Well-rested, now-gelded Helium likely to return at Keeneland
OLDSMAR, Fla. – Helium has not exactly distinguished himself as a standout since upsetting the 2021 Tampa Bay Derby at 15-1, although the 4-year-old son of Ironicus might have a new outlook after being gelded since his latest start. He’s had three recent works at trainer Mark Casse’s training center in Ocala, including a half-mile breeze Wednesday in 48.20 seconds.
“We’re probably looking at an allowance race at Keeneland next month,” Casse said.
After his Tampa heroics, Helium was eighth at 38-1 in the Kentucky Derby, then third in three straight races – the Matt Winn and War Chant at Churchill, then the Robert Hilton Memorial in late August at Charles Town.
“He’d gone long and hard for a while, and after we brought him home, we just thought it best to geld him,” Casse said. “He’s doing good again and hopefully he’s ready to start winning again.”
Two allowances on tap
Given rain chances of about 50 percent in the local area for both Thursday and Friday, it remained to be seen whether turf racing scheduled for Friday (races 5, 7, 9) would have to be moved to the main track. Either way, the two allowance features, both for older horses on dirt, will not be affected in that way.
Those co-features are race 4, a $31,500, second-level race at a mile and 40 yards, and race 8, a $31,000, first-level race at six furlongs. First post is 12:13 p.m.