Casa Creed Returns From Layoff in Churchill Allowance

LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stable's Casa Creed, last seen in action gutting out a head victory in graded stakes action at Saratoga Race Course in early August, is scheduled for his first race back May 21 at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old Jimmy Creed  colt is entered in an overflow field for an $85,000 allowance optional claiming race running a mile on the turf.

"He's been good. He's had a good winter down here—he's been at Payson Park most of the winter—and he's been fine," trainer Bill Mott said. "He's been ready to go and we're thrilled to be able to have a race."

Casa Creed began his career on dirt as a juvenile and broke his maiden in an off-the-turf race at Saratoga, but strung together a consistent record as a sophomore on grass. The chestnut won the Kitten's Joy Stakes in his first start at 3, was second in both the Palm Beach Stakes (G3T) and Penn Mile (G2T)—the latter on yielding turf—and third in the Manila Stakes before breaking through in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T) back at the Spa. He ended the season with a 2-2-1 record in seven starts at five different tracks.

"He's turned out to be a little bit of an overachiever from when he started out," Mott said. "He kept grinding them out and hits the board. He's a pretty honest racehorse."

Bred by Silver Springs Stud, Casa Creed is the first foal out of the unraced Bellamy Road mare Achalaya. He was purchased for $15,000 as a short yearling by Amalio Ruiz-Lozano from Janie Roper's consignment to the Ocala Breeders' Sale Winter Mixed Sale, then LRE Racing, with Kenny McPeek as agent, secured him for $105,000 from consignor Kelli Mitchell at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The colt has earned $364,508 to date.

Casa Creed returned to the work tab in January at Payson Park. Following the Hall of Fame Stakes he was entered in the Sept. 12 Nevada State Bank Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G3T) at Kentucky Downs but was scratched and given 60 days of turnout.

"He hadn't had much of a break so we stopped on him and gave him some time," Mott said. "He'd had a good season and we weren't happy with the way he was training going into that race so we stopped on him."

Casa Creed last worked May 13 at Payson Park, turning in a five-furlong breeze in 1:02 1/5 on dirt. He drew the outside post of 10 in Thursday's race and will have John Velazquez aboard, who also rode Casa Creed to victory in the Kitten's Joy Stakes last year.

The morning-line odds list Casa Creed as the 9-2 co-second choice along with Hooties Racing and WSS Racing's Mr Dumas in post 9 with jockey Martin Garcia. The 4-year-old Majesticperfection colt won the 1 1/16-mile Commonwealth Turf Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Nov. 9 when trained by John Ortiz but has finished off the board in three starts since. His two starts this season have been with trainer Mike Maker.

Klaravich Stables' Front Run the Fed, trained by Chad Brown, is listed as the 8-5 favorite. The 4-year-old Fed Biz  colt won the Better Talk Now Stakes going a mile on Saratoga's inner turf last summer, which marked a three-race win streak following maiden and allowance scores. He closed out the season with a half-length loss in the English Channel Stakes Oct. 26 at Belmont Park. 

Front Run the Fed also worked May 13, a half-mile in :48.85 on turf at Palm Meadows Training Center. He will have Javier Castellano in the irons from post 5.

Thursday's allowance attracted a stakes-quality field. Other entrants include black-type winner Ritzy A. P., who placed in the Del Mar Handicap Presented by The Japan Racing Association (G2T) and Eddie Read Stakes (G2T) last summer; Ivar, a dual group 1 winner in Argentina who is undefeated in three starts and will make his stateside debut; and Moon Colony, who defeated Casa Creed in the Penn Mile but is looking for his first win since that effort. Royal Mesa, Alkhaatam, Journeyman, and Clint Maroon complete the main body of the field. 

"A lot of the stakes races that some of these horses would have been running in have been canceled and they haven't had a chance to run," Mott said, "so I think a lot of people are going back to allowance races instead just to be able to run."

The race drew six also-eligibles, including 2018 Oklahoma Derby (G3) winner and main track only entrant, Lone Sailor.