Gary Barber and Archer Racing’s ASHLEY’S ARCHER, a finalist for Canada’s Champion Two-Year-Old Colt of 2024, makes his first start of the new year at Tampa Bay Downs on March 2 in an allowance/optional claiming race. The seven furlong race will be the first dirt track test for the Mark Casse-trained colt.
Ashley’s Archer, a son of Karakontie (Jpn) from Certainly Special by Distorted Humor, won second time out as a juvenile in a 1 1/16 mile, turf race at Woodbine. He then was up to win the Cup & Caucer Stakes on turf by a nose only to be disqualified for interference and placed second behind Scorching (who runs Saturday in the Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct). Ashley’s Archer completed his juvenile campaign with a third-place finish in the Coronation Futurity at 1 1/8 miles on Tapeta.
Bred by Jayson Horner, who owns Archer Racing with his daughter Courtney, Ashley’s Archer has been training steadily with Casse at the Ocala Training Center and Palm Meadows.