Tough Legacy has hot trainer Norm Casse on her side
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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Norm Casse is having a meet to remember at Oaklawn Park and will attempt to keep things humming along Friday with Tough Legacy.
She goes in the eighth race, which is one of three allowances on a 10-race card. It’s a first-level offering for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles. The card opens an abbreviated raceweek as there is no racing Sunday in observance of Easter.
Tough Legacy could go favored as Casse seeks to improve upon his Oaklawn mark of 13 wins from 34 starts, a win rate of 38 percent. His trainees have earned $781,709 at the meet.
“It just seems like everything has been clicking,” Casse said. “We’re very fortunate to have good luck, and a lot of the reason we’ve won has been circumstance-type things – everything just fell into the right place. We’re not taking anything for granted.”
Tough Legacy will be looking for her second win at the meet when she faces nine others, including Boss Lady Bailey, who is back in the overnight ranks after a stakes start, and Bluelightspecial, who has placed in a pair of stakes.
Tough Legacy rolled by five lengths in a maiden special weight at this distance Feb. 3, then returned to run third at this level in her most recent start March 5. Tough Legacy earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 75, which ranks as the best last-race number in the field Friday.
“We’re excited to see her run back,” Casse said. “I’m proud of Tough Legacy. She’s gotten better and better as she’s gone along.”
Casse noted Tough Legacy’s third-place finish last out came to Punchbowl, an unbeaten filly scheduled to run Friday at Keeneland in the Grade 1 Ashland.
Tough Legacy will break from post 2 under David Cabrera.
“The longer they go, the better,” Casse said. “She doesn’t have a lot gate speed. She likes to get into her own rhythm. Ultimately, she’ll end up on turf.”
Tough Legacy is a full sister to Hard Legacy, a Grade 3 winner on the grass. Both horses are by Hard Spun and out of Stone Legacy, who ran second in the Kentucky Oaks.
“They look exactly the same, same disposition,” Casse said. “You can definitely tell they’re related.”
Tough Legacy races for her breeder, Marylou Whitney Stables.
Casse began training on his own in 2019. He had his best year at the races in 2022 in terms of wins, 36, and stable earnings, $2.7 million.
This meet he’s won two stakes. Hot and Sultry, one of those stakes winners, is being pointed for the Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap on April 15 at Oaklawn, said Casse.
The allowance offerings on Friday’s card include the ninth race, a two-other-than allowance for 4-year-olds and up at a mile that drew Southern California shipper Mr. Impossible and Grade 3 winner Great Escape.
◗ Jockey Cindy Murphy, who was sidelined with a fractured pelvis and ribs in June, made her return Saturday at Oaklawn. She is seven wins from a milestone of 2,000 Thoroughbred victories.
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