Leading trainer Casse has three in closing-day Valedictory marathon

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Leading trainer Mark Casse will put the finishing touches on another successful Woodbine meet on closing day when he sends out Sir Winston, Frosted Over, and Win d’Oro in Sunday’s $150,000 Valedictory Stakes.

Sir Winston will negotiate the 1 1/2-mile distance of the Grade 3 Valedictory for just the second time since his 10-1 triumph in the 2019 Belmont Stakes. He put together a series of solid performances on the Tapeta here this year, including a fast-closing second to front-running Mighty Heart under Antonio Gallardo in the Grade 2 Autumn on Nov. 14.

“He gets himself in a little trouble because he doesn’t have a quick turn of foot,” Casse said. “In his last start, everybody kicked going after [Mighty Heart], and when Antonio asked him to go, it took him a little bit and then he got behind horses. Going a mile and a half, he should be fine.”

After winning the Grade 3 Ontario Derby over nine furlongs Oct. 31, Frosted Over is a contender for Canadian champion male 3-year-old honors.

“I think he’ll like the distance,” Casse predicted. “He was running on end at a mile and an eighth, but a mile and a half is so different. You’ve got to have a horse who will shut off, and I think he will, but you never know until you try.

“He struggled a little early on with his air. He’d get really excited and displace [his palate]. That’s why he didn’t run better. As he’s gotten a little older, he’s learned to relax more and his air has gotten better, and it’s shown in his performances.”

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The late-developing 4-year-old Win d’Oro is exiting a first-level allowance win traveling 1 1/16 miles.

“He had a throat operation probably a year ago,” Casse said. “His last start was really good. I think he’ll enjoy the mile and a half as well.”

A huge field of 15 was drawn for the Valedictory, which goes as the 11th on an expanded 14-race card.

Casse juveniles impress

God of Love and Golden Glider, two impressive 2-year-old winners here last weekend for Casse, could both end up on the Kentucky Derby trail.

God of Love should be crowned Canadian champion male 2-year-old after capturing the Grade 3 Grey with an 80 Beyer Speed Figure. The Ontario-bred, who was a troubled fifth in the Coronation Futurity after taking the Cup and Saucer Stakes, is a more obvious prospect for the 2022 Queen’s Plate here Aug. 21.

“He’s got a dirt pedigree,” Casse pointed out. “When I sent him to Woodbine, I told [owners] Aron Wellman and Gary Barber and [assistant trainer] David Adams he’s special. He showed it on the synthetic, but to me he’s shown it on everything. He’s just a racehorse. His trip in the Coronation was the worst trip of the year for any horse of mine. I wanted to cry after that race.”

Conrad Farm’s Golden Glider missed the break under Patrick Husbands and then awaited room on the far turn in his last-to-first maiden special score going 1 1/16 miles, for which he got a 76 Beyer.

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“I thought his race was extremely good,” Casse said. “Patrick told me he froze a little in the gate, and when it opened, he just stood there. For him to overcome what he did, and going a route of ground first time. . . .

“He’s shown a lot of talent on the dirt as well. It would be fun to have a Derby prospect for the Conrads.”

Casse said Grade 3 Mazarine winner Mrs. Barbara is getting a freshening in advance of her 3-year-old campaign that could kick off in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks at Tampa on March 12.

“We ran her a fair amount as a 2-year-old, and we’re going to give her a little bit of a break,” Casse said. “She’s good on the grass as well.”

Mrs. Barbara, a Kentucky-bred owned by Woodbine Entertainment CEO Jim Lawson, is the leading candidate for Canadian champion 2-year-old filly honors. Prior to the Nov. 28 Mazarine, she was fourth behind Wild Beauty and Pizza Bianca in the Grade 1 Natalma before graduating with a 75 Beyer, the same speed figure that she got in the Mazarine.