Mark Casse

Following a couple of weather-related postponements, a field of eight will finally get their chance to run in the GIII Penn Mile as the sun begins to set over Grantville on Friday evening. Chad Brown won the second running of the Penn Mile with Bobby's Kitten (Kitten's Joy) back in 2014, and Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns) will start a warm favorite to pull the conditioner into a tie with Mark Casse on two wins. A two-time graded winner and low-odds seventh in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf last...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. The beautifully bred maiden of one career start Americathegreat (f, 2, Curlin--America, by A.P. Indy) is being aimed at the Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs June 29, per Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. "She's shown me some things that I haven't seen very many times," Casse said. "Allen Jerkens always told me, 'You don't judge a horse until they run five times.' But I think she's...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The graveyard of champions strikes again. Tracy Farmer homebred La Cara (Street Sense) shot out to the front and never looked back, splashing home a three-length, wire-to-wire winner in Friday's GI DK Horse Acorn S. at rainy Saratoga. Look Forward (Bolt d'Oro) chased her around the track in second, finishing a neck better than third-place finisher Scottish Lassie (McKinzie). Previously unbeaten GI Kentucky Oaks heroine and 1-4 favorite Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) suffered her first career defeat finishing fifth. Sent to the front by Dylan Davis,...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--The sting of missing the GI Kentucky Derby has faded. Ditto for the GI Preakness Stakes. Rodriguez (Authentic) is well rested, healthy and a ready to roll 'TDN Rising Star.' The colt, trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, will make his Triple Crown debut in Saturday's GI $2 million Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. Owned by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan, Rodriguez turned heads earlier...

Sandman (Tapit), coming off a third-place effort in the GI Preakness Stakes, shipped from Belmont Park to Saratoga Race Course Monday morning and he is expected to make his next start in the July 26 GII Jim Dandy Stakes. "I wanted to give him a little bit of time," trainer Mark Casse said. "He ran all winter long and I knew when we decided to run him back in the Preakness that the Belmont was going to be out of the question." Sandman earned a spot in the GI Kentucky...

BALTIMORE, MD -- In the days leading up to the 150th Preakness, a lot had been made of the one horse that wouldn't make it into Saturday's lineup at Pimlico--Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief). However, those that have been entered in the final renewal of the Classic race before Old Hiltop faces the demolition man are certainly no slouches. Leading the fray, Journalism (Curlin) returns off a runner-up finish in the Run for the Roses. Lest some may have forgotten, however unlikely, he went off post-time favorite for the...

BALTIMORE, MD -- Much has been said about the genuine friendship between Hall of Famers D. Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert that has developed over the years. And the lively banter between the two, as well as several of the other members of the training ranks in attendance at Thursday's Preakness Alibi Breakfast, did nothing to dispel that notion. Completely sidestepping the suggested seating assignments, Baffert planted himself at Lukas's table, which also included John Bellinger, who makes up BC Stables with partner Brian Coelho. The team is represented in...

Baltimore, MD--It was very evident that something big is looming following a simple stroll around the Pimlico backstretch Wednesday morning. Despite the intermittent rain and the resulting soggy conditions following several days of drenching downpours, several fan tours could be seen milling about, getting a behind-the-scenes look of many of Saturday's GI Preakness Stakes participants. While most trainers can outmaneuver Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas physically these days, few will beat him and his horses to the racetrack in the mornings. Outfitted with his brand-spanking new rain gear,...

It will be a busy day at the GI Preakness S. for the West Point Thoroughbreds team as they have four horses entered on the day at Pimlico. But none is more important than Sandman (Tapit), a horse they co-own along with DJ Stable, St. Elias Stable and CJ Stables. He finished seventh in the GI Kentucky Derby, but his owners have decided to give him a chance to make amends. Despite there being only being two weeks between the first two legs of the Triple Crown, Sandman will run...

Having been committed to the race just 24 hours earlier and in the absence of GI Kentucky Derby hero Sovereignty (Into Mischief), Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's Derby runner-up Journalism (Curlin) was made the 8-5 favorite on Dan Illman's morning line for Saturday's 150th running of the $2-million GI Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. He was assigned post position two during Monday's draw at the Guiness Open Gate Brewery. The...

GISW Sandman (Tapit) has picked up the services of John Velazquez for his anticipated start in Preakness 150, who will replace Jose Ortiz due to another commitment for the contest. Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse promised he'd have a Hall of Fame rider for his grey son of Tapit, and a legend he has procured. Velazquez will be replacing Jose Ortiz, who had the mount in the Derby, as Ortiz has a prior commitment aboard Clever Again (American Pharoah) for trainer Steve Asmussen. The Triple Crown trail has been...

The winner of the GI Arkansas Derby and seventh place finisher in the GI Kentucky Derby, Sandman (Tapit--Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor) will enter next Saturday's GI Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, according to a press release sent out by 1/ST Racing. Co-owned by D. J. Stable LLC, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, CJ Stables and influencer Griffin Johnson, the 3-year-old has remained at Churchill Downs where he took a spin over the main track on Friday. "We wanted to see how he came back. He's an extremely happy horse...