Casse hardly an "overnight success" at Keeneland

When John Oxley’s La Coronel romped to a 4¼-length victory in Wednesday’s JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G3), she gave trainer Mark Casse his third “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge winner in the opening four days of Keeneland’s Fall Meet.

In the past month, Casse has had five horses qualify for fees-paid berths to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships Nov. 4-5 at Santa Anita.

“I was talking with somebody the other day and mentioned that I had been doing this for 37 years and the other guy said, ‘So, you’re an overnight success,’ ” Casse said with a laugh.

Casse said La Coronel came out of her victory in good order and was scheduled to return to Churchill Downs later Thursday to join Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner Classic Empire and Dixiana Bourbon (G3) winner Keep Quiet (FR).

Qualifying for the Breeders’ Cup with victories at Woodbine last month were Tepin and Victory to Victory.

“That doesn’t happen very often, that’s for sure,” Casse said of his hot streak for a barn that features 40 stakes winners. “I have a lot of good owners who have provided me with a lot of good horses. I am proud of our organization. We do things a little different than most and our team has done a good job of developing horses.”

The victory by La Coronel produced for Casse a second consecutive starter for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). He won the race with Catch a Glimpse, named Canada’s Horse of the Year.

“They are different kinds of fillies,” Casse said. “This filly is a really good horse and comparing her with Catch a Glimpse, who is really a good horse, I’d guess they are equal.”

Catch a Glimpse, who has won eight of nine grass races, will try to extend Casse’s hot run Saturday when she faces eight rivals in the 33rd running of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane’s End (G1).

“That is a great race. These are the best 3-year-olds in the country male or female,” Casse said. “There are three or four in there that don’t have to take a backseat to anyone. Catch a Glimpse is doing great and she trained this morning as well as I have ever seen her.”

Catch a Glimpse has not run since finishing second to QE II rival Time and Motion in the Lake Placid (G2) at Saratoga on Aug. 21.

“This gives her a last chance for a Grade 1 for 3-year-olds,” Casse said of the QE II. “The Breeders’ Cup is possible for her (depending on Saturday’s race).”

Casse’s Breeders’ Cup roster could expand Sunday at Woodbine.