Mark Casse - How the mighty have fallen

[SoCalCircuit]

Originally Posted by TravisVOX

Older horses, mares in particular, sometimes just tell you when they've had enough. Bored, tired, ready for phase two of life etc.

An older mare and a younger colt. It looks like they're all sick of Casse.

[TravisVOX]

Originally Posted by SoCalCircuit

An older mare and a younger colt. It looks like they're all sick of Casse.

For someone who "loves" both Mark and Norm, I would expect you'd be more interested in posting this video than another baseless attack against them.

YouTube

This used to be a great place to talk racing, have handicapping discussions and enjoy the game with others. It's too bad. The archives here are full of useful information but those days continue to fade into the sunset with each passing day.

[Spalding No!]

Originally Posted by TravisVOX

For someone who "loves" both Mark and Norm, I would expect you'd be more interested in posting this video than another baseless attack against them.

Regardless of what transpired after the gates opened, the mere fact that Classic Empire was at a farm to work reeks of desperation.

Then in the work itself the horse clearly shuts down practically to a jog as soon as the rider eases up on him. The horse's issues, whether they are physical or mental, don't appear to be resolved. The Oaklawn preps this year have seen many a hyped horse go backwards. At this stage, it looks like it will be more of the same in the Arkansas Derby.

Ironically, his main workmate, Airoforce--who hasn't started in 6 months, was a Derby prospect early last year, too. He bombed in the Risen Star as the favorite and was immediately pulled from the Derby trail (though they still tried a Hail Mary in the lowly Spiral Stakes a couple months later). He then had to undergo "precautionary tests" to see if anything was wrong.

[SoCalCircuit]

Originally Posted by TravisVOX

For someone who "loves" both Mark and Norm, I would expect you'd be more interested in posting this video than another baseless attack against them.

So what you want me to commend him for ducking McCracken and changing his Derby prep plans yet again? Nope. I remain extremely disappointed with his barn and the way he's mismanaged his horses as of late.

[jballscalls]

Nice day for the Casse barn as they've won the Commonwealth and Shakertown back to back at Keeneland. Plus a great win with Salty last week in the GP Oaks.

[rsetup]

Originally Posted by rsetup

Surely you jest.

[Ocala Mike]

Originally Posted by Ocala Mike

He'll always be the King of Woodbine, and his dad (worked for him down here at OBS in the late 90's) was a class act.

I'm betting he'll have a good Keeneland meeting.

[tanner12oz]

Bringing in monster numbers at kee

[linrom1]

What is this guy doing to TEPIN? She hasn't had a work out in the last 60 days.

What is he doing to Classic Empire? This guy isn't going to the Derby!

He had a DISASTER meet at Gulfstream. He said that he still got 30 horses left there. Maybe he can talk Stronach to putting Tapeta there, that might help him win a race?

I'll would bet that the rest of this Kee meet will prove to be awfull. Maybe he should take another ski vacation to Aspen while Classic Empire runs at Oaklawn.

But I suppose that if you have hundreds of horses, each worth several hundred thousand, your assistants might win few races along the way for him to take credit.

[SuperPickle]

Originally Posted by tanner12oz

Bringing in monster numbers at kee

Yeah he is and here's a good reason. His Kentucky assistant is David Carroll. That guy can train a horse.

[cj]

Originally Posted by SuperPickle

Yeah he is and here's a good reason. His Kentucky assistant is David Carroll. That guy can train a horse.

I think it makes more sense financially to win at Keeneland. The Gulfstream purses, comparatively, stink.

[SuperPickle]

Originally Posted by linrom1

What is this guy doing to TEPIN? She hasn't had a work out in the last 60 days.

What is he doing to Classic Empire? This guy isn't going to the Derby!

He had a DISASTER meet at Gulfstream. He said that he still got 30 horses left there. Maybe he can talk Stronach to putting Tapeta there, that might help him win a race?

I'll would bet that the rest of this Kee meet will prove to be awfull. Maybe he should take another ski vacation to Aspen while Classic Empire runs at Oaklawn.

But I suppose that if you have hundreds of horses, each worth several hundred thousand, your assistants might win few races along the way for him to take credit.

A lot of just made up stuff in this post.

First, off he's already won three races through three days at Keeneland including two stakes so the idea he's going to have a poor Keeneland is shot to pieces. He's won 38 races this year at 18% the idea he suddenly can't train isn't supported by any data.

As far as Tepin the plan was for not to have any works until she went to Kentucky. He tried to work her last week. She balked so he scrapped it. And before anyone starts in at that a horse coming off a long layoff balking at working for the first time in about six months isn't the end of the world. She'll go to Kentucky and work there and she'll race at Churchill most likely.

Classic Empire worked on Saturday and races in Arkansas this week. Casse called the work last week "spectacular" and says all systems are go. If he wins on Saturday he's most likely the derby favorite.

The idea the guy can't train anymore is pretty dead at this point.

[Spalding No!]

Originally Posted by SuperPickle

Yeah he is and here's a good reason. His Kentucky assistant is David Carroll. That guy can train a horse.

Both of Casse's stakes wins were with horses training in Florida. Only one horse that was based in LA/KY has won at the current meet.

[SuperPickle]

Originally Posted by cj

I think it makes more sense financially to win at Keeneland. The Gulfstream purses, comparatively, stink.

How about some guys just take a long-term approach. It's a long year and a LOT of guys don't crank horses up fully in Florida.

Graham Motion is a great example. He's won 13 races this year so far. He won 103 last year. He's trending at roughly 50% of that total in 2017.

But anyone following him knows he doesn't really start winning till after Florida and he wins a lot of races in the summer turf season in the mid-atlantic.

Does anyone doubt Casse won't be leading trainer at Woodbine? And when consider he lost Conquest and he still will win it that's very impressive.

[SuperPickle]

Originally Posted by Spalding No!

Both of Casse's stakes wins were with horses training in Florida. Only one horse that was based in LA/KY has won at the current meet.

Oh I'm aware and that's because he wasn't based in KY this winter.

However I an tell you that his Kentucky string literally mimics Carroll's old specialities. He's great at stretching horses out and getting significant move ups 2,3 and 4th time out. He's a guy who races horses into shape.

My point being Carrol never had them fully cranked first out. You'll see these horses improve second half of the meet at Keeneland and at CD.

Btw... if Empire Classic shows up on Saturday between him and the Gary Barber filly in the Oaks he'll have one of the top betting choices in both the Derby and Oaks.