Final 2016 races considered for Tepin, Valadorna

Mark Casse’s son and assistant Norman is mapping out future plans for his Breeders’ Cup contingent.

Following a solid runner-up effort behind 33-1 long shot Champagne Room in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade I), Stonestreet Stables’ Valadorna is a “possibility” for Churchill Downs’ $200,000 Golden Rod (GII) on Saturday, Nov. 26.

“That might happen,” Casse said. “She ran a really good race but she had kind of a tough trip. Going forward we’ve got some high expectations for her. She’s definitely a Kentucky Oaks-type of filly. She’s back here at the barn and we’ll go forward from there. Everything’s on the table right now but for now we’ll just see how she reacts from coming back from California.”

Casse’s reigning Champion Turf Mare Tepin exited her runner-up effort in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) behind Tourist well, according to Casse, and could make one more start in the $2.967 million Longines Hong Kong Mile (GI) on Dec. 11 at Sha Tin Racecourse. Should the six-time Grade I-winning mare make such a trip, she would be going for a third victory on a different continent. Earlier in the summer, she won the Queen Anne (Group I) at Royal Ascot in England.

Tepin is scheduled to remain in training next year.

“We’re just going to have to monitor her,” Casse said. “She ran a big race in the Mile and she’d have to get on a plane relatively quickly so if she’s indicating that she’s tired or unhappy and that’s it’s time for a break we won’t go. But if she’s coming out of her skin so to speak, we’ll look at it. The goal right now is to bide long term so we’ll just have to see how she reacts in the next few days.”

Casse’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) winner Classic Empire will rest the remainder of the year to focus on preparing for next year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI). The son of Pioneerof the Nile’s win in the Breeders’ Cup solidified his chances at an Eclipse Award for Champion Two-Year-Old Male.

“We always want to win Eclipse Awards, but most importantly it would be pretty meaningful for the Oxley’s,” Casse said. “They have been one of our biggest supporters from the very beginning. We’re super proud to have won a Breeders’ Cup for them and to potentially win an Eclipse Award for them. This will give us something to look real forward to in the spring.”

La Coronel (sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf), Keep Quiet (FR) (eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf) and Catch a Glimpse (eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf) exited their Breeders’ Cup efforts in good order and have been turned out at Casse’s farm in Ocala, Fla.

“There’s really nothing for them until next year at Gulfstream or Tampa,” Casse said.

Source: Churchill Downs