Shamrock Rose coming into BC Filly and Mare Sprint the right way

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – No, trainer Mark Casse was not looking ahead to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint prior to Shamrock Rose pulling an 18-1 upset in the Oct. 20 Raven Run at Keeneland.

“I thought we had a big chance in the Raven Run, but you’d have to be a genius to know all this would wind up happening,” said Casse.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP 2018: Pre-entries, odds, comments, and more

Shamrock Rose, a Pennsylvania-bred by First Dude, will be running back in just two weeks, but “she’s got a lot of confidence right now,” said Casse.

“She thinks she can beat anybody,” he said.

Shamrock Rose is expected to be one of at least three 3-year-olds in the $1 million Filly-Mare Sprint, along with Mia Mischief and Happy Like a Fool (and possibly Dream Pauline). From 11 prior runnings, no 3-year-old has won the seven-furlong race, although several have been favored, including Unique Bella, seventh last year as the 11-10 choice.