BREAKING NEWS – TEPIN has Woodbine Mile (G1) penciled in for start.
Thoroughblog was in conversation with a busy Mark Casse this morning to get his thoughts on his 2,000th career winner, coming up in 3 winners, and Tepin’s possible start at Woodbine.
“It is something that interests Mr. (Robert) Masterson very much,” said Mark about Tepin’s owner thinking of the Woodbine Mile as a goal this fall.
Up next for the brilliant mare is a trip to Royal Ascot for the June 16 Queen Anne, which should have a good field but lost it’s star horse, Solow, this week. Mark said he has never raced a horse in England and that plans are underway for the trip.
From Mark’s first win as a trainer in 1979 with Joe’s Coming at Keeneland, to this week, he has prepared 1,997 winner. The 2,000th winner could come from any number of horses – he has 5 entries today, 4 tomorrow (including one in the last race at Woodbine).
“I hope my 2,000th win comes with Kaigun,” said Casse, who has a fondness for his chestnut gelding that he owns with his wife Tina and Harvey Schwartz and Gary Barber. Kaigun competes in the Grade 1 Man o’ War on Saturday.
“The second 1,000 came a lot faster than the first 1,000,” said Casse, who is based in Ocala, Fla. but has been in Kentucky in the last week and also races in New York, Florida and Toronto.
His stable has moved into 11th of all time this year.
“I still make sure I keep track of all the horses and where they are going,’ said Casse. “I do have a great team with David Adams and Katherine and Nancy Sullivan in Toronto, Norman at Churchill and David Carroll at Keeneland.”
The stable’s Woodbine presence will be a bit lighter these days as its top horses and stakes runners are in bigger events south of the border, but there are some 50 Canadian-breds and more than 20 Ontario sired runners in the stable.
The Canadian-breds include LEAVEM IN MALIBU, a Queen’s Plate contender and perhaps the stable’s only Plate starter this year. The recent maiden winner is a homebred for the Conrad Farms.
Conquest Enforcer, who worked another bullet 5 furlongs this morning, is playing catch up for the Plate and Casse said it was unlikely he would race the colt in the evnt.
“At this point I don’t know how he could make or why he would run in it. I want to concentrate on making him a turf miler.”
As for Horse of the Year Lexie Lou, Casse is adamant the champ will be back to top form soon. “Right now she’s fired up,” said Casse. “Until we get her to the point where she is racing relaxed then we can get her into a steady series of races.”
Casse will be at Woodbine next Wednesday for the President’s reception for the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
inductees. Casse will be inducted at the ceremony in August.
Mar’s entries for the next few days:
May 12 – Belmont Park
Conquest Superstar Race 8 Allowance Optional Claiming $80,000
Churchill Downs
Conquest Curlgirl Race 7 Allowance
– Gulfstream Park
Responsive Race 2 Claiming $16,000
Down in the Holler Race 3 Maiden Special Weight
Conquest Artura Race 4 Allowance Optional Claiming $25,000
May 13 – Belmont Park
Son of Oahu Race 4 Maiden Claiming $40,000
Conquest Sarahstar Race 6 Maiden Special Weight
– Gulfstream Park
Grande Shores Race 6 Bull Gator S.
– Woodbine
Cummings Road Race 8 Claiming $40,000
May 14 – Belmont Park
Kaigun Race 10 Man o’ War S. (Gr 1)
– Churchill Downs
Moonlight Sky Race 10 Allowance
– Gulfstream Park
Reimburse Race 2 Claiming $50,000
Maximum Drama Race 3 Maiden Special Weight
Conquest Pacemaker Race 5 Allowance Optional Claiming $62,500
Best Plan Yet Race 5 Allowance Optional Claiming $62,500
Cape Dynasty Race 8 Maiden Special Weight
Conquest Cherimash Race 8 Maiden Special Weight
Cat Ride Race 10 Allowance Optional Claiming $25,000
Totally Evil Race 11 Maiden Claiming $12,500
May 14 – Woodbine
Quasar Power Race 4 Claiming $20,000
Greatest Game Race 8 Marine S. (Gr 3)
Riker Race 8 Marine S. (Gr 3)
RETIRED RACEHORSES HAVE A HOME
LONGRUN THOROUGHBRED RETIREMENT SOCIETY ACQUIRES WOODLANDS TRAINING CENTRE
Sixteen years after it received its charitable status, LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society and its board of directors have achieved a goal it has worked towards for almost two decades.
LongRun’s current board has recently acquired its own location, Woodlands Training Centre near Hillsburgh, ON, with the help of a large donation from the late Lana Hershelle Sniderman, horse lover and owner, as well as the ongoing support of Ontario’s Thoroughbred racing community and continuing grants from the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and Thoroughbred Charities of America.
This is a significant, and poignant event in Ontario racing. LongRun was started by a small group of concerned horse lovers in a borrowed board room at Woodbine Racetrack. One of its founders, Vicki Pappas, is the chairperson and of the remarkable charity that has placed dozens of horses each racing season in new homes. It also has had a complex but successful foster farm system that would house horses in transition from the track.
With the purchase of Woodlands Training Centre , one of two properties owned by one of Canada’s most successful breeder and sales consignors, Gail Wood, who opened Woodlands in 1996, LongRun can have on home for its permanent residents and for its horses awaiting adoption.
Wood has built up Woodlands into one of the country’s largest and recognizable full service operations with a training centre and breeding farm. Wood managed Harry Hindmarsh’s farm for 22 years and then built up Woodlands with the help of her late husband Dan Steeves into Woodlands.
Wood, who will continue to run her successful Woodlands business from her other property nearby, played an integral and important role in assisting LongRun in fulfilling what has been its goal since its inception.
The training farm is 100-acres with two barns, an indoor arena and 16 paddocks which will allow LongRun to centralize most of its horses. This will enable adopters to view potential candidates in one location and allow LongRun to put to use the many volunteers who have been anxious to help.
The acquisition of the facility will also assist LongRun in expanding the equine-assisted therapy programs it has been offering in partnership with Woodbine Entertainment for the past couple of years, and better utilize the many generous offers of feed, hay and horse-related products we are fortunate enough to receive.
The closing date for the farm acquisition is early September 2016.
LongRun currently fosters approximately 50 retired racehorses at 10 different foster farms.
Gail Wood (below right with her late husband Dan Steeves and the late Lana Sniderman)
has sold her Woodlands Training Division to LongRun
Thoroughblog would like to congratulate LongRun and Gail Wood and wish them great success in the future.
Read more about Woodbinelands at http://www.woodlandsfarm.com/in_the_news
and LongRun at www.longrunretirement.com
From the first official meeting of LongRun in November 1998,
discussion of mission statement and duties
QUEEN’S PLATE PICTURE TIGHTENS – Shakhimat still very strong favourite
There remain 39 HORSES NOMINATED TO THE QUEEN’S PLATE following its most recent payment for nomination.
SHAKHIMAT, a resounding winner of his season debut in the Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland on the grass, is looking to get back on tack at his home at Woodbine following an unplaced run at Churchill Downs in the American Turf last weekend.
The Lonhro colt’s main opposition at this point (it is still early) could still come from Amis Gizmo, who lost for the first time in his season debut int he Wando Stakes; Battery, a Todd Pletcher trainee; Leavem in Malibu, a smart maiden winner for Mark Casse and perhaps a pair of horses from trainer Graham Motion, Aegis and Scholar Athlete.
The list of eligibles is below:
HORSE / OWNER / TRAINER
Aegis / Robert LaPenta / Graham Motion
All On Red / JMJ Racing Stables LLC / Sid Attard
Amis Gizmo / Ivan Dalos / Josie Carroll
Aye Aye Captain / Kingfield Racing Stable Ltd. & Carnegie Hill Stable / Catherine Day Phillips
Battery / Harrell Ventures LLC / Todd Pletcher
Beliveau / East West Stables, Michael James Ambler & Windways Farm / Mark Casse
Candy Ride Cat / Joey Gee Thoroughbreds / Dan Vella
Cape Roco / Stronach Stables / Sid Attard
Caren (f) / Robert Marzilli / Michael De Paulo
Conquest Cavalry / Conquest Stables LLC / Mark Casse
Conquest Daddyo / Conquest Stables LLC / Mark Casse
Conquest Enforcer / Conquest Stables LLC / Mark Casse
Conquest Sandman / Conquest Stables LLC / Mark Casse
Conquest Strategy / Conquest Stables LLC / Mark Casse
Destroy Them / Gary Barber / Mark Casse
Elusive Ghost / Stronach Stables / Sid Attard
Esposito / Chartwell Partnership / Thomas Proctor
Gamble’s Ghost (f) / Ivan Dalos / Josie Carroll
Hammers Vision / Terry Hamilton / Brian Lynch
Happy’s Causeway / Alter’s Racing Stable Inc. / Martin Wolfson
Incredible Dee / Derek Chin / Daniel Vella
Jennifer Lynnette (f) / Conrad Farms / Mark Casse
Leavem in Malibu / Conrad Farms / Mark Casse
Luckbe Tanya (f) / Gary Barber & Lucky Coyne Racing / Mark Casse
Mike / Paradox Farm Inc., Mardon Stable and Hugh Sutherland / John LeBlanc, Jr.
My Name is Jim / Mario Forgione / Reade Baker
Narrow Escape / JMC’s Racing Stable, Warren Dehan & Justin Nixon / Justin Nixon
Niigon’s Edge / Chiefswood Stable / Stuart Simon
Scholar Athlete / West Point Thoroughbreds Inc. / Graham Motion
Shakhimat / Dan Gale / Roger Attfield
Sir Dudley Digges / Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey / Michael Maker
Springhouse / Gustav Schickedanz / Michael Keogh
Storm Hawk / Tucci Stables / Sid Attard
Terra Xpress / B. and H. Irving / Sandra Dominguez
Trini Brewnette (f) / Derek Chin / Daniel Vella
Ultraflame / J. R. Racing Stable / John Ross
Unbridled Piper / Chiefswood Stable / Stuart Simon
Wolf Dance / Stronach Stables / Kevin Attard
Wonnestrut / Julie Belhumeur, Bryant David Crowe & Robert Hardie / Julie Belhumeur
