Catch a Glimpse tough to go past in Appalachian
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Sometimes a race explains itself on paper, and no insightful comment is required beforehand.
“I think her record speaks for itself,” trainer Mark Casse said of Catch a Glimpse, the heavy favorite for the Grade 3 Appalachian Stakes on Thursday at Keeneland. “She’s been pretty impressive.”
Catch a Glimpse is a Breeders’ Cup winner, having captured the Juvenile Fillies Turf here last fall, and that alone would make her the obvious choice in the $125,000 Appalachian. But the chestnut filly also has the benefit of a race under her belt this year – a 2 1/2-length triumph Feb. 27 in the Herecomesthebride at Gulfstream Park – and moreover, “The consensus is she’s training better than ever,” said Casse.
All that figures to spell trouble for the opposition when Catch a Glimpse and jockey Florent Geroux go postward in the 28th running of the Appalachian. Eleven 3-year-old fillies are entered in the one-mile turf race, but Miss Katie Mae will scratch after racing here Sunday.
Casse, an eight-time Sovereign Award winner who was named last week to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, said the Belmont Oaks and Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup are among the 2016 goals for Catch a Glimpse.
“I really don’t like to say that out loud because it can be bad luck,” he said. “We might run her next in the Edgewood” – on the May 6 Kentucky Oaks card at Churchill Downs – “but that’s about as far ahead as I want to get.”
If Catch a Glimpse somehow stubs her toe Thursday, the most likely upsetters are Dothraki Queen, Spinamiss, and Ava’s Kitten.
The Appalachian goes as the eighth of nine Thursday races, with first post set for 1:05 p.m. Eastern and the feature for 4:57. The undercard includes the fourth 2-year-old dash of the meet (race 1), a maiden special weight event at the rarely run distance of 1 1/4 miles (race 4), and two turf allowances (races 3 and 6).
KEY CONTENDERS
Catch a Glimpse, by City Zip
Last 3 Beyers: 87-84-91
◗ She will break from post 7 (carrying saddlecloth No. 8) and is looking to improve her career record to 5 for 6.
“I like the post and think she’ll represent us well again,” said Casse.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 8 Catch a Glimpse. Won the Herecomesthebride Stakes last out, and runners from that field have gone 4-0-0-1 since, each with Beyer Speed Figures that declined between 4 and 16 points. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Buy Formulator PPs
:: Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
Dothraki Queen, by Pure Prize
Last 3 Beyers: 72-88-70
◗ She has competed in nothing but graded dirt stakes since winning her career debut on the Ellis Park turf and will return from a 5 1/2-month layoff for Ken McPeek.
Ava’s Kitten, by Kitten’s Joy
Last 3 Beyers: 75-81-74
◗ Ken and Sarah Ramsey homebred won an ungraded turf stakes at Belmont Park to end her 2-year-old campaign, then was the beaten favorite in the Florida Oaks in her lone outing this year.
◗ She is trained by Chad Brown.
Spinamiss, by Lilbourne Lad
Beyers: 75-73
◗ Todd Pletcher-trained Irish-bred comes well drawn on the rail with Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.
◗ She exits a solid runner-up effort in a Jan. 30 stakes at Gulfstream.