Unbeaten Souper Sensational will try dirt, two turns for first time in Silverbulletday

The idea to give Souper Sensational her two-turn debut in the Mazarine Stakes on Dec. 5 ended with the premature conclusion of Woodbine’s race meet because of a COVID-19 lockdown and the Mazarine’s cancellation.

Souper Sensational debuted Sept. 26 at Woodbine with a sharp seven-furlong maiden score and came back about a month later to win the $125,000 Glorious Song over the same distance by four lengths, posting a lofty 87 Beyer Speed Figure.

Instead of staying home at Woodbine and continuing to race over the Tapeta Footings main track there, Souper Sensational tries dirt and two turns for the first time in the $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

“Now I have to ask her two questions instead of one,” said Mark Casse, who trains Souper Sensational for owner Live Oak Plantation.

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Souper Sensational drew the rail for the mile and 70-yard Silverbulletday, and despite being 13-10 in her debut win and a 3-5 favorite in the Glorious Song, she might only be second choice Saturday. Drawn on the outside of a nine-horse field is Sun Path, a Juddmonte Farms homebred who’s the likely favorite after an easy second-start maiden win at Churchill Downs and a blowout first-level allowance score making her two-turn debut last month at Fair Grounds. Brad Cox trains her, and Florent Geroux rides.

Cox also entered Fair Grounds maiden winner Divine Comedy. Moon Swag, Charlie’s Penny, Minute Waltz, Princess Theorem, Barista, and Littlestitious make up the remainder of the field.

Souper Sensational has been at Fair Grounds since late November and has posted six published workouts over the dirt track.

“She’s trained as good as a horse can train on the dirt there,” Casse said. “I’m not really worried about her getting over the dirt.”

Racing a route of ground could pose the greater challenge. Souper Sensational is by Curlin, which lends stamina, but is out of a mare by Indian Charlie, which “can sometimes limit their distance,” Casse said. The filly, too, is of modest scope, though she does not appear speed crazy nor give any obvious indication she’ll struggle to get a middle distance around two turns. And even if Souper Sensational doesn’t truly want to route, she still can race competitively.

“Some horses can be so talented it doesn’t matter,” Casse said.