Casse goes three deep in Display Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mark Casse will be holding a strong hand at Woodbine on Saturday, when he runs Vanish, King and His Court, and Flowmotion in the $125,000 Display Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile route for 2-year-olds.

The handsome chestnut Vanish appears to have the most upside among the trio. After running second in his debut, he won on Nov. 5 in the restricted Clarendon Stakes. His time of 1:09.19 in the six-furlong Clarendon translated to a Beyer Speed Figure of 89, the fourth-highest by a 2-year-old at Woodbine this year.

“He has a lot of ability,” Casse said. “He was plagued by shins, and it took a little while to get him to the races. His last race was big, and he’s trained really well since. I’d like to get a two-turn race into him. I don’t see why he couldn’t [go long].”

King and His Court started seven times for trainer Alex Patykewich. After a third in the Grade 3 Grey Stakes in October, he was bought by Wachtel Stable and Vanish’s owner, Gary Barber. They sent him out to capture the restricted Coronation Futurity on Nov. 13.

“Alex did a good job with him,” Casse said. “Maybe the difference with us is we have some horses we can breeze him with, and we taught him to relax a little and come with a run. He had trained very well leading up to the race, and we were expecting a big effort. We’re hoping he can be a Queen’s Plate horse next year.”

Display Stakes, Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Vanish, by Algorithms

Last 2 Beyers: 89-65

◗ If he exits the Display in good order, he’ll winter in either south Florida or New Orleans, where he’ll prepare for the Queen’s Plate, according to Casse.

King and His Court, by Court Vision

Last 3 Beyers: 76-72-67

◗ Another stakes score would make him a contender for Canadian champion male 2-year-old honors, which would also be the case with Vanish.

Flowmotion, by Warrior’s Reward

Last 3 Beyers: 67-64-57

◗ He graduated in a two-turn maiden special weight race Nov. 13.

“He’ll need to step up his game a little, and I don’t see any reason why he couldn’t,” Casse said.

Recoil, by Lonhro

Last 3 Beyers: 62-48-30

◗ He’s exiting a maiden win on grass at Laurel Park for trainer Cathal Lynch, who won last Sunday’s Swynford Stakes here with Undulated.

“We wanted an ‘a other than’ [allowance] for him, but it didn’t go,” Lynch said. “So, we’re going to take a shot and send him up and see if he handles the synthetic track.”