Casa Creed goes back-to-back in Jaipur Stakes
ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Bill Mott said it best while at the same time showing off his wry sense of humor following Casa Creed’s half-length victory over the 9-5 favorite Arrest Me Red in Saturday’s $400,000 Jaipur at Belmont Park.
“We finally found out what this horse wants to do,” Mott said with a smile. “He wants to run in the Jaipur every year.”
Casa Creed, a 6-year-old son of Jimmy Creed, rallied from last to capture the Grade 1 Jaipur for the first time here a year ago by two lengths. He came from a little closer to the pace with the same result on Saturday in a race that is a Win and You’re In qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland.
With his regular rider Luis Saez aboard, Casa Creed raced near mid-pack within easy striking distance of the leaders while saving ground around the turn and into the stretch. Casa Creed tipped out from behind the embattled pair of Arrest Me Red and Time Valour leaving the furlong grounds and finished full of run once in the clear to run down the top two in the final strides.
Arrest Me Red was under a snug hold stalking the pace of True Valour from the outset. Winner of the Grade 2 Turf Sprint last month at Churchill Downs, Arrest Me Red engaged for command leaving the turn, briefly stuck his head in front between calls in late stretch, but could not withstand the winner. True Valour succumbed grudgingly to finish third, another half-length behind Arrest Me Red.
Casa Creed is owned by LRE racing and JEH Racing Stable. He covered six furlongs over a firm course in 1:07.44, nearly three-fifths of a second faster than a year ago, and paid $10.40. Casa Creed was assigned a Beyer Speed Figure of 102 for the performance.
“He’s a neat horse, a real warrior who has gotten better with age,” said Mott. “He got a beautiful trip. He was down in there and saved all the ground. It cleared enough for him to tip out, and when he gets outside, he flies.”
Despite earning a berth in the race, Casa Creed is no cinch to run in the BC Turf Sprint, which is decided at about 5 1/2 furlongs when at Keeneland. Casa Creed finished 12th in the Mile in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland.
“He really needs more than 5 and 5 1/2 furlongs,” Mott said. “He’s best at 6 and 7 furlongs, so it’s a problem. If I had to say which [Breeders’ Cup] race he’d run in right now, I’d have to say probably the Mile.”