Mississippi using allowance as Fountain of Youth stepping-stone

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – It didn’t take very long, probably a matter of seconds, for trainer Mark Casse to begin making other plans for Mississippi after the promising 3-year-old colt had drawn post position 11 for Saturday’s Holy Bull Stakes.

And it didn’t take much longer for Casse to settle on the perfect alternative – a $51,000 entry-level optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles that serves as the co-feature on Sunday’s 12-race program at Gulfstream Park.

Mississippi is coming off back-to-back stellar efforts for Casse: a 1 3/4-length victory going a mile at Churchill Downs in his 2-year-old finale and a game second-place finish behind the highly regarded Noble Indy in his 3-year-old bow here Jan. 11. Mississippi received near-identical Beyer Speed Figures of 87 (at Churchill) and 88 (at Gulfstream) for the performances.

“I entered him in the Holy Bull because I wanted to see what kind of post position we got and look at the field,” Casse said. “I was also concerned the allowance race on Sunday might not go. But once we drew that post, I’d already decided he wasn’t running in the Holy Bull no matter what happened with the allowance race. I had already started making plans to take him to Tampa next week for the Sam F. Davis. Luckily, the allowance race filled.”

Casse said he is hoping to use Sunday’s race as a stepping-stone to the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth here on March 3.

“From a Beyer standpoint, he looks pretty good in this spot,” Casse said. “I was a little surprised he got into a duel for the lead last time, but sometimes the post position forces your hand in these races.”

Casse said he likes Mississippi’s post position for Sunday’s race. He is in post 4, one slot outside perhaps his main rival, Navistar.

“He’s the one I think we have to beat, so I don’t think we’ll have to rush him off his feet this time, and if nothing else he should get to learn something from this race,” Casse said.

Navistar, a $900,000 2-year-old purchase by Union Rags, had the misfortune of facing Mask when launching his career at Belmont Park on Oct. 20. Navistar finished second as the 7-5 favorite, beaten three lengths by Mask, who then won the Mucho Macho Man Stakes here in impressive fashion here Jan. 6.

Navistar made his local bow a winning one, stretching to a mile and overcoming some trouble to graduate on Dec. 16 for trainer Todd Pletcher. Navistar has not missed a beat in the morning since New Year’s Day, turning in five consecutive works at Palm Beach Downs.

Navistar is one of two horses Pletcher sends out along with the stakes-placed Bon Raison, runner-up in his 2-year-old finale at Tampa. Trainer Dale Romans counters with two horses of his own, Storm Runner and recent maiden winner Cove Blue. Silent Tiger and Real Story complete the field.