Casse eager to get Grafton Street on turf in Summer Stakes
ETOBICOKE Ontario – First Empire is the most accomplished among trainer Mark Casse’s four entrants in Sunday’s Grade 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine, but the gifted maiden Grafton Street could be loaded for bear in the one-mile turf route for 2-year-olds.
The $400,000 Summer is a Breeders' Cup Win and You’re In event for the Juvenile Turf. Lasix is prohibited in the Summer.
Casse sent out future classic winner War of Will to finish second as a maiden in the 2018 Summer. Grafton Street, like War of Will, a son of elite sire War Front, finished third in his only start in a May 29 maiden special at Belmont Park.
“I’m really excited about him,” Casse said. “I had him in at Belmont and the race came off the grass. I ran him in the mud, and he didn’t handle it very well. It took him a long time to bounce out of that. I brought him up [to Woodbine] and was trying to do the same path as War of Will, which was bring him out of Saratoga, run him in a maiden race and the Summer. But the maiden race came off the grass, and I had to train him up to the Summer.”
Casse said Grafton Street’s bullet half-mile breeze in 47.80 seconds on the turf training course at Saratoga was exceptional.
“When I worked him at Saratoga on the turf, he just galloped around there and had the fastest work out of 47 horses,” Casse said. “I was just shaking my head. He did it with ease. When you do that at Saratoga . . . There’s a lot of good horses there.”
First Empire graduated second time out Aug. 1 before doubling up in another local turf sprint, the Soaring Free Stakes, for which he got an 80 Beyer Speed Figure.
“He’s doing everything right,” Casse said. “He definitely loves the turf, and he’s coming into this race good, whereas this is a little tougher task. But I don’t see the mile being an issue.”
Luckman got away slowly before closing for second at first asking in the same Aug. 29 maiden special from which Grafton Street was scratched due to the surface change.
“I felt like the turf would move him up,” Casse said. “I wanted to get him a start. He’s a horse who wants more ground.”
Souper Legacy prevailed in his Aug. 29 debut in a seven-furlong maiden special that was taken off the grass.
“I thought his race was good,” Casse said. “We definitely think he’s a little better on the grass.”
Godolphin’s Albahr has won 3 of 4 starts in England for trainer Charlie Appleby, including a one-mile stakes on Aug. 20 at Salisbury. Frankie Dettori rides the probable favorite.
“He’s got natural speed,” Dettori said. “He’s very big. He’s well-seasoned. He’s had a few races. You need a horse with experience to travel to perform at his best. He tries. I’m sure he’s going to give a good account of himself.”
◗ Unbeaten Presque Isle shipper San Costantino meets local winners Silent Runner and Feelthebeat in Sunday’s $125,000 Ontario Racing Stakes, a five-furlong inner-turf sprint for 2-year-olds.