Casse holds strong hand in pair of sprints
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Perennial leading trainer Mark Casse seems loaded for bear in the two conditioned allowance/optional claimers on Sunday’s eight-race all-Tapeta card at Woodbine.
Casse, who recently won his 15th Sovereign Award for outstanding trainer, sends out Ready for a Fight and Ghostliner in the sixth race over 5 1/2 furlongs.
Ready for a Fight had an abbreviated 2022 campaign here last fall that included a victory in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance/optional claimer on closing day, for which he got a career-high 90 Beyer Speed Figure. The 6-year-old has been freshened since two dull performances in January at Turfway and is entered for the $50,000 optional tag on Sunday.
Sahin Civaci, who was aboard Ready for a Fight’s Dec. 11 triumph, has the mount Sunday. The unassuming rider is coming off a career year and has a 24 percent strike rate on Casse runners.
Ghostliner had a productive stint at Gulfstream early in 2022 before getting a break. The last time the Ghostzapper gelding saw action here Aug. 12, he was a prominent second in a first-level allowance under Declan Carroll.
Ghostliner worked five-eighths from the gate here in a bullet 59 seconds on April 6, and followed it up a week later with an easy breeze at the same distance in 1:02.60.
“Ghostliner will probably need one,” Casse admitted.
A comebacker who might not need one in the sixth is Maclean’s Posse. A 5-year-old trained by Josie Carroll, Maclean’s Posse won his debut at 2 and a first-level allowance off a 1 1/2-year layoff here last spring.
Maclean’s Posse wintered in Ocala before recording a trio of Tapeta works here this month and will have Luis Contreras as his rider once again.
Rounding out the sixth-race field are Clear Destination, Commander Joe, Kawacatoose, There’s No Joe, and Warp Ride.
Casse-trained Aubrieta should be favored in the seventh race going 5 1/2 furlongs for fillies and mares. She captured the Glorious Song Stakes two years ago at 2 and ran second in her 3-year-old opener in the Star Shoot Stakes.
Aubrieta was winless in five starts last year, but she flaunted her ability to fire when fresh by finishing second off a layoff twice. She wintered in Ocala before breezing five-eighths twice here this month on the Tapeta.
“Aubrieta is doing well and should be ready,” Casse said. “She has gotten bigger and stronger over the winter.”
Patrick Husbands will ride Aubrieta again for owner-breeders Manfred and Penny Conrad.
Halfinthewrapper figures to cut loose on the lead and could take some catching in the seventh. She prevailed in a five-furlong allowance/optional claimer last October when entered for $30,000.
Storming Lady and Trading Bay were both scratched from Saturday’s opening-day card to help fill the seventh. Completing the field are Owen’s Tour Guide and Forest Drift.
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