After successful Oaklawn meet, Casse looking forward to next season

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse ventured to Oaklawn Park from his Florida base with a large division of runners this past meet and said plans are to return to the Hot Springs, Ark., track. The meet closed May 2.

“I’m already looking forward to next season,” Casse said.

Casse swept in and won two of the four Kentucky Derby points races at Oaklawn, taking the Smarty Jones with Strategic Risk and the Grade 3, $1 million Southwest with Silent Tactic.

On the Southwest card he also won the $300,000 Martha Washington with Search Party. Other meet highlights included champion Nitrogen launching her season with a win in the Grade 3 Bayakoa and Counting Stars capturing the Grade 2, $1 million Fantasy.

Overall, the barn won a total of 10 stakes or overnight stakes as part of an overall meet record of 23 wins from 82 starts for stable earnings of $4.2 million.

“It was just a great meet,” Casse said, while also complimenting the staff he had at Oaklawn.

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