Casa Creed Flies Home Late to Upset Jaipur
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Photo: Chad B. Harmon
Casa Creed wins the Jaipur Stakes at Belmont Park
If you were a big fan of the old "Mike and The Mad Dog" radio show and you didn't bet on Casa Creed in the $400,000 Jackpocket Jaipur Stakes (G1T), shame on you.
Mike Francesa, the aforementioned "Mike," is the co-owner of the 5-year-old son of Jimmy Creed who prevailed by two lengths in the June 5 turf sprint stakes at Belmont Park.
So, all of you in Mongo Nation who didn't head to the betting windows, you missed out on banking $23.60 for every $2 wagered.
In theory, since Casa Creed earned a free spot in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) on account of his victory, you could try to atone and fill your pockets at the World Championships. Yet the look on the face of Francesa and Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott when the distance of the Turf Sprint was mentioned to them might be a bit of a deterrent.
"Five-eighths?" Mott said when informed the Turf Sprint will be contested at a five furlong distance Nov. 6 at Del Mar. "That's a whole different ballgame. You are dealing with a whole different group of horses. But what are you going to do? We have a 'Win and You're In' spot and I'm sure it will get a lot of attention."
Yes, at five furlongs, the Sprint will indeed be a big challenge for the late-running Casa Creed, who was cutting back just to contest the six furlongs of the June 5 Jaipur. His previous start, a win in the seven-furlong Elusive Quality Stakes, was a small cutback of its own after eight of his last nine races were at a mile.
Even Francesa, who became a radio legend on WFAN in New York for his opinionated commentaries, was skeptical about asking his grade 2 winner at one mile (in the 2019 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes, G2T) to handle a five-furlong dash.
"That's going to be a tough call, and you know what, we'll let Bill make the final decision," Francesa said. "We'll obviously have input, but I thought six furlongs was pushing it for him and five will be very hard. It will be hard to pass up, but we'll wait and see what happens."
Of course, with the Breeders' Cup five months away, the present was far more enjoyable to ponder than the future, especially for Francesa.
Francesa operates JEH Racing Stable and owns Casa Creed in a partnership with his friend Lee Einsidler of LRE Racing and collected his first grade 1 win in an incredibly uplifting setting as a lifelong Long Island resident and race horse owner since the 1990s.
"It's an incredible thrill," he said about winning on Belmont Stakes Day.
It also added exponentially to the joy he and Einsidler have enjoyed with the son of the Bellamy Road mare Achalaya who has won 5 of 20 starts with earnings of $755,408.
"This changes everything. We've been trying to get him a grade 1 for a while," Francesa said.
Casa Creed's connections enjoy their trip to the winner's circle after the Jaipur Stakes
Casa Creed rallied from eighth in the field of nine as a battle between the even-money favorite Bound for Nowhere , Gregorian Chant , and Sombeyay through a half-mile in :44.65 softened the leaders and allowed jockey Junior Alvarado to blow past them from the outside in the final furlong.
Final time was 1:08.04 on turf rated good.
"He ran great," Mott said, who furnished the $335.50 $2 exacta in the Jaipur with 28-1 shot Chewing Gum .
Chewing Gum, who Mott trains for Wachtel Stable, Pantofel Stable, and Jerold Zaro, rallied from ninth to grab the place spot for the Hall of Fame trainer. The 6-year-old son of Candy Ride was three-quarters of a length ahead of the Wesley Ward-owned and trained Bound for Nowhere, a 7-year-old son of The Factor .
Bred by Silver Springs Stud, Casa Creed is the first of four foals by Achalaya and a half brother to grade 3 winner Chess's Dream (Jess's Dream ). She also has a yearling colt by Distorted Humor .
Casa Creed was bought by Einsidler for $105,000 from the Kelli Mitchell consignment at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
"I believe," said Francesa in the same assured tone he used to discuss the New York Yankees and New York Giants before his retirement from radio, "Casa Creed is as good a turf sprinter as there is in the country right now."
At six furlongs, he might be.
At five furlongs?
We'll see in November.