Annapolis gets another shot at Casa Creed in Fourstardave
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There may have been a couple of factors working against Annapolis when, as the 4-5 favorite, he was beaten one length by Casa Creed in the Grade 3 Kelso Stakes here four weeks ago.
First, Annapolis hadn’t run in 72 days, owing in part to a minor foot injury that forced him to miss a start in the Grade 3 Poker on June 10. Second, in the Kelso, Annapolis was held in along the inside by Casa Creed who got the jump on him around the far turn and held him at bay in the stretch.
Saturday, Annapolis and Casa Creed will renew acquaintances in the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga, where a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita will be on the line.
Annapolis finished 11th in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile, the only time in 10 career starts he finished worse than second. He began his 4-year-old campaign with a head victory in the Opening Verse Stakes on May 4 at Churchill Downs before he had to wait for the Kelso.
“Casa Creed’s a really good horse. We kind of got stuck inside of him and he got away from us a little bit on the far turn,” said Todd Pletcher, trainer of Annapolis. “We were closing but just couldn’t run him down, but I thought it was a good effort.”
Course condition could be an issue for the Fourstardave. There was rain forecast Thursday afternoon – there was no turf racing here Wednesday and Thursday – and thunderstorms are possible Saturday afternoon.
“He doesn’t love soft. It had a little bit of cut to it last time, which he handled okay,” Pletcher said. “I suppose we’re going to have see what it’s like on race day. If we were displeased with the condition of the course or how soft it is, we’re keeping an eye on this $2 million race at Kentucky Downs.”
Pletcher was referring to the $2 million Mint Millions on Sept. 2.
Casa Creed will be starting in the Fourstardave for the fourth consecutive year. He finished third in both 2020 and 2021 and won it last year. He has won three graded stakes going a mile at Saratoga.
An acknowledgement to the potential weather, Bill Mott, trainer of Casa Creed, said, “We wouldn’t be excited about running on a soft course.”
Mott said that Casa Creed did bounce out of his Kelso victory in good shape.
“The horse is doing well. We got to deal with the weather,” he said.
Pletcher also will send out Emmanuel against Casa Creed in the Fourstardave. Emmanuel filled in admirably for Annapolis in the Poker, running back on three weeks’ rest and outfinishing Filo Di Arianna.
Emmanuel has shown versatility in his career, winning from a forward position or, as he did in the Poker, coming from off the pace.
“I like the way he settled and kicked last time, but he’s also had success in paceless races,” Pletcher said.
Jose Ortiz rides Emmanuel from the rail, which could be the best ground with the rails coming down.
Trainer Mark Casse has entered the uncoupled trio of Ice Chocolat, My Sea Cottage, and Full Screen.
Ice Chocolat was beaten 2 1/4 lengths when fourth in the Kelso under Flavien Prat.
“Flavien came back and was a little frustrated. He thought he could have been closer,” Casse said. “He kind of got held up, but I thought he ran well. He got beat two lengths by two of the top choices, so you got to give it a try.”
With Prat at Colonial Downs on Saturday, Joel Rosario rides Ice Chocolat.
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My Sea Cottage is coming out of five straight starter-allowance races and figures to be the pacesetter on Saturday.
“My Sea Cottage is going to be on the lead,” Casse said.
Casse believes Full Screen had tons of trouble when fifth in a second-level allowance here July 20. Casse, who is not certain to run Full Screen, will remove blinkers from his equipment if he does.
“He was really rank last time, and we’re trying to get him to not be so rank,” Casse said.
So High figures to be a rank outsider in the Fourstardave, but he could be part of the early pace.
The Fourstardave goes as race 9 on an 11-race card that begins at 1:10 p.m. and includes the Grade 2 Saratoga Special and listed Galway Stakes.
All three stakes are part of a late pick five sequence that will be seeded with $100,000 by the New York Racing Association in a goodwill gesture after a debacle last Sunday, when an announcement regarding surface changes for three turf races, which were part of the late pick five, was made too late for bettors to change or cancel tickets.
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