Hoffa’s Union sold, turned over to Casse

Hoffa’s Union, who won a two-turn, 1 1/16-mile maiden race at Laurel Park by 15 1/2 lengths on Feb. 28, has been purchased privately by Gary Barber, Adam Wachtel, and Christopher Dunn and turned over to trainer Mark Casse.

Hoffa’s Union was owned by Non Stop Racing Stable, Rose Petal Stable, and Foard J. Wilgis and trained by Maryland-based Gary Capuano.

Wachtel said Hoffa’s Union would be a late nominee to the Triple Crown series – a $6,000 nomination fee is due March 18 – and could make his next start in a Kentucky Derby points race such as the Florida Derby or Wood Memorial.

“We’re going to keep all our options open,” Wachtel said Wednesday. “If Mark feels he continues to train forwardly and he really thinks that that first race is indicative of his true ability, we might take a shot against some of the big boys.”

Wachtel mentioned the Florida Derby at Gulfstream on March 30 and the Wood at Aqueduct on April 6 because Barber already has horses pointing to the Louisiana Derby (War of Will) and Rebel (Our Braintrust).

Hoffa’s Union, a gelding by 2012 Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags, won at first asking by 15 1/2 lengths, running the distance of about 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.62 and earning a 94 Beyer Speed Figure. He also earned an 8 on the Ragozin sheets, according to Wachtel. Hoffa’s Union did so without racing on the antibleeding medication Lasix.

“He may not have beaten anybody, but he did it quite easily,” Wachtel said. “He sure did it impressively. I think what I really liked about him, and so did Gary, he had quite a spectacular stride on him. He covers a tremendous amount of ground. There’s a lot of potential there, I think. The no-Lasix angle certainly was appealing.”

Hoffa’s Union arrived at Casse’s farm in Ocala, Fla., on Wednesday.