On the very day his namesake was born, CASSON (Caravaggio) was picture-perfect in the $100,000 King Corrie Stakes for three-year-olds at Woodbine on May 17. The handsome grey colt, named for A.J. Casson, one of the Canadian group of painters called the Group of Seven, scored a workmanlike win in the seven-furlong race under jockey Rafael Hernandez for owners Manfred and Penny Conrad.
The victory by the Mark Casse-trained colt was fully expected – bettors made him 3-to-5 – and despite breaking behind the field when he was bumped, he quickly got into a stalking position behind a three-horse pace battle. Through an opening quarter mile of 22.71 and half a mile in 45.59, Casson and Hernandez were about two lengths off Reload Raleigh, Highwaytothemoon and Impulsive Bid. The pair then launched their move late on the turn and were in front turning for home, finally winning by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:23.51. Centennial Farms’ Highwaytothemoon, by Ransom the Moon, was second, well clear of Reload Raleigh (Reload) who was third.
Some 11 lengths back at the finish in sixth place was Coronation Futurity winner Fire and Wine, who was making his 2026 season debut for owner Paul Ryder.
Hernandez won both stakes races this past weekend, lifting Dixie Law up to win the Ruling Angel Stakes on May 16 in a quicker 1:22.58.
Casson was a finalist for Champion Two-Year-Old in Canada last year as he won the Victoria Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs and was second in the Soaring Free and Algonquin Stakes. In his 2026 opener at Gulfstream Park, the Texas Glitter Stakes on Tapeta, Casson was a closing fourth.
Casse has noted more than once that the talented colt is not likely a distance horse and while a King’s Plate eligible, is not certain to take part in the Grade 3 Marine Stakes, the first major Plate prep.
Bred by the Kemp family’s Ballycroy Training Centre and Jeremiah Rudan’s Villa Rosa Farms, Casson was bought by the Conrads for $200,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Steve Kemp and Rudan purchased Casson’s dam, Zee Ro Drop, by Lemon Drop Kid, for $40,000 from the 2021 Keeneland January Horses of Racing Age sale in foal to Palace Malice. That foal, Rideau Hall, was sold for $102,000 at the CTHS Ontario yearling sale but later passed away while racing. Last year, an Authentic colt from the mare sold for $225,000 and is now named Steel of Fortune.
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Sunday was the Pietro and Raffie show, as the two riders won eight of the 10 races, with Pietro Moran winning five. Moran is now leading 17-14 in the standings.
Moran was merely a passenger on EZ TINA, a robust chestnut two-year-old filly for US trainer Wesley Ward who cantered to victory in the first juvenile race of the meeting. From the first crop of GOLDEN PAL (Uncle Mo), EZ Tina won in 58 flat and she was a $600,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland September last fall by Breeze Easy and Resolution Road Stable.
Meanwhile, Hernandez had to be a lot more creative (and lucky) on a first-time starter in race 5, the three-year-old EL MAGNATE a $500,000 weanling purchase by M Racing’s Mike and Mickala Sisk. The son of Into Mischief from Cover Song by Fastnet Rock (Aus) broke slowly at the outset of the 5 1/2 furlong race, bulled his way into contention, was steadied on the turn before clipping heels and stumbling. He had one rival behind him turning for home and then flew to victory in 1:05.22. Chef Bobby Flay bred El Magnate.
The Casse stable won four races on the day.
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