Filo Di Arianna eyes Fourstardave after allowance score

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mark Casse said the unbeaten Brazilian import Filo Di Arianna is probably headed for the Grade 1 Fourstardave on Aug. 14 at Saratoga following his smashing Woodbine debut in an open allowance.

When returning from a layoff more than two years here June 27, Filo Di Arianna closed strongly from third to win a seven-furlong turf sprint going away over a quality field that included Gray’s Fable and Silent Poet. He earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure under Emma-Jayne Wilson.

Casse said he was pleasantly surprised by the performance from the 5-year-old, who won a Group 2 stakes by 11 lengths among his three Brazilian victories in 2019.

“I thought it was a remarkable race,” Casse said. “It wasn’t an easy race. For as long as he’d been off, I thought he might need one. I’ve had him for about nine months. From what I understand, after they purchased him, he bowed. They gave him some time and brought him back and he hurt himself again, and then we got him. We’re really excited about him.”

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Casse said the Grade 2 Connaught Cup here July 18 would be too soon for Filo Di Arianna, who is owned by the partnership of Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, and Peter Deutsch.

“I don’t want to bring him back that quick,” Casse said. “He reminds me of Ride a Comet and what we were able to accomplish with him off such a long layoff. To be able to do the same with this horse, I’m proud of our team in Ocala.”

Ride a Comet returned from a two-year absence last fall to win two in a row here, including the Grade 2 Kennedy Road, before going on to run competitively in several graded stakes in the United States.

A Thread of Blue back on turf

Casse sends out A Thread of Blue in Sunday’s co-feature, a split of a conditioned allowance going 1 1/16 miles on the main turf.

Five-year-old A Thread of Blue has won 5 of 18 starts, including the $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational in 2019 when he was trained by Kiaran McLaughlin. He resurfaced with Casse off a seven-month layoff in March, when he was seventh in a handicap at Tampa before ending up third in an April 22 optional claimer at Gulfstream. He was only an early factor in his local debut on the main track on June 13.

“I tried him on the Tapeta, and he didn’t run any good,” Casse said. “He’s a better grass horse. He’s won a lot of money, but he’s getting a little long in the tooth.”

The other split includes graded stakes-placed Sir Sahib, who’s trying to end a long drought in his first start for trainer Mike Doyle.