Casse hoping Holding Gold gets invite to Al Quoz Sprint

Trainer Mark Casse hopes Holding Gold gets invited to the party in Dubai.

Holding Gold’s first start in 2018, the Col. Power Stakes on Feb. 17 at Fair Grounds, produced an encouraging half-length win over the up-and-coming Will Call, and if things go as hoped, the race will have served as a prep for the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint on the Dubai World Cup card March 31.

The Al Quoz is an invitational, and Casse hopes Holding Gold, owned by Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation, is on the Dubai Racing Club’s list of invitees.

“I think we’re going to go if we get invited,” Casse said.

The Al Quoz is a straight-course race over 1,200 meters, which is about six furlongs, an ideal distance for Holding Gold. “You never know about the straight course, but three-quarters is his trip,” Casse said.

Holding Gold remains with Casse’s string at Fair Grounds and would try to win the Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland for the second year in a row if he doesn’t go to Dubai.

Meanwhile, Casse said that Wonder Gadot, third in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes, would make her next start either in the Fair Grounds Oaks on March 24 or the April 7 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct.