Trainer Casse continues to romp with 2-year-olds

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Leading trainer Mark Casse’s tremendous roll with his 2-year-olds at Woodbine continued when he captured Saturday’s $250,400 Cup and Saucer Stakes with Master Spy.

Owned by Tracy Farmer, Master Spy is well regarded by Patrick Husbands, who won the Cup and Saucer for the sixth time on him. It was the fifth win in the turf route for Casse, who said the Silent Name colt is a prospect for next year’s Queen’s Plate. His half-brother, Cool Catomine, won the second leg of the 2017 Canadian Triple Crown, the Prince of Wales at Fort Erie.

Master Spy figures to run back Nov. 1 in the $250,000 Coronation Futurity over 1 1/8 miles for Canadian-breds on the Tapeta.

California Lily got all the “Chromies” excited when the daughter of the admired champion and freshman sire California Chrome annexed her debut last Thursday. A flashy chestnut owned by Gary Barber, California Lily won the 5 1/2-furlong maiden special by 5 1/2 lengths. The 83 Beyer Speed Figure she earned is tied for the highest by a 2-year-old in Canada this year, equaling Gretzky the Great.

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Casse said he has yet to determine the next race for Kentucky-bred California Lily, who was a $35,000 2-year-old purchase.

Casse’s forgotten 2-year-old star is Polyanthus, who went to the sidelines with an injury after landing the first baby race of the meet for fillies with a 70 Beyer on June 13. The Ontario-bred daughter of Bernardini is potentially a candidate for next year’s Canadian classics.

“We had to give her some time off, and it may have been the best thing,” Casse said. “She showed a lot of potential early on, and I was extremely impressed with her win. We brought her back to Ocala, and it’s amazing how much she’s grown up. She could end up being a serious horse. She’s just starting to breeze again. There’s an outside shot I may send her to Woodbine to just get one race into her.”

*** Casse said he’s impressed with the quality of young horses at Woodbine, with American owners such as Bruce Lunsford and LNJ Foxwoods setting up shop here this year for other trainers.

“There’s a lot more good young horses than a few years back,” Casse said. “That says a lot for where the program has gone. That will help later on. Those 2-year-olds will be 3-year-olds. That’s a good thing. I think there’s no better place to get horses ready and to train than at Woodbine.”

*** Casse sends out the probable favorite Finalist in Thursday’s feature, a non-winners-of-three inner turf route race for Ontario-sired runners and $40,000 claimers.

Finalist defeated four next-out winners when beating non-winners of two opposition over about nine furlongs on the main turf Sept. 12. He runs for $40,000 again on Thursday, with Emma-Jayne Wilson back aboard.