Victory in Fourstardave would cure everything for Got Stormy, Casse

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mark Casse hopes Got Stormy can turn around her 2020 campaign in Saturday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Fourstardave Handicap and, in turn, reverse course on what has been a trying Saratoga meet for the newly elected Hall of Fame trainer.

Entering Thursday’s card, Casse was winless with 28 starters at Saratoga. He has six seconds, four of those coming in stakes.

“It’s not been pretty,” Casse said by phone from Florida. “We’ve been unlucky in a few spots.”

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Last summer, Got Stormy won two stakes in a week’s span, taking the De La Rose versus fillies and mares before coming back a week later to win the Fourstardave, beating among others Raging Bull and Uni, who are entered in this year’s renewal of the one-mile stakes.

This year, Got Stormy is 0 for 4, with her best performance coming in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe against males at Santa Anita, when she was beaten just a neck by River Boyne.

Her last two starts came at Belmont, where she finished fourth in the Grade 3 Beaugay and in the Grade 3 Poker.

“She’s definitely going to enjoy the sharper turns at Saratoga and the mile,” Casse said. “I’m concerned it still doesn’t look like we’re going to get the real hard turf, which I wanted. She’s just so much better when the turf is hard.”

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Last week, Got Stormy caught a firm Oklahoma turf course and worked a half-mile in 49.03 seconds, getting her last quarter in 22.96.

“The way she’s been working lately,” said Jamie Begg, Casse’s Saratoga-based assistant. “She’s been coming home with a good drive. At her best, she has a serious kick, and that’s what maybe has been lacking lately in her other races.”

A field of nine was entered Wednesday for Saturday’s Fourstardave, which offers a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

In addition to Raging Bull and Uni, trainer Chad Brown also has entered Without Parole and Valid Point.

Trainer Bill Mott entered Casa Creed and Chewing Gum. Halladay and Emmaus complete the field.