Catch a Glimpse fires bullet for Belmont Oaks

Heading into her first major engagement of the summer in the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Oaks, Catch a Glimpse shows no ill effects from what has already been a very successful year.

The 2015 Canadian Horse of the Year worked five furlongs in 59 seconds flat at Keeneland last Saturday, the fastest of 34 works at the distance. It was the second consecutive bullet work for the filly, who worked a half in 48 seconds, the fastest of 54 works, the prior week.

Catch a Glimpse has been based at Keeneland, which closed its race meet at the end of April, throughout the spring and has thrived there.

“We have her over there since she really likes it there and it’s a little more quiet and laid-back,” said assistant trainer Norm Casse, who works for his father, Mark Casse.

Catch a Glimpse returned to the work tab at Keeneland after winning the Grade 3 Penn Mile against males on June 4 to remain unbeaten in seven starts on turf. It was the fourth start of the year for the filly, who will stretch out to 1 1/4 miles in the Belmont Oaks on July 9.

Other Kentucky-based invitees to the Belmont Oaks include Grade 3 Regret Stakes winner Auntie Joy, who finished fifth to Catch a Glimpse in the Grade 3 Appalachian Stakes and a close second to her in the Grade 3 Edgewood Stakes.

“Obviously, that’s the next logical spot,” trainer Brendan Walsh said. “It looked like she came out [of the Regret] real good. We were delighted with the performance.”

The Casse barn will also send Airoforce, who finished second to Catch a Glimpse in the Penn Mile, to New York for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Belmont Derby on July 9. The colt worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 last Saturday at Churchill Downs.