Trainer Norm Casse has gotten off to a very strong start since going out on his own earlier this year, and he could add a first stakes win to his resume Saturday in Churchill's GIII Bashford Manor S. for juveniles. The son and former assistant to leading conditioner Mark Casse will saddle Tales of Chaucer (Forty Tales), who received a solid 84 Beyer Speed Figure for a romp against New York-breds in the Belmont slop June 1. A $55,000 OBSMAR acquisition after a :10 2/5 move, the bay debuted for Casse and breeder Sequel Racing, but Michael and Jules Iavarone, Samuel R. Freeman and Dorsey Jackson have since been added as owners. Shanghaied Roo (Shanghai Bobby) is an interesting entrant. He won convincingly first out on opening day at Keeneland back on Apr. 6, but was forced to miss the Kentucky Juvenile S. here the following month. “It was just a freak incident of him tying up before the Kentucky Juvenile,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “I was so confident in him that day, I thought we could win for fun.” Instead 19-1 maiden Weiland (Yes It's True), took the Kentucky Juvenile. Toothless Wonder (Street Boss), a $220,000 OBS March grad himself (:10 1/5), settled for fourth first up at Santa Anita May 11, but was one of three runners from that key heat to subsequently break maiden when he scored back in Arcadia 18 days later.
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