Casse winds up in Astoria rather than allowance with Devious Dame

ELMONT, N.Y. – Devious Dame being the 4-5 morning-line favorite in the $150,000 Astoria Stakes today at Belmont, you’d have to say she’s well spotted.

Thing is, this was not supposed to be the spot.

Norm Casse, who trains Devious Dame for John Oxley, said he tried to get Devious Dame into a first-level allowance race at Churchill Downs, Casse’s current base, to use as a prep for the $175,000 Debutante Stakes there July 4. “The race didn’t fill, so here we are,” said Casse.

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Devious Dame, from the first crop of the stallion Girvin, displayed serious talent in her May 4 career debut. She dueled on the lead, put her pace rival away, drew off to a 5 1/2-length win, and galloped out far in front. On video, the filly looks physically advanced for her age, with scope and a long stride, and that’s what Casse sees from close range.

“She’s beautiful. She looks like a two-turn horse, but she just happens to have a lot of speed,” he said.

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That being the case, the Astoria, if all goes well, could be a second step on the way to more important and longer races later this summer at Saratoga.