War of Will, Got Stormy Work for Casse at Saratoga

Trainer Mark Casse breezed grade 1 winners War of Will and Got Stormy over the weekend at Saratoga Race Course in preparation for upcoming grade 1 starts out of town.

Gary Barber's Preakness Stakes (G1) winner War of Will breezed five furlongs in :59.55 on the main track Sept. 1. Casse bypassed the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) and instead pointed the colt to the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) Sept. 21 at Parx Racing and a potential rematch with multiple grade 1 winner Maximum Security.

"The work was perfect," Casse said. "I wanted him to do a little something today. We're three weeks out from the Pennsylvania Derby, so I wanted a good work and a good gallop out. I got him galloping out a mile in 1:40 and still not wanting to pull up. So it was really good."

Casse said he feels War of Will, a four-time winner of more than $1.5 million, is rounding back into top form as the fall weather arrives. In his most recent start, the son of War Front  finished fifth in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2).

"He's been doing a lot of bucking and kicking recently, which he hadn't been for a while," Casse said. "I don't know if his energy levels are up or if it's the crisp morning air, but he definitely enjoys this cooler weather. He seems to be really thriving right now."

The Canadian Hall of Fame conditioner said a start in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park is still in play if all goes well in Pennsylvania.

"We don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves, but a good performance in the Pennsylvania Derby would have us looking at the Breeders' Cup," Casse said. "But we have to get past this next one first."

Barber and Southern Equine Stable's Got Stormy, the first filly to win the Fourstardave Handicap (G1T), breezed five furlongs in 1:00.38 Saturday on the Oklahoma training turf in preparation for the Sept. 14 Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1T), a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" event for the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T).

"She worked good. We had Sammy Jimenez breeze her," Casse said. "I told Sammy to let her go along nice and cluck to her at the top of the lane. He clucked to her and she came home the last quarter in :23 flat. She has an amazing stride."

The 4-year-old daughter of Get Stormy earned a career-best 108 Beyer Speed Figure in the Fourstardave, her third win of the year.

"She's just grown up and got confident," Casse said. "We've had a lot of luck with our 3-year-olds giving them a break and letting them come back at 4. Some of them mature, and she's gone from a teenager to a grown-up. She's bigger and stronger."

Casse said Got Stormy's Ontario Colleen Stakes (G3T) win on the Woodbine turf last year, along with past Woodbine Mile successes with Tepin (2016) and World Approval (2017), give him confidence the filly can beat the boys once more.

"When we decided to go to the Woodbine Mile, it was nice that she's already had a race over the turf there," he said. "She was extremely impressive on the turf at Woodbine, and that, along with the success we've had going on to the Breeders' Cup from Woodbine, was on my mind. We already know she loves it there. My only fear is if we get a lot of rain. She's not overly crazy about soft turf."

Casse also reported that Tracy Farmer's Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) winner Sir Winston could be back to the races in New York this year.

"Sir Winston is back in full training. My plan is to bring him back to Belmont and try to get a race in New York with him towards the latter part of the year," he said.