Casse sending 20 horses to Oaklawn

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse plans to have a division of about 20 horses at the Oaklawn Park meet that opens Dec. 6 in Hot Springs, Ark.

Casse’s primary winter base is South Florida. He also operates a training center in Ocala, Fla. He said it’s been about four or five years since he’s had a string at Oaklawn.

“We have some nice 2-year-olds turning 3 that we’re sending,” he said, “and then we do have some older horses, as well. It’s an assortment.”

Casse said there were a number of reasons he decided to return to Oaklawn, where purses are projected to average more than $900,000 a card, according to track president Lou Cella.

“Obviously, the money is good,” Casse said. “The success that’s come out of Oaklawn in recent years also attracted my attention. Plus, I appreciate the hard line that Mr. Cella has made on cleaning up the game and having the level playing field. I think they've done a lot.

“I think Oaklawn and Mr. Cella have been instrumental and very hard line on cleaning up the game and I appreciate it and that's where I like competing.”

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Casse said he expects to utilize a number of the meet’s regular riders, including title winners Ricardo Santana Jr. and Cristian Torres.

“It’s a good colony,” Casse said. “I would say Ricardo will do a fair amount of riding for us. Cristian Torres actually started breezing horses at our farm when he just started riding, so I’ve known Cristian forever. His brother actually works for me.”

Casse’s son, trainer Norm Casse, has in recent years kept a string of horses at Oaklawn.

Mark Casse in 2017 won the Arkansas Derby with champion Classic Empire. He's also won local Kentucky Oaks preps with Chocolate Kisses and Power Gal.

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