Casse's Charlie Barley pair includes Skipadate

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Mark Casse, who will send out Tasty Temptation and Active Duty for Sunday's $1omillion Queen's Plate at Woodbine, also has a pair of runners for Saturday's $100,000 Charlie Barley here.

Casse will run both Skipadate, racing for Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, and Congor Bay, owned by Melnyk Racing Stable. The Charlie Barley, formerly run on Queen's Plate Day, is an open one-mile overnight turf stakes for 3-year-olds that has attracted a field of 10.

Skipadate missed by a head in the Grade 3 Summer at one mile on turf here last Oct. 4 and then finished 11th, beaten eight lengths, in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita.

The Florida-bred also ran well in three starts on the turf in Kentucky this spring, including a close fourth in Keeneland's Grade 3 Transylvania and a nose defeat as the runner-up in a first-level allowance at Churchill Downs on May 29.

"He's proven he can only run on one surface, and that's grass," said Casse, who watched Skipdate disappoint in tries on dirt and a synthetic surface.

Congor Bay, perfect in the first two starts of his career here last fall, headed to California and became a stakes winner in the 6 1/2-furlong San Pedro at Santa Anita on Jan. 19.

Bred in Kentucky by his owners, Congor Bay earlier finished third in the one-mile Eddie Logan in what stands as his lone turf start to date.

Back at Woodbine, Congor Bay finished second in the six-furlong Woodstock in his most recent appearance on April 26.

"There's been no race for him, but he's been training well," said Casse. "Grass will probably be his preferred surface."

Me the Sea and G T is the only other stakes winner in the lineup, having upset the restricted Bold Ruckus at six furlongs on turf here June 10.

"I'm concerned about the short time back, but he's doing well," said Steve Owens, who trains Me the Sea and G T for owner/breeder George Tharrenos. "A mile on the turf should be within his range."