'Tremendous minds': Casse laying plans for Oaks hopefuls

Curlin’s Catch came from off the pace in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, taking the lead on the far turn, growing stronger down the stretch and winning easily to announce her presence on the Kentucky Oaks trail for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse.

Casse said Curlin's Catch came out of the race well, besides taking some dirt to the eye that caused mostly healed swelling. He believes the Curlin filly should only get better as the distances expand beyond the the one mile and 40 yards of the Suncoast.

“It takes her a second or two to get in gear but then once she gets going, I would think that any distance wouldn’t be a problem,” Casse said. “They won’t write them too far for her.”

Casse was also quick to credit jockey Antonio Gallardo for the Suncoast effort from Curlin's Catch.

“He showed why he’s the leading rider,” Casse said. “He went to plan B. He said at the half-mile pole, he could see the horses up front being asked to run, and he said he hadn’t really asked her to run, so he felt pretty confident at that point.”

Casse has a three-race strategy to get Curlin’s Catch to the Kentucky Oaks on April 30 at Churchill Downs, starting with the Grade 2 Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 27.

“It’s not ideal because it’s back in three weeks and it’s cutting back to one turn,” Casse said. “But it’s at home, she’s stabled down south. Our other option would be to race in New York or the race at Oaklawn. That would give us an extra week but you’re shipping and doing all of those things.”

Between the next race and Oaks, Casse said he was aiming for the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland on April 3.

One of Casse’s major areas of praise for the filly is her intelligence, which he said is common to horses of her pedigree, and she shares it with another possible Oaks filly in his barn, Souper Sensational.

Casse said the ability of the fillies to adapt to new surroundings is a key to success on the Oaks trail because of the shipping and other hurdles.

“They have tremendous minds,” Casse said. “Curlin’s Catch, the other day she shipped from Palm Meadows the morning of the race, you would have thought she was out for a pony ride.”

Souper Sensational is set to run in Saturday’s Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds, a 50-20-10-5 Oaks prep that will feature a loaded field, including Charlie’s Penny, who won the Silverbulletday, and Travel Column, winner of the Golden Rod (G2).

Casse said that at 1 1/16 miles, the race sets up as a test of Souper Sensational's distance ability. She finished second in the Silverbulletday on Jan. 16 at one mile and 70 yards.

“This is a tough race,” Casse said. “She’s going to have to step up her game. It looks like the two horses to beat are outside. I’m hoping we get a little more of a forward position. She still has to prove that she can get two turns.”

The Rachel Alexandra is set for Saturday at Fair Grounds.