Casalu enjoying life on the turf, takes Sweet Life Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Stakes-placed on dirt at Del Mar last August, Casalu has evolved into a different filly this winter at Santa Anita.

Casalu has found a home on turf, winning the Blue Norther Stakes at a mile for 2-year-old fillies on Dec. 28, and Sunday’s $102,000 Sweet Life Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs for 3-year-old fillies on the hillside turf course.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Casalu won the Sweet Life by 1 3/4 lengths after racing near the front throughout.

“It was pretty straightforward,” Prat said. “She won going short before and I thought it wouldn’t be a problem.”

Sent off favored, Casalu ($3.20) was timed in 1:12.90 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 80. She set the pace before yielding the lead briefly to 20-1 Practical Dream. Casalu was back in front when the field crossed the dirt and reached the main turf course.

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As Catch Can (12-1) closed from fifth to finish second, 1 1/4 lengths in front of 9-1 Tequilaandtherapy. Schilified, Practical Dream, Acquitted, Hey Lil Lady, Ce La Vi Charli and How About Pavel completed the order of finish. Going Deep was withdrawn by trainer Doug O’Neill on Sunday morning.

Casalu was Prat’s second stakes win in as many days. On Saturday, Prat rode the promising 3-year-old John Hancock to victory in the Sam Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Casalu races for Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman and trainer Bob Baffert. Purchased for $775,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in-training last April, Casalu has won 3 of 8 starts and earned $234,546.

After winning her debut in a five-furlong maiden race by 5 1/2 lengths at Del Mar last July, Casalu was third in the Grade 3 Sorrento Stakes on dirt there in August.

By the Uncle Mo stallion Caracaro, Casalu tipped her ability on turf with second-place finishes in two one-mile stakes last fall – the Grade 3 Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita in October and the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 30.

As for Prat, he rides at Santa Anita next Friday before flying to Fair Grounds, where he is booked on 10 mounts on Saturday, including Septarian in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes, a key prep race for the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby there on March 22.

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