Sandman Keeps the Derby Dream Alive for D.J., Casse

Woodbine's leading trainer will have another shot at a Kentucky Derby with Sandman, the stretch-running grey by Tapit.

Sandman, trained by Woodbine's leading trainer Mark Casse, won the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on Mar. 29, earning 100 Kentucky Derby points. (Oaklawn Park photo)

By: Jennifer Morrison | March 31, 2025

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you're listening to an article from canadian thoroughbred.com. sandman keeps the derby dream alive for d.j., casse by: jennifer morrison |. stretch-running sandman (tapit) is headed to the kentucky derby (g1) for woodbine’s leading trainer mark casse and owners d.j. stable, west point thoroughbreds, st. elias stable and cj stables (charles sonson). the light grey sandman showed all the signs in his two previous races coming into saturday’s arkansas derby (g1) that all he needed was a bit of luck and some pace to run at. he had some luck and, boy, did he have pace to run at. cornucopian, winner of his six-furlong debut with a 101 beyer speed figure, and southwest winner speed king dueled through exhausting splits of:22.46 for the opening quarter-mile,:45.21 for a half-mile and 1:10.37 for six furlongs. advertisement scroll to continue with content seventh after a half-mile, 13 ½ lengths behind, sandman ($9.40) made his winning move on the second turn, inhaling the two leg-weary front-runners, cornucopian and speed king, as well as coal battle approaching the top of the stretch. sandman, under jose ortiz, took command on the outside turning for home and wasn’t threatened late, despite lugging out near the eighth pole. his winning time over a fast track was 1:50.08, assigned a 99 beyer speed figure by daily racing form. publisher (american pharoah), a now seven-race maiden who was racing in blinkers for the first time, finished 4 ½ lengths ahead of millionaire multiple oaklawn stakes winner coal battle. it was another 1 ½ lengths farther back in fourth to 4-5 favorite cornucopian, who was making his stakes and two-turn debut in just his second career start. eight years ago, casse sent out classic empire to win the arkansas derby and then go on to be fourth in kentucky, casse’s best placing so far from eight editions. casse remarked about the early pace after sandman’s big win. “i couldn’t believe it, actually [early fractions]. i said: ‘well, they’ll have to be superstars to keep going.’ the farther they went, the more confident i was. the faster they went, the more i smiled. i think that [lugging out in the stretch and still winning by 2 ½ lengths] just shows how good he is. he wasn’t focusing and he was still able to draw away. as [jockey] jose [ortiz] said, he wants to get into a rhythm. and if you can get him into that rhythm, he’ll just go. jose said he didn’t take a deep breath when he pulled up.”. sandman won his maiden at saratoga and was third in the street sense stakes (g3) at churchill downs in october. he won a one mile allowance race before a second in the southwest (g3) and third in the rebel stakes (g2). a $1.2 million ocala march two-year-old in training purchase from consignor tom mccrocklin and breeder lothenbach stables, sandman is seeking to become the first tapit to win as kentucky derby. his dam, distorted music, won three of eight starts including a 1 1/16 mile optional race at churchill downs with an 87 beyer figure. she has produced three winners including she can’t sing, who won over $880,000 and was a top class miler on grass and dirt and a multiple graded stakes winner. sandman is inbred 3 x 4 to unbridled.

Stretch-running SANDMAN (Tapit) is headed to the Kentucky Derby (G1) for Woodbine’s leading trainer MARK CASSE and owners D.J. Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, St. Elias Stable and CJ Stables (Charles Sonson). The light grey Sandman showed all the signs in his two previous races coming into Saturday’s Arkansas Derby (G1) that all he needed was a bit of luck and some pace to run at.

He had some luck and, boy, did he have pace to run at.

Cornucopian, winner of his six-furlong debut with a 101 Beyer Speed Figure, and Southwest winner Speed King dueled through exhausting splits of :22.46 for the opening quarter-mile, :45.21 for a half-mile and 1:10.37 for six furlongs.

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Seventh after a half-mile, 13 ½ lengths behind, Sandman ($9.40) made his winning move on the second turn, inhaling the two leg-weary front-runners, Cornucopian and Speed King, as well as Coal Battle approaching the top of the stretch.

Sandman, under Jose Ortiz, took command on the outside turning for home and wasn’t threatened late, despite lugging out near the eighth pole. His winning time over a fast track was 1:50.08, assigned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure by Daily Racing Form.

Publisher (American Pharoah), a now seven-race maiden who was racing in blinkers for the first time, finished 4 ½ lengths ahead of millionaire multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Coal Battle. It was another 1 ½ lengths farther back in fourth to 4-5 favorite Cornucopian, who was making his stakes and two-turn debut in just his second career start.

Eight years ago, Casse sent out Classic Empire to win the Arkansas Derby and then go on to be fourth in Kentucky, Casse’s best placing so far from eight editions.

Casse remarked about the early pace after Sandman’s big win.

“I couldn’t believe it, actually [early fractions]. I said: ‘Well, they’ll have to be superstars to keep going.’ The farther they went, the more confident I was. The faster they went, the more I smiled. I think that [lugging out in the stretch and still winning by 2 ½ lengths] just shows how good he is. He wasn’t focusing and he was still able to draw away. As [jockey] Jose [Ortiz] said, he wants to get into a rhythm. And if you can get him into that rhythm, he’ll just go. Jose said he didn’t take a deep breath when he pulled up.”

Sandman won his maiden at Saratoga and was third in the Street Sense Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs in October. He won a one mile allowance race before a second in the Southwest (G3) and third in the Rebel Stakes (G2).

A $1.2 million Ocala March two-year-old in training purchase from consignor Tom McCrocklin and breeder Lothenbach Stables, Sandman is seeking to become the first Tapit to win as Kentucky Derby.

His dam, Distorted Music, won three of eight starts including a 1 1/16 mile optional race at Churchill Downs with an 87 Beyer Figure. She has produced three winners including She Can’t Sing, who won over $880,000 and was a top class miler on grass and dirt and a multiple graded stakes winner.

Sandman is inbred 3 x 4 to Unbridled.