Classic Empire's readiness for Haskell in question

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – If Classic Empire makes the July 30 Haskell at Monmouth Park, he will do so without a lot of training time to spare. Scratched from the June 10 Belmont Stakes with a foot abscess, his subsequent training has fallen behind schedule, trainer Mark Casse said Friday.

Classic Empire, last year’s champion juvenile male and the runner-up, beaten a head by Cloud Computing, in the May 20 Preakness Stakes, has not breezed since the foot abscess was discovered in the days leading up to the Belmont, although Casse said Friday he was aiming to work him at Churchill Downs over the weekend.

A satisfactory work could leave him in the Haskell mix but with little margin for error with the race roughly three weeks away.

Casse said the colt had some lingering discomfort in a heel while training during the past month, and changes had to be made several times to the colt’s shoes. He now wears a protective Z-bar shoe.

“He’s doing good, but this is taking a little longer than we hoped,” Casse said.

Casse declined to say what race could be next for Classic Empire if he isn’t fit enough for the Haskell, though the horse’s main summer goal has always been the Travers, as it is for most of the elite 3-year-old dirt horses in training.

Plans call for Classic Empire to head to Saratoga a day or two after his work, along with a number of Casse’s other top horses.

Two other notable Casse-trained runners heading to Saratoga are Salty, aiming for the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 23, and Dream Dancing, another 3-year-old filly pointing to the Grade 3 Lake George on July 21.

Options for Green Mask

Green Mask, who earned a guaranteed spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 4 at Del Mar by winning the Grade 2 Highlander Stakes at Woodbine last Sunday, could make his next start Aug. 6 in the Troy Stakes at Saratoga or wait for the Grade 3 Turf Monster at Parx on Sept. 4, trainer Brad Cox said.

A 6-year-old gelding by Mizzen Mast, Green Mask has been first or second in six consecutive races since a fifth-place finish in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita. He earned a career-best 110 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the Highlander.

Short price on Donwell

Donwell, acquired by owner Paul Van Doren after the colt ran a wide fourth in a fast allowance at Churchill Downs on June 4, looms a short-priced favorite in the featured seventh race at Ellis Park on Sunday, a $41,000 allowance for non-winners of two at a mile on the main track.

Now with trainer Tom Amoss, Donwell, with Miguel Mena named to ride, faces a field of five and was installed as the 6-5 morning-line favorite.