Casse has two for Woodstock Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Among a hodgepodge of 3-year-olds, trainer Mark Casse entered the turf experts Yes I Am Free and All American Hero in Saturday’s $100,000 Woodstock Stakes, a six-furlong Tapeta sprint at Woodbine.

Yes I Am Free won his first two starts, a pair of five-furlong dashes at Gulfstream, most notably the Texas Glitter Stakes. Casse shipped Yes I Am Free to Keeneland most recently for the $100,000 Palisades Turf Sprint. The 5 1/2-furlong stakes lured last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint victor, the unbeaten Bulletin, who led all the way. Yes I Am Free weakened from a stalking position to finish just less than five lengths back in seventh in the 12-horse field.

“That was an extremely tough race, and I thought he ran respectably,” Casse said. “He ran against the Breeders’ Cup winner. If he can carry his form from turf to synthetic, he should be very tough.”

All American Hero graduated third time out last September at Churchill. Following a poor showing on soft ground at Keeneland, he ran second or third in three consecutive first-level allowance sprints at Fair Grounds, most recently on Jan. 11.

“I ran him numerous time this winter,” Casse said. “I just thought I’d bring him home and give him a break. I brought him home from OBS, which has a synthetic track, so I felt like he should like [Tapeta]. I started pointing him to this race a couple months ago.”

The Woodstock attracted one more than the eight nominated to the race. Among the four supplements is Woodbine Oaks prospect Tiz Breathtaking, who is making her first start of the year.

KEY CONTENDERS

Yes I Am Free, by Uncaptured
Last 3 Beyers: 79-81-80

◗ Casse trained Uncaptured, Canada’s Horse of the Year and champion male 2-year-old in 2012. He had an affinity for Woodbine’s old Polytrack.

All American Hero, by Hard Spun
Last 3 Beyers: 76-70-67

◗ The $400,000 2-year-old purchase is a half-brother to stakes winners Annual Report and Giant Payday. He is owned by John Oxley, who won last year’s Woodstock with the Casse-trained Curlin’s Honor.

Powell, by Munnings
Last 3 Beyers: 81-75-63

◗ He came from Fair Grounds to earn his diploma in front-running style in a five-furlong maiden special last Sunday, after which he galloped out strongly.

Corduroy Road, by Souper Speedy
Beyers: 75-72

◗ He found the mark in both of his outings, both going six furlongs here last fall, including an Ontario-sired allowance. His trainer, Robert Tiller, won this stakes with Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk in 2004 and with Oh Canada in 2011.

Souper Success, by Souper Speedy
Beyers: 80-49

◗ After running second in his Oct. 19 debut, the son of last year’s leading Canadian freshman sire Souper Speedy won a five-furlong maiden special in rapid time Nov. 25.