Casse thinking of sending filly for Fair Grounds Oaks

Trainer Mark Casse already has penciled in Noble Bird for the New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds on April 1, and he said he is considering sending a filly, too, for the Fair Grounds Oaks that day.

“You could see Pretty City Dancer or possibly Salty or Corporate Queen run there,” Casse said. “All of them are fillies we think are really good, and we just need to separate them.”

Noble Bird, a Grade 1 winner, finished sixth last out in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup. Laying in wait for him at Fair Grounds is the sharp Hawaakom, who ran into Gun Runner while second in the Razorback Handicap last out at Oaklawn Park.

Casse’s Fair Grounds barn sent out two promising, lightly raced horses in allowance races in the last week, but neither excelled. The 4-year-old Tour de Force was second in a second-level allowance race March 17 but was turned away by Valiant City, who was racing for a $40,000 claiming price.

On Monday, the 3-year-old Souper Tapit, who scored a noteworthy debut win in a two-turn maiden race, raced from last and never really picked up much, finishing fifth in Tom’s d’Etat’s first-level allowance win, albeit while facing older horses.

◗ The feature on Friday’s 10-race card? Well, there really isn’t one. The only allowance race on the card is race 8, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-old Louisiana-breds open to non-winners of two races or $30,000 claimers.