Stakes-winning juveniles bolster Casse barn

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With accomplished horses like Tepin, Noble Bird, and Catch a Glimpse in the barn, trainer Mark Casse is pretty well stocked for this season. But the future also looks bright for the Casse stable, which welcomed the stakes-winning juveniles Classic Empire and Pretty City Dancer to Saratoga last week to prepare for their Grade 1 debuts in the Hopeful and Spinaway stakes on closing weekend.

Classic Empire and Pretty City Dancer breezed four furlongs in company in 49.40 seconds here Thursday, easy leg-stretchers to get them acquainted with the track. Classic Empire is coming off a late-running three-quarter-length decision over the odds-on Recruiting Rudy to win the Grade 3 Bashford Manor last month at Churchill Downs. Pretty City Dancer followed 30 minutes later with a 3 1/4-length triumph in the Debutante for her second win in three starts.

“That was all they were supposed to do the first time,” said Casse, referring to the duo’s Thursday work. “We’re in no hurry; we’ve still got a month. We’ll pick it up a little in the morning as we go along.”

Casse finds it hard to contain his enthusiasm when speaking about Classic Empire, who has won both of his starts.

“I think the colt is a superstar,” said Casse. “I thought his Bashford Manor was one of the most impressive 2-year-old winners I’ve ever had. This horse had everything go wrong, and he ran 1:09 and 1. He keeps drawing the 1 hole, for starters. He did the same thing in his first start: broke slow, got in all sorts of trouble, circled the field, and won, an experience which helped getting ready for the stakes.”

Pretty City Dancer did not run nearly as fast as Classic Empire in winning the Debutante, but she overcame a wide trip to win easily and, according to Casse, figures to get even better the farther she goes.

“She’s got a ton of talent but still has to move forward,” said Casse. “Him, I think he’s already there.”

Pretty City Dancer will skip next Saturday’s Grade 2 Adirondack at Saratoga, but trainer Wesley Ward said Friday that his Silvertoni will not. Silvertoni looked good working four furlongs in 47.08 and galloping out five-eighths in 1:00.29 immediately after the break here Friday.

Silvertoni won her first two starts, including Churchill’s Kentucky Juvenile against the boys, before finishing ninth at Royal Ascot in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes in her last start.

“I thought we had a really big chance at Ascot because she also likes the grass, but she got bogged down over the soft turf and never ran her race,” said Ward. “She’s worked well since coming back, and I expect her to bounce back with a big effort in the Adirondack.”

Silvertoni is one of six fillies Ward nominated to the Adirondack but is the only one he’ll start. He also nominated nine juveniles, seven of them fillies, to the Grade 2 Saratoga Special but said Friday he does not plan to enter any in the race.