Casse considering Woodbine stakes winner Helium for Gotham

Trainer Mark Casse, who left New York this winter, said he plans to starting shuttling horses back to Belmont Park in late March. Before then, however, he may have a starter in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes on March 6.

Helium, a son of Ironicus who went 2 for 2 last fall over Woodbine’s synthetic surface, is being considered for a dirt start in the Gotham. The one-turn mile Gotham offers its winner 50 points toward the May 1 Kentucky Derby.

“You go in with your eyes wide open not knowing for sure what you’re going to get,” Casse said. “It’s one thing to train good on it, it’s another thing to run on it. A lot of times they don’t train well enough on it that they even get a chance. This horse has trained well enough he deserves a chance.”

Helium worked a half-mile in 50 seconds on Friday at the Palm Meadows training center.

:: Start earning weekly cashback on your wagering today. Click to learn more.

Helium, owned by D.J. Stable, won a maiden race by 3 1/4 lengths on Sept. 27 and then captured the Display Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths on Oct. 18. Both races were at seven furlongs.

In 2018, Sir Winston won a maiden and the Display at Woodbine as a 2-year-old. In 2019, he won the Belmont Stakes.

Nominations for the Gotham close Saturday. Others who are being pointed to that race include Freedom Fighter, Highly Motivated, Capo Kane, and One Fast Cat, the latter a Wesley Ward-trained son of Fast Anna who won his debut Feb. 4 over Turfway Park’s synthetic surface.

Nicky the Vest, winner of the Gander, is possible, though perhaps more likely for the Wood Memorial. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is considering Drain the Clock or Super Strong, according to the New York Racing Association publicity department.

On Wednesday, Capo Kane, the Jerome winner, worked a half-mile in 48.94 seconds at Parx Racing.

NYRA to add March 25 to calendar

With inclement weather having canceled three racing cards this winter, the New York Racing Association is seeking to add March 25, a Thursday, as a live racing day at Aqueduct.

This winter, NYRA has been forced to cancel cards on Dec. 17, Jan. 29, and Feb. 18 due to weather.

In March, the live racing calendar switches to three days per week (Fridays through Sundays).

◗ Yankee Division, a 6 1/4-length winner of a second-level allowance for New York-breds on Feb. 13, could make his next start in the $100,000 Haynesfield Stakes on March 21, trainer Rudy Rodriguez said.

Yankee Division earned a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure for that allowance win, in which he ran a mile in 1:36.36.