Skyway gets Casse's first win of meet in Best Pal

DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Mark Casse’s horses were running well, just not well enough. Heading toward the end of the third week at Del Mar, he was without a win, but his runners were finishing in the money at a better than 50-percent clip.

Casse finally broke through with a win on Sunday, and the wait was worth it, for it came in a Grade 2 stakes race. His promising 2-year-old colt Skyway, given an ideal, stalking trip under Stewart Elliott, swooped past the leaders and went on to score a 1 1/4-length victory in the $200,250 Best Pal Stakes.

Skyway also provided Elliott with his first local stakes win.

Skyway completed 6 1/2 furlongs on Polytrack in 1:16.67. Henry’s Holiday, last of six early, closed stoutly along the rail for second, one length in front of Bad Read Sanchez. Highway Boss, Two Six Wins, and Story to Tell completed the finish, in that order.

Conquest Bigluck E, and Rowdy Dylan both were scratched on Sunday morning.

Skyway, starting from post 5, was in the clear throughout. Two Six Wins led early, with Bad Read Sanchez closest, through a half in 45.23 seconds. Skyway began to advance on the turn, then wrested the lead from Bad Read Sanchez inside the furlong pole.

“I thought he’d like to sit. With the post, he could sit and watch,” Casse said.

Skyway ($6.20) was bet down to favoritism based on a smashing debut victory at Keeneland on Polytrack in April. He subsequently was third in the Bashford Manor on dirt at Churchill Downs. Casse brought Skyway here for the summer in the belief he was a superior performer on synthetic surfaces.

“He trained really well on the synthetic during the winter in Ocala,” Casse said, referring to Florida, where his young horses receive their early lessons.

Casse said being winless hadn’t gotten to him because his horses were firing.

“It wasn’t really that bad. As long as horses run good – safe and run good -- that’s all you can ask for,” he said. “My wife did say she likes it here, you’ve really got to start winning.”

Skyway, owned by John Oxley, is a colt by Sky Mesa, a stallion Oxley raced. Skyway was purchased as a yearling for $165,000.

“This winter I told Mr. Oxley this horse might be something special, so I was a little disappointed he got beat his second race. I felt like I let Mr. Oxley down a little,” Casse said.

Skyway redeemed himself Sunday, and now will take aim at the meet’s biggest prize for the division. Casse said his next start would be the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Futurity on closing day, Sept. 3.