Dynamic Sky can help Casse in quest to be leading trainer

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Mark Casse came to Keeneland this spring with 40 horses and a notion that he might do some good. All it took was one weekend to get him to start thinking in bigger terms.

Casse sent out four winners on the first three programs of the 15-day spring meet, more than any other trainer. And the best could be yet to come for Casse, who will be recognized in absentia Friday night at Woodbine for being voted the 2013 Sovereign Award winner as the top trainer in Canada, the sixth time he has been so honored.

“We’ve got a lot of live horses still to run here,” he said Tuesday. “I’d guess that except for maybe Michael Maker, we’ll have as many starts as anybody this meet. It’s a long way to Tipperary, but I’d be lying if I wasn’t thinking about [being leading trainer].”

Casse will send out Dynamic Sky as a major threat Thursday at Keeneland in the second of two $64,000, third-level allowances on a nine-race card that starts at 1:05 p.m. Eastern. Spotted in the customary race 8 feature slot, the 6 1/2-furlong Polytrack race drew a well-matched field of 10 older horses.

Dynamic Sky, owned by John Oxley, has not raced since finishing third in the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine in July. The Sky Mesa colt ran second here in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at the 2012 fall meet.

“It’s been a while since he’s run, but he’s training better than ever,” Casse said. “This is a tough task with some of the nice horses he’s got to deal with, especially coming off the layoff. But I sure don’t think it’d be impossible. He’s probably a little better going farther, but he’s a talented horse who likes this track. And I know we’ve got him ready.”

Dynamic Sky will break from post 7 under Stewart Elliott, who rode five winners on opening weekend, one fewer than Julien Leparoux, who took the early lead atop the jockeys’ standings.

Besides Dynamic Sky, another notable returnee in the nominal feature is Morpheus (post 2, Jose Lezcano), a 4-year-old half-brother to Juddmonte Farms’ retired European superstar Frankel. Morpheus, trained by Bill Mott, will be making his U.S. debut and will be treated with Lasix for the first time after going 3 for 8 for Sir Henry and Lady Cecil at 2 and 3.

Other considerations include Bull Dozer (post 3, Miguel Mena), a winner for this same condition last fall and eligible here for an $80,000 claiming option; Princedargent (post 6, Joel Rosario), going from turf to Polytrack while making his second start in the care of Christophe Clement; and Admiral Perry (post 8, Joe Rocco Jr.), a late-running Shug McGaughey trainee also returning from a layoff.

The earlier allowance (race 3), also at 6 1/2 furlongs on Polytrack, drew a much shorter field, with Leinan, Sky Girl, and Triple Charm the main players in a field of five fillies and mares.