Casa Creed bypasses Troy for shot at Fourstardave

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Casa Creed, the Grade 1 Jaipur winner, was scratched out of Friday’s Grade 3 Troy Stakes and instead will be pointed to next Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave going a mile.

Lee Einsidler, part owner of Casa Creed, said he and trainer Bill Mott felt the horse was at a disadvantage breaking from post 12 in the Troy, a 5 1/2-furlong turf race.

Casa Creed had won two straight sprint stakes at Belmont Park, the Elusive Quality at seven furlongs and the Jaipur at six. Mott had some concerns whether Casa Creed would be as effective shortening up even more in distance.

Casa Creed won the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes going a mile here as a 3-year-old in 2019. He had run well but had not won at that distance since.

“We just think he’s better today than he’s ever been and possibly could be as good at a mile as he has been sprinting,” Einsidler said. “He’s reached a new level, this horse.”

The Fourstardave is a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Mile.