Casse's Fortunes Change in Final Start at Saratoga
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NYRA
After enduring a trio of heartbreaking second-place finishes in the Grade 1 Diana and Grade 2 Ketel One Ballston Spa with multiple graded stakes winner Tepin, as well a second with Conquest Superstep in the Fleet Indian, trainer Mark Casse was just about ready to leave Saratoga. However, in his final start for the meet with Live Oak Plantation's World Approval, Casse's disposition immediately changed when the 3-year-old challenged in the stretch held off a very game Money Multiplier in the stretch to win Saturday's Grade 3, $300,000 Saranac.
Reporting that World Approval returned from the race in good order, Casse was grateful the colt was able to provide a reprieve from a recent rash of seconds for his stable across the country.
"It's funny how things are," said Casse. "The last 32 days of racing stabled throughout North America, we've had 28 seconds. We had three races at Saratoga all beaten by noses. I was talking to a friend and I was telling him I was so ready to get out of here and after the race I was thinking, 'There's no place better than Saratoga.'"
Reporting that World Approval returned from the race in good order, Casse was grateful the colt was able to provide a reprieve from a recent rash of seconds for his stable across the country.
"It's funny how things are," said Casse. "The last 32 days of racing stabled throughout North America, we've had 28 seconds. We had three races at Saratoga all beaten by noses. I was talking to a friend and I was telling him I was so ready to get out of here and after the race I was thinking, 'There's no place better than Saratoga.'"
With his summer meet concluding with Saturday's win, Casse commented on future plans for perennial stakes contenders Noble Bird and Tepin.
"After speaking to Mr. Oxley we decided to rest Noble Bird for a couple months and he'll be back next year. There was no obvious injury after the Whitney but he came out of that race a little roughed up and stiff all around so we just decided to it best to give him a rest for now. Tepin is doing great, we're going to point her next to the First Lady at Keeneland [October 3]."
Source: NYRA Communications
Source: NYRA Communications
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