Lickety Lemon best of Casse's foursome

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Mark Casse turned heads when he captured the 2006 Natalma Stakes with first-time starter Sprung, a 48-1 outsider. Casse has created more fireworks in Sunday's running of the one-mile turf stakes at Woodbine by entering four of the 11 2-year-old fillies, including the unbeaten Lickety Lemon.

Lickety Lemon won both of her turf races quite easily under Patrick Husbands, including the allowance prep for the $150,000 Natalma, where she got an 81 Beyer Speed Figure.

Casse said the sky could be the limit for Lickety Lemon, a daughter of Lemon Drop Kid.

"She has the potential to be any kind," said Casse. "I was really impressed with the way Patrick rode her the first time. He had a lot of confidence in her. He only asked her to run for a sixteenth of a mile. When she won the prep, I'm not sure that he asked her to run that far. You have to question who she's run against, but so far, so good."

Casse's other entrants are Nite in Rome, Clearly Foxy, and Officer Cherrie.

Nite in Rome, a $200,000 2-year-old purchase by Will Farish, won her only start in a six-furlong maiden special on the grass here July 14.

"She's a pretty good filly," said Casse. "I had planned on running her in the Natalma prep instead of Lickety Lemon, but she got sick the week before. I think she's better on the Poly. She's our hope for a three-peat in the Woodbine Oaks next year."

Clearly Foxy took a six-furlong maiden event on the grass by daylight in her only outing, Aug. 6.

"She won her first start pretty easily," Casse said. "She's actually better on the Poly."

Like Lickety Lemon and Clearly Foxy, Ontario Debutante Stakes winner Officer Cherrie is owned by Charles LaLoggia.

"She's only a backup, just in case something happens to Lickety Lemon," Casse said. "I've never had her on the turf, but she can do anything. I don't think we've seen the best from her."

Remarkable Remy and Bar City both ship in from Saratoga, where each won her only start.

Remarkable Remy won a 5 1/2-furlong maiden sprint on the grass Aug. 13, receiving a 77 Beyer. Her trainer, John Kimmel, won the 2003 Natalma with Pink Champagne.

The Linda Rice-trained Bar City won a turf sprint for New York-bred maidens Aug. 30. She was supplemented at a cost of $3,000.

The wild card is English invader Waveline, who is adding blinkers and Lasix off a solid showing in a handicap at Goodwood.