Casse has Got Stormy and Miss Mo Mentum in Thursday feature
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Wonder Gadot, the 2018 Queen’s Plate winner and Kentucky Oaks runner-up, isn’t the only 4-year-old filly who’ll be making her seasonal debut this week in allowance company for owner Gary Barber and trainer Mark Casse.
“It’s a big week for us with the girls,” Casse said Sunday from his primary base in Ocala, Fla. “We’ve got Wonder Gadot running Friday at Oaklawn Park, and we’ve got these two coming back at Gulfstream Park.”
Got Stormy and Miss Mo Mentum, both graded stakes winners, will oppose each other at Gulfstream in the Thursday feature, a $53,000 turf mile with hybrid conditions.
The uncoupled Casse pair will be among the favorites in a field of nine in the lone allowance (race 9) on an 11-race program that starts at 12:35 p.m. Eastern. A $44,000 main-track sprint restricted to 3-year-old Florida-bred fillies directly follows as race 10.
The feature is part of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 sequence, which spans races 6-11. Into Wednesday, the carryover jackpot stood at $845,641.
KEY CONTENDERS
Got Stormy, by Get Stormy
Last 3 Beyers: 58-30-90
◗ Using a handy style from just off the pace, this filly reeled off three straight stakes victories last spring and summer, ending with the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen over the Woodbine turf in July.
◗ She’ll have Tyler Gaffalione aboard when she breaks from post 4 on Thursday.
◗ “She got a little unlucky with the weather last fall in New York,” Casse said. “We brought her home and gave her a little time and she’s really come back well.”
Miss Mo Mentum, by Uncle Mo
Last 3 Beyers: 76-52-91
◗ Several eye-catching runs toward the end of a busy 2-year-old season of 2017 led to mostly disappointing efforts last year at 3, although she did win the Grade 3 Selene over the Woodbine synthetic in May.
◗ She’ll have leading jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard from post 3.
◗ “Obviously she’s been in and out,” Casse said. “Some days she’s run huge, and some days not. I’d like to think we’ve got her ready to be more consistent this year.”
Princesa Coqueta, by Distorted Economy
Beyers: N/A-N/A-N/A
◗ A Group 1 winner in her native land, this Chilean-bred mare will break from post 7 as the obvious wild card of the group and gets first Lasix in her North American debut. ◗ Javier Castellano has the call from trainer Christophe Clement, who has set her down for 14 works at Payson Park since late October.
Bonnie Arch, by Regal Ransom
Last 3 Beyers: 81-60-81
◗ This Ian Wilkes-trained mare has slumped in recent starts versus graded company, so perhaps the return to the allowance ranks and her favorable rail draw will enable jockey Chris Landeros to work out a good trip.
