World Approval targets Fourstardave

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – World Approval is a four-time graded stakes winner going a route of ground, but for his next trick, the 5-year-old gray will attempt to win a Grade 1 stakes going a mile. World Approval is being pointed to the $500,000 Fourstardave at Saratoga on Aug. 12 in what will be his first race at one mile since November 2014, when he ran third in a maiden race on the dirt at Aqueduct.

“I may change my mind after he runs, but I think he’s a good miler, a mile-and-a-sixteenth horse,” trainer Mark Casse said. “He did win the United Nations going a mile and three-eighths, but all in all, I think he’s better going a little shorter.”

Two starts back, World Approval won the Grade 2 Dixie Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Pimlico. In his most recent start, World Approval finished fifth in the Grade 1 Manhattan going 1 1/4 miles at Belmont on June 10.

On Friday, World Approval worked five furlongs in 1:02.90 over the Oklahoma turf course, getting his last three furlongs in 37.23 while going steadily and easily under jockey Julien Leparoux.

“I thought he worked as good as I’ve ever seen him work,” Casse said.

Also working on the turf Friday for Casse was the multiple stakes-winning 3-year-old filly La Coronel, who went a half-mile in 49.45 seconds. She is headed to the Grade 2, $300,000 Lake Placid Stakes here on Aug. 19.

La Coronel has won two graded stakes this year on turf and most recently finished fifth, beaten 5 1/4 lengths, in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“She looked great,” Casse said. “I thought she worked well today. She’s a happy horse.”