Casey's on Call looks too classy

Riley Rycroft has been training Casey's on Call for only about a month and he isn't sure how far how far the talented 3-year-old colt will be able to carry his speed. Casey's on Call has to run only six furlongs in the $50,000 President's Stakes at Northlands Park on Saturday, however, and if runs as well as he did in his sprints in the United States, the eight other 3-year-olds that entered are competing for second money.

Casey's on Call is also going to appreciate the much easier company he'll be facing at Northlands. In his last two starts he ran against some of the best 3-year-olds in the United States and Canada. He was completely overmatched when he tried to keep up with Quality Road and Dunkirk in the Grade 1 Florida Derby. Nonetheless, he was good enough to lead the way for six furlongs before fading to finish sixth. In his most recent start he ran evenly to finish fifth in the $150,000 Woodstock Stakes at Woodbine on April 26.

Riley likes the way Casey's on Call has trained since he arrived at Northlands.

"He is doing very well right now and he seems to be heading in the right direction," said Rycroft. "We claimed him with the idea of his being a stakes horse here and he certainly acts like one."

Casey's on Call was claimed by owner Terry Hamilton for $75,000 out of a winning race going six furlongs at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 19.

Quincy Welsh will ride Casey's on Call.

Robo Willie appears to have the best chance of rounding out the exacta. Trained by Greg Tracy, Robo Willie won two sprint stakes at Northlands last year and he should move forward off of his fifth-place finish in the Jim Coleman Province at Hastings on May 9.