Casse lines up Kentucky Derby 2019 hopefuls beyond War of Will
Trainer Mark Casse already has in mind a plan to bring his 2019 Kentucky Derby contingent from Keeneland to Churchill Downs anywhere from 10 days to two weeks before the first Saturday in May, allowing acclimation to new surroundings and a work over the track.
As for which horses will make that trip, well, much remains to be decided.
As has been noted, War of Will is shipping to Kentucky early this week after injured only a few strides from the gate in the Louisiana Derby (G2). That one will go under further evaluation and could still make the race given he qualified by winning the Risen Star (G2) earlier this season.
Casse also expects to saddle as many as four horses in Keeneland's April 6 Blue Grass Stakes (G2).
Contrary to previous reports, the Hall of Fame nominee said Hoffa’s Union, a 15 1/2-length winner on debut last month at Laurel Park, will go in the Blue Grass — not Saturday’s Florida Derby (G1). A group led by Gary Barber and Adam Wachtel purchased Hoffa’s Union out of that race and turned the gelded son of Union Rags over to Casse.
“They bought him and I’m lucky enough to get to train him,” Casse said.
Dream Maker and Sir Winston are also probable for the Blue Grass, while there’s an “outside chance” Our Braintrust, another horse privately purchased and given to Casse, appears in the 1 1/8-mile race.
Dream Maker, a son of Tapit, ran 10th as the second choice in the March 9 Tampa Bay Derby (G2), that after he opened his 3-year-old season impressively with an allowance optional claiming win at Fair Grounds.
“Dream Maker worked spectacularly (Saturday) morning,” Casse said. “We’ve just got to get him to break, you know?”
Sir Winston, by Awesome Again, was fifth in the Tampa Bay Derby and, as Casse said, “running over top of horses late.”
“We’ve always said he needed a lot more ground,” the trainer added.
Finally, the Maryland-bred Our Braintrust went from a close third in his first race in Casse’s care, the Feb. 2 Withers (G3), to 10th in the recent Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park when “checked.”
“He gashed himself pretty good on his right-front in the Rebel,” Casse said. “He couldn’t walk after the race, and then he was fine. We’re going to see how he trains.”