Danzig Moon means business

LOUISVILLE, KY. – Assistant trainer Norman Casse doesn’t like using the word “mean” to describe strong-willed Derby hopeful Danzig Moon. The colt’s exploits around the barn have been well documented on social media, with various members of the barn staff sharing photos of their “war wounds.” But Casse smiles when discussing the topic.

“He’s just an alpha-male type,” Casse said. “I don’t like saying that he’s mean, but he’s aggressive in his stall. He bites, he kicks, he does everything that a bad-boy colt would do. But when he’s on the racetrack, he’s all business. He doesn’t really mess around out there. That’s what I like about him.”

Casse said that mutual respect between the horse and his handlers is key to getting along.

“You’ve just got to respect him, that’s all,” Casse said. “If you respect him, he’ll respect you.”

Danzig Moon earned his spot in the Kentucky Derby field with a runner-up effort in the Blue Grass Stakes on April 4 and has since impressed with two solid works and a series of energetic gallops at Churchill Downs. The colt has been based here for most of his career with trainer Mark Casse, who is Norman’s father, but has only made one start here, finishing second in a maiden special weight at a mile last Oct. 26.

“I think this is his favorite racetrack,” Norman Casse said. “He got ready here all summer. He was always one of our high hopes for this type of race potential. His one race that he ran here, he just blew the start. Otherwise, he would have won that day.”