World Approval picks up second Grade 1 in Fourstardave
World Approval earned his second Grade 1 victory when he stormed home to a 2 ¼-length victory under Manuel Franco in the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga Race Course.
Owned by Live Oak Plantation, World Approval provided trainer Mark Casse with his third win of the meet from 49 horses running.
“We couldn't get Julien [Leparoux] and I said to Norman [Casse], ‘We're going to win the Fourstardave and I'm not sure who's going to ride him,’” Casse said. “It turned out to be Manny; he impresses me. He played in a basketball charity game last week and he had so much drive and he's so athletic and we've got some luck with him, so let's ride him. You couldn't have asked him to ride a horse any better.”
After taking a pounding from rain, the turf course was labeled yielding when the field of six entered the gate for the mile test. The filly Sassy Little Lila took charge at the break, with Ballagh Rocks on the rail in second, World Approval close in third, and Time Test and Disco Partner next in line. American Patriot was slow to get going out of the gate and fell far behind.
Sassy Little Lila led the group through the first half-mile in fractions of :24.64 and :49.86, trying to leave the boys to chase her home. She was able to stay in front through three-quarters in 1:14.46 before Ballagh Rocks took over after turning for home.
World Approval was just getting into gear at the stop of the stretch and easily caught Ballagh Rocks when asked to unwind. Time Test was charging on the far outside, but World Approval was too far gone, hitting the wire in 1:37.65.
“I just rode the best horse in the race,” Franco said. “I just tried to stay out of trouble and I think that was the key. I sensed the pace was good enough because they were fighting for the lead on the first turn. I knew the pace, and they were going fast. He handled the ground really well. I saw on paper that he had been on this kind of turf before and he ran really well. I feel so lucky right now. I want to thank the trainer for giving me the opportunity.”
Casse was also pleased with the race’s result.
“The only instructions I told him was that he likes a target. That was one of the reasons we cut him back to a mile, because we thought if we could win the Breeders' Cup Mile or have a shot anywhere, it would be a mile.”
Time Test was able to beat out Ballagh Rocks for second. Disco Partner never got into the race and finished fourth, Sassy Little Lila faded to fifth, and American Patriot never improved from sixth.
At 5-1, World Approval paid $12.60, $5.10, and $3.60. Time Test, the 2-1 favorite, returned $3.40 and $3.10, and Ballagh Rocks, 6-1, delivered $3.80 to show.
World Approval now holds a record of 9-2-4 from 22 career starts. The five-year-old gelding was bred by his owners in Florida and has made $1,443,763 for them on the track.
Casse has not yet figured out the next race for World Approval, but has an idea in mind.
“Maybe the Woodbine Mile is a possibility, but I haven't really thought about it,” Casse said. “Long-term, our goal was the Breeders' Cup, but we're just happy to have this. We won the Woodbine Mile last year; I wouldn't mind winning it two years in a row.”
By Christine Oser