Got Stormy will shorten up even more in Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint

FRANKLIN, Ky. – Mark Casse had never been to Kentucky Downs for a live day of racing while the Queen’s Plate was being run at Woodbine, his longtime stomping grounds.

Of course, never had anybody else, given that the Queen’s Plate is usually run in early summer and Kentucky Downs always runs in September. This is the year of the coronavirus, and altered racing schedules often lead horsemen such as Casse to wonder what month it is and why they are where they are.

Casse, the 11-time Sovereign Award winner for top trainer in Canada, said 2020 was the first in “10 years, maybe more” he didn’t have a Queen’s Plate starter. He was otherwise occupied with the emergence of Got Stormy as a major contender in the national turf-sprint ranks after the 5-year-old mare crushed the opposition Saturday in the Grade 3 Ladies Sprint at 6 1/2 furlongs.

It was the first time Got Stormy had ever raced shorter than 7 1/2 furlongs in her 24-race career. Casse said it’s now full-speed ahead to Keeneland and the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, an even shorter race at 5 1/2 furlongs.

“I think it would be pretty much impossible for her to win the Mile, so if we’re going to participate, the Turf Sprint has to be it,” Casse said.

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The Kentucky Downs course was rated soft by the time Got Stormy won. Casse has long maintained the mare prefers firmer going, but stipulated the shorter distance can mitigate that factor.

“The softer going decreases her effectiveness at a longer distance,” he said. “So for her to get a true mile, it has to be extremely fast. And you can count on the Keeneland ground having quite a bit of give to it by that time of year.”

Casse recognized the current depth of the turf-sprint divisions, both male and female, but believes Got Stormy should be among the favorites. The mare is a Grade 1 winner of more than $1.9 million with proven success versus males.

“She’s pretty fast,” Casse said.

Because of more rain Saturday night into Sunday morning, Kentucky Downs postponed its 11-race Sunday card to Tuesday. Wednesday is closing day of the six-day meet.

With Got Stormy being his first winner of the season here, Casse won’t be challenging for the meet training title, as that figures to be a race to the wire between Wesley Ward and Mike Maker. A remarkable four straight wins by Maker early on the Saturday card (races 2-5) had him in a tie with Ward (six wins each) heading into the final two days.