Trainer Mark Casse's son and assistant Norman has begun mapping out future plans for the stable's Breeders' Cup contingent.
Following a solid runner-up effort in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Stonestreet Stables' 'TDN Rising Star' Valadorna (Curlin) is a “possibility” for the GII Golden Rod S. at Churchill Downs Nov. 26.
“That might happen,” Casse said. “She ran a really good race, but she had kind of a tough trip. Going forward we've got some high expectations for her. She's definitely a [GI] Kentucky Oaks-type of filly. She's back here at the barn and we'll go forward from there. Everything's on the table right now, but for now we'll just see how she reacts from coming back from California.”
Casse's reigning champion turf mare Tepin (Bernstein) exited her runner-up effort in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile well, according to Casse, and could make her next start in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile Dec. 11 at Sha Tin Racecourse. Tepin is scheduled to remain in training next year.
“We're just going to have to monitor her,” Casse said. “She ran a big race in the Mile and she'd have to get on a plane relatively quickly so if she's indicating that she's tired or unhappy and that's it's time for a break we won't go. But if she's coming out of her skin so to speak, we'll look at it. The goal right now is to bide long term so we'll just have to see how she reacts in the next few days.”
John Oxley's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) will rest the remainder of the year to focus on next year's GI Kentucky Derby.
“We always want to win Eclipse Awards, but most importantly, it would be pretty meaningful for the Oxley's,” Casse said. “They have been one of our biggest supporters from the very beginning. We're super proud to have won a Breeders' Cup for them and to potentially win an Eclipse Award for them. This will give us something to look real forward to in the spring.”
La Coronel (Colonel John) (sixth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf), Keep Quiet (Fr) (Elusive City)
(eighth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf) and Catch a Glimpse (City Zip) (eighth in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf) exited their Breeders' Cup efforts in good order and have been turned out at Casse's farm in Ocala, Florida.
“There's really nothing for them until next year at Gulfstream or Tampa,” Casse said.
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