Casse may run two in Gulfstream Oaks

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – Mark Casse has a plethora of 3-year-old fillies and decisions to make on who runs where.

While he entered Corporate Queen and Summer Luck in Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks, he said Monday he is likely to send only one to Louisiana. Whoever stays in Florida will join Salty as a runner in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks.

Salty, a daughter of Quality Road, is coming off a 2 1/2-length victory in a seven-furlong maiden race here March 5. That was her first start since a majority interest in her was purchased by Gary Barber and she was transferred from Ian Wilkes to Casse. Original owners Chester Prince and Baccari Racing each retained an interest in the filly.

In the Oaks, Salty will be stretching out to 1 1/16 miles and two turns for the first time.

“If you look at her, you’d think she’d love it,” Casse said Monday at the Palm Meadows training center. “She’s a big, rangy filly. I thought her race was really impressive when she broke her maiden because you could see where she was spinning her wheels, and then when she got in gear, she took off.”

Summer Luck has already run in three stakes at Gulfstream, including the Grade 2 Davona Dale on March 4, when she was beaten three-quarters of a length by Miss Sky Warrior. Corporate Queen finished second in a first-level allowance March 10 in her first start after being purchased by Barber and turned over to Casse.

Others pointing to the Gulfstream Oaks are Brahms Cat, Jordan’s Henny, Modacious, and Tequilita. Lockdown is possible.