Cucina cooking up something good in Sanford

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Mark Casse knew Cucina would be facing a small field in Saturday’s $150,000 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga. But he never expected his promising 2-year-old prospect would have to beat only four rivals to win the longstanding juvenile fixture and become a Grade 3 winner in just his third start.

“A small field like this is always good for the owner and good for the trainer, but it’s not so good for the bettors,” said Casse, who trains the homebred son of Northern Afleet for owner-breeder Donald Dizney.

Cucina launched his career going 4 1/2 furlongs at Gulfstream Park, finishing second, beaten a neck by Man With a Plan. Man With a Plan returned to run third in a stakes at Gulfstream.

Casse decided Cucina showed enough at first asking to ship to Belmont Park for his second start. That assessment proved correct when Cucina rallied from off the pace to a neck decision as the even-money favorite in a maiden special weight race over a sloppy track June 21.

“I ran him pretty much off the training center the first time and liked him a lot going into the race,” said Casse, who sent out Strike Silver to finish second, beaten a neck by Sombeyay, in the 2018 Sanford. “He made a middle move, flattened out a little late, but overall I thought he ran a very good race and showed enough to win in New York. We do that a lot of times with our young horses. I like to get started down south because it’s close for us to bring them from the barn and run at Gulfstream.”

:: Get PPs, Clocker Reports, picks, and more from DRF's Saratoga One-Stop Shop

Cucina on June 21 beat Hai Bobby, a speedy filly from the potent juvenile stable of trainer Wesley Ward. They readily separated themselves from their five opponents over a sloppy track that day. Cucina earned a 75 Beyer Speed Figure, best of the five horses entered in the Sanford.

“I’m not so sure the sloppy racetrack made that much difference,” Casse said. “It didn’t surprise me he won because I think he’s pretty good, although I think when the dust clears, he’s probably going to be a better grass horse. I also like the fact he overcame a little early trouble in the race and proved he could pass horses as well.”

Cucina’s chief rival in the six-furlong Sanford could be the Eddie Kenneally-trained By Your Side, who outgamed even-money favorite Basin by a nose to capture a five-furlong maiden special weight dash one month ago at Churchill Downs.

“I ran a very professional horse the first first time out,” said Kenneally. “He sat behind the leaders, was very relaxed, took some dirt, and got it done in a pretty solid maiden race at Churchill. He’s done really well since, has had a couple of really good works. He’s coming into the race as good as he could and the timing is ideal.”

Tomato Billed won a maiden race at Delaware Park by 3 3/4-lengths in his only start. The son of More Than Ready earned a 45 Beyer Figure.

Memorable, a tiring fifth in the Tremont, and California invader Raging Whiskey, a maiden winner at second asking on June 2 at Santa Anita, complete the lineup.