Casse gets his chance with Step Forward on dirt in Troy
?q=100)
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Mark Casse has wanted to try Step Forward on the dirt and now he will get his chance.
Step Forward was one of just five horses left in the field after the Grade 2, $300,000 Troy Stakes, scheduled for 5 1/2 furlongs on turf, was moved to the dirt, following heavy rains in these parts on Friday.
Among the eight scratches from the Troy, which will now be run at 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt, was Cogburn, the leading male turf sprinter in the country. Trainer Steve Asmussen said Cogburn will simply train up to the Grade 2, $2 million Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 7.
Step Forward, who has never raced on dirt, finished last in a 5 1/2-furlong stakes-caliber allowance on turf here on July 28. He was bumped hard a few strides out of the gate and was 18 lengths out of it at the first point of all. He ultimately was beaten 2 3-4 lengths.
Noting Step Forward is by champion dirt sprinter Speightstown, Casse said “I’ve always wanted to try him on the dirt.”
The main track will be fast for the Troy.
Thin White Duke, at 2, won the Funny Cide Stakes here and the Aspirant Stakes at Finger Lakes on dirt. Last fall, he finished second in the off-the-turf Belmont Turf Sprint and third in the Hudson Stakes. His last five turf starts have been somewhat disappointing.
“He’s run well on dirt, I want to change it up a little bit,” trainer David Donk said.
Outlaw Kid is coming off a neck victory in a six-furlong turf allowance at Aqueduct on July 4. He’s run twice on dirt, including a runner-up finish in a second-level allowance at Aqueduct in the fall of 2022.
Surveillance, claimed for $62,500 out of a win on turf, is 7 for 27 on dirt. He and Disarmed, second in the off-the-turf Kingston Stakes, were both to run only if the race came off the turf.
They got their wish.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.