Casse hopes extra ground helps Mo Fox Givin in Pucker Up

Mo Fox Givin could help her new trainer, Mark Casse, close out his notable weekend on a high note Sunday when she starts as a chief contender in the Grade 3, $400,000 Pucker Up at Ellis Park

The race is for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf and its winner earns a berth into the Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs. The Pucker Up is the richest of four stakes that will offer total purses of $1.2 million.

Casse on Friday was in New York for the Hall of Fame ceremony. He was one of a number of past inductees on hand to witness the ushering in of the latest class.

“There was a bunch of us there,” Casse said of past inductees.

:: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets.

Later the same afternoon, Casse will saddle Dancing N Dixie in the Grade 2 Saratoga Oaks Invitational. She is coming off a win over Mo Fox Givin in the Tepin on June 29 at Churchill Downs. Since that race, Mo Fox Givin has joined Casse’s barn for new owner Gary Barber.

“We bought her privately after the last race,” Casse said. “Gary Barber watched the race and he was impressed by her and so he reached out and tried to buy her and he did. That’s what Gary does.”

Barber is a co-owner of Dancing N Dixie, who was a nice measuring stick as a multiple stakes winner of more than $300,000.

“We think a lot of Dancing N Dixie, which I’m sure was some of Gary’s thought going out and trying to acquire this filly,” said Casse. “[Mo Fox Givin] is a sweetheart. She does everything right. She’s very consistent. We can only hope to do as well as [her past connections]. We’re just trying to do the same.”

Mo Fox Givin was just edged in the one-mile Tepin and Casse feels the added ground in the Pucker Up should suit the filly.

“I think so,” he said. “Her last race she settled.

“She kind of got caught up and had to wait and she finally got through and we were able to run her down in the last jump.”

Cristian Torres has the mount on Mo Fox Givin from post 7 in the field of 10.

Pin Up Betty is the probable favorite as the winner of the Grade 3 Regret at this distance on turf in June at Churchill. She’s raced once since, finishing fourth in the Belmont Oaks Invitational. Pin Up Betty is a half-sister to Governor Sam, who is expected to be the probable favorite in the Tyro on Saturday at Monmouth Park.

Others set to start in the Pucker Up include Everland, who was fifth in the Kentucky Oaks, and Hello Hollywood, a recent first-level allowance winner who gets the services of Jose Ortiz.

As for Mo Fox Givin, she has had some close stakes calls – placing in four of them – and could be sitting on a breakthrough race Sunday.

“I’m keeping my fingers crossed,” said Casse.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.