overflow Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), but her team is looking forward to a start in the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) at Pimlico Race Course.
Salty's connections will point her next to the $700,000 Acorn Stakes (G1) June 10 at Belmont Park.
Classic Empire and Gunnevera, fourth- and seventh-place finishers respectively in the May 6 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), will both head to the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course May 20, their connections said May 8.
Trainer Todd Pletcher stated all was well with newly minted Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Always Dreaming the morning after the colt's stirring triumph in the first leg of the Triple Crown.
La Coronel, on her way to England to compete at Royal Ascot, made a successful stop at Churchill Downs to prevail from entry mate Dream Dancing in a wet Edgewood Stakes.
The term "wide-open" has been tossed about the Churchill Downs backstretch like a baseball of late whenever the connections of Kentucky Derby aspirants are asked about the complexion of this year's Run for the Roses.
Miss Sky Warrior's trainer Kelly J. Breen notes the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) has a 'Final Four' feel, but the talent runs much deeper for Churchill Downs' main event May 5.
While the world may know the Casse barn for its work in campaigning two-time champion turf female Tepin, Classic Empire may be the poster boy for the resolve of the connections who say they want a Derby triumph above all prizes.
A quality field of 11 runners will face off in the 8 1/2-furlong American Turf on Derby Day undercard at Churchill Downs, with champion Oscar Performance squaring off against the filly La Coronel
While Todd Pletcher acknowledges three starts going into this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) is not ideal for Patch, the Calumet Farm homebred has enough working in his favor that Pletcher believes he has earned his shot.
One Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) filly working out April 28 stood out for her attire—if nothing else—during Churchill Downs' special training time reserved for horses in its two biggest races.
Standing alongside his son and top assistant, Norman Casse, Mark Casse watched his best-ever hope for a classic victory stride out down the Churchill Downs stretch—and finally, deeply exhaled.
State of Honor and Salty both put in five-furlong moves for trainer Mark Casse April 21 at Churchill Downs in preparation for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) May 6 and the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 5.
Robert Masterson's two-time defending champion turf female Tepin has been retired, trainer Mark Casse announced April 18.
Less than 24 hours after champion Classic Empire crossed the wire first in the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1), trainer Mark Casse was overseeing approximately 20 of his runners put in their first works at Churchill Downs April 16.
Instead of listening to outside noise, Mark Casse heeded what his champion charge was telling him. And when the rubber hit the road in the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 15, the Hall of Fame finalist's instincts where proven dead-on accurate.
Classic Empire let his actions silence some of the doubts that had mounted since February when he surged past Conquest Mo Money and Malagacy in late stretch to capture the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park.
The Jockey Club of Canada announced its 42nd Annual Sovereign Award winners April 14 at The Palais Royale in Toronto, Ontario, led by Canadian Horse of the Year Caren.
La Coronel stamped herself the pro-tem leader of a deep bunch of 3-year-old turf fillies when she handily bested an 11-horse field that included 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) winner New Money Honey and runner-up Coasted.
More than five months after falling short in the Breeders' Cup, La Coronel got her redemption by proving much the best over those who were best that day when she drew clear by 3 1/4 lengths in the Keeneland stretch to win the Appalachian Stakes.
Lael Stables' homebred No Dozing, who has four graded stakes starts under his belt, holds the class edge in Keeneland's Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (G3) April 15. The 1 1/16-mile race for sophomores is worth $200,000.
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