March to the Arch Tops Casse Duo in King Edward
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Photo: Michael Burns
March to the Arch wins the Niagara Stakes at Woodbine
Mark Casse, who was recently feted with others at the combined 2020 and 2021 U.S. Horse Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, has a pair of chances to notch his third CA$175,000 King Edward Stakes (G2T) crown, including with defending champ March to the Arch , Aug. 15 at Woodbine.
Live Oak Plantation's homebred March to the Arch sports a 4-3-0 record in seven Woodbine appearances. After a second-place effort to 2020 Queen's Plate winner Mighty Heart on the main track in the July 1 Dominion Day Stakes (G3), the 6-year-old Arch gelding rallied over good going on the E. P. Taylor Turf Course to notch a 4 1/2-length triumph in the July 25 Niagara Stakes, run at about 1 1/8 miles.
The 2-1 morning-line favorite in the field of eight, March to the Arch shortens up to a mile on the turf for the King Edward.
"March to the Arch, what can I say? He's a tough, old boy who has come back this year as strong as ever," Casse said. "His last race, it was very impressive. He ran really well. He sat back—they set up a little pace for him—and he came running. He's cutting back for this race, but I don't think that should be a big issue.
"He should run well this weekend. He's gotten better (over time). Early on, he didn't show a whole lot. It took him a while, but when he did put it all together, he did it well. He really has become better with age."
The current plan is for the multiple graded stakes winner to contest one of the biggest races on the Woodbine stakes calendar.
"We're looking and hoping for another shot at the Woodbine Mile (G1T, on Sept. 18)," said Casse, who watched March to the Arch finish second to Starship Jubilee in last year's running. "He's a real pro."
Casse will also send out Gary Barber's Olympic Runner in the King Edward. The 5-year-old Gio Ponti gelding comes into the race off a runner-up performance in the July 18 Connaught Cup (G2T), missing top spot by a neck to fellow King Edward rival Avie's Flatter .
"He runs really well. He just doesn't get there quite as much as you would like to see. He kind of gets himself into trouble," Casse said. "I'm always making excuses for him, but I've come to the conclusion that he does it. He's coming into the race in good order. He's pretty consistent. He gets into trouble on tighter turns, so I think he enjoys the Woodbine turf course."
Fourth in last year's Ricoh Woodbine Mile, his lone stakes win came in the 2019 running of the King Corrie at Woodbine. There's a possibility Olympic Runner could join March to the Arch in the Toronto oval's fall turf classic.
"We're hoping he's good enough for the Woodbine Mile," offered Casse.
Casse is hoping to see some fast early fractions in the King Edward.
"Both of them need some pace, so hopefully, that's what they can get on Sunday," he said.
Canadian Hall of Fame conditioner Josie Carroll sends out a formidable duo of her own: multiple graded stakes winners Jolie Olimpica and Avie's Flatter. Fox Hill Farm's Jolie Olimpica won the July 24 Nassau Stakes (G2T) in her first start for Carroll since transferred from Southern California. She is the 5-2 morning-line second choice and the only mare in the field.
Town Cruise , Gray's Fable , Alfons Walde , and Valid Point complete the field.
Woodbine, Sunday, August 15, 2021, Race 8Entries: King Edward S. (G2T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Town Cruise (ON)
Daisuke Fukumoto
121
Brandon Evan Greer
10/1
2
2Olympic Runner (KY)
Rafael Manuel Hernandez
121
Mark E. Casse
8/1
3
3March to the Arch (FL)
Patrick Husbands
124
Mark E. Casse
2/1
4
4Avie's Flatter (ON)
Luis Contreras
122
Josie Carroll
6/1
5
5Gray's Fable (KY)
Gary Boulanger
123
Roger L. Attfield
15/1
6
6Alfons Walde (IRE)
David Moran
121
Conor Murphy
20/1
7
7Jolie Olimpica (BRZ)
Kazushi Kimura
119
Josie Carroll
5/2
8
8Valid Point (KY)
Emma-Jayne Wilson
121
H. Graham Motion
4/1
