Casse wins Keeneland opener with Gio Game
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Mark Casse was up before 5 a.m. Friday so as to make his commercial flight out of Gainesville, Fla., in time for the 1:05 opener of the Keeneland fall meet. His flight was canceled, but that didn’t keep the Casse-trained Gio Game from dominating her six opponents in the $65,000 maiden special weight route.
“She looked pretty good running off by herself on the screen,” Casse said by phone, adding he hoped to be on hand later in the day by way of a private jet out of Ocala.
After assistant trainer David Carroll gave Julien Leparoux a leg up, Gio Game dueled the odds-on favorite More Mojo into defeat, and was never challenged thereafter in prevailing by nine lengths. The 2-year-old daughter of Gio Ponti returned $5.60 as second choice after finishing in 1:44.74 over a fast track.
“We liked her for her two races at Saratoga,” said Leparoux, whose riding title here last fall was his 11th overall at Keeneland. “Coming off the turf, she was very impressive today. It was nice to win the first one.”
The second wagering choice also won the second race when Your Secret’s Safe ($5.60), ridden by Florent Geroux, swept to command leaving the quarter pole to end a $2 daily double worth $16.
The meet opened under partly sunny skies, with a steady breeze blowing and the high temperature expected to reach 83. The Grade 1 Alcibiades and Grade 2 Phoenix were to be run later on a 10-race card. In all, nine stakes were to be run here opening week, including five Saturday and two Sunday.
