Mark Casse Chases Ninth Glorious Song Stakes Title

Trainer Mark Casse will look to add to his record eight Glorious Song Stakes victories when he sends out Souper Sensational and Right to Freedom in the $100,000 seven-furlong added-money feature for two-year-old fillies, Saturday at Woodbine.

Casse, who has won three of the past four and five of the past seven editions of the Glorious Song, including three straight from 2016-18 plus 2004-06, has a legitimate shot to add to his impressive trophy haul courtesy of Souper Sensational.

Bred in Kentucky by Newtonanner Stud, the daughter of Curlin-Kateri had a memorable debut at Woodbine on September 26.

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Under Patrick Husbands, who gets the call again, the Live Oak Plantation chestnut lived up to her tote board status as the 6-5 choice, turning a 1 ¼ length advantage at the stretch call into a 2 ¼ length win in the seven-furlong race over the Toronto oval Tapeta.

A $725,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga graduate, Souper Sensational is the third foal out of the Indian Charlie mare Kateri, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Tiz Miz Sue and 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Bulletin.

Casse’s other hopeful, Right to Freedom, is searching for her first win in what will be her third start.

Owned by Gary Barber, the daughter of Constitution was sixth in her debut at Keeneland on July 12. The Kentucky-bred bay was seventh last time out on August 2 at Saratoga.

Charlie’s Penny, a grey daughter of Race Day, bred and owned by Lothenbach Stables, will go for her second straight win after a seven-length romp in her debut over the Arlington main track on September 17.

Dino Condilenios trainee Heidi, a bay daughter of Bayern, was also an impressive winner in her career bow, a five-length triumph over six panels at Hastings on September 27. Owned by Swift Thoroughbreds, the bay was bred by Theta Holding 1.

Bred and owned by Godolphin, Javanica, a bay daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, has one win in two starts. After a fourth-place finish to kick off her career, the Eoin Harty pupil made a trip to the winner’s circle after a one-mile turf win at Arlington on September 18.

A chestnut daughter of Tonalist, Reinforced, trained by Josie Carroll, and owned by NK Racing, will seek to build off an impressive curtain-raising performance on September 3 at Woodbine. The Kentucky-bred dashed away from her rivals to notch a 5 ¾-length win at 5 ½ furlongs over the Tapeta.

Rocket Reload will contest her third stakes engagement this Saturday. The daughter of Reload was fifth in the My Dear Stakes in her debut on August 1. After a win next time out, the Michael De Paulo trainee was third in the Woodbine Cares Stakes on September 19.

The Glorious Song is slated as race eight on Saturday’s 12-race of card. First post is set for 1:10 p.m.

FIELD FOR THE GLORIOUS SONG

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Right to Freedom (S) – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse
2 – Charlie’s Penny – Kazushi Kimura – Chris Block
3 – Souper Sensational – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
4 – Reinforced – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll
5 – Heidi – Daisuke Fukumoto – Dino Condilenios
6 – Javanica – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Eoin Harty
7 – Rocket Reload – Justin Stein – Michael De Paulo