Mighty Souper can boost Casse's quest for title
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mark Casse is pretty big on making history these days.
There were major historical implications Tuesday when Casse sent out Tepin to win the Queen Anne Stakes on opening day of the Royal Ascot meet. On a less dramatic scale, Casse, a seven-time Sovereign Award winner in Canada, is on the verge of doing something no trainer has ever done at Churchill Downs: win training titles 28 years apart.
Casse won his first and only Churchill training title at the 1988 spring meet, so if he can maintain his tenuous lead by the time the 38-day meet ends July 2, it will be the longest span between titles since the track began keeping such records in 1876.
Casse, 55, entered Thursday’s action with an 18-16 lead over Mike Maker, and he’ll have an excellent chance to help his cause when the Friday feature rolls around. Casse will be represented by a 4-year-old filly named Mighty Souper in the seventh of nine races, a $55,500, first-level allowance at a mile on turf.
Even after being away more than nine months, Mighty Souper figures to be favored in an oversubscribed field after recording a series of bullet works at Keeneland for Casse’s assistant David Carroll. Lope, Sequiota, and College Holly are among the chief threats.
First post Friday is 12:45 p.m. Eastern. The feature is part of a 20-cent Single Six sequence (races 4-9) that’s on schedule to offer a carryover approaching $575,000, assuming the jackpot was not emptied Thursday by a solo perfect ticket.
KEY CONTENDERS
Mighty Souper, by War Front
Last 3 Beyers: 86-90-87
◗ A $275,000 yearling purchase for the Live Oak Plantation of Charlotte Weber, this filly was twice stakes-placed at 3 and shows five works in preparing for this comeback.
Lope, by Arch
Last 3 Beyers: 79-78-70
◗ One of the handful of horses recently transferred out of the barn of Al Stall Jr., this Claiborne Farm homebred will be making her first start for Tommy Drury after continually knocking on the door at this level.
Sequiota, by Awesome Again
Last 3 Beyers: 83-82-82
◗ Trained by Ray Trisler, she will have Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens aboard after outrunning her 16-1 odds when most recently second in a three-turn overnight stakes.
College Holly, by Super Saver
Last 3 Beyers: 71-69-77
◗ She probably didn’t beat much when haltered from a recent odds-on romp in conditioned-claiming company, but her Beyer Speed Figures are competitive, and she’ll have leading jockey Corey Lanerie up.