Casse figures prominently in weekend maiden action at Ellis
Each of the 2-year-old maiden races this weekend at Ellis Park feature a pair of juveniles rated five stars in Horse Racing Nation First-Time Power Ratings. Racing Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse has one of the two in each of the three races.
"Of course the purse boost attracted us," Casse said, referencing the $100,000 maiden special-weight purses and his large string of Kentucky-based juveniles spread across both Ellis and Churchill Downs. "It doesn't hurt when they're Kentucky breds either. I'm disappointed when I like one at the sale, and they're not Kentucky-bred. I'm always thinking about those (Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund) purses."
There is one 2-year-old maiden special-weight race each day of the race week beginning with a turf sprint for fillies on Saturday. Humor Me Baby and Queen Juno are the five-star horses. Brendan Walsh trains Humor Me Baby for a partnership that paid $300,000 for the daughter of Munnings. Casse conditions Queen Juno, a $260,000 purchase for D J Stable.
"Tough post for her," Casse said of Queen Juno in the outside draw. Post 11 is 3-for-50 going 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf, and the outermost post, regardless of field size, is 7-for-79 in 2-year-old turf sprints at Ellis.
Of the inside is more your flavor, then it's worth noting that My Secret Dreams and Love a Little each sport four stars in HRN's First-Time Power Ratings report with My Secret Dreams a much bigger price on the morning line. likely owing to his $20,000 auction tag vs. Love a Little's $675,000 purchase price.
Casse drew more favorably in Sunday's race for the juvenile males sprinting on the turf, catching post position 3 of 12 for Gelato, a $250,000 purchase for D J Stable. Doug O'Neill-trained Biggiebiggiebiggie is the other five star in this race.
Monday's race is for fillies on dirt, and the connections of this year's dual Grade 1 winner La Cara join forces for the debut of Search Party, a Tracy Farmer homebred who is out Into Mischief mare Devious Charm, the first horse Casse ever bought for Farmer. Hot and Dangerous for trainer Brian Lynch is the other five star.
Other than lamenting the post for Queen Juno, Casse did not offer much insight on his juveniles from a pari-mutuel perspective.
"When it comes to 2-year-olds, I just like getting them started," Casse said. "You know I don't mind running my horses. Let's see what we got."
Coverage of Ellis Park at Horse Racing Nation is in partnership with a marketing cooperative with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.