Norm Casse Saddles First Oaks Starter with Southlawn

After years of tending to numerous Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1) horses for his father, Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, Norm Casse will saddle a top-tier Oaks filly of his own this year in Robert Masterson's Southlawn .

While familiar with the media frenzy that becomes Churchill Downs each Oaks/Derby week, Casse remains humbled all the same by the fact he's the trainer of a Kentucky Oaks starter.

"This is a dream come true," Casse said, who only began training horses on his own in 2018. "I figured at some point I'd be in this position but I didn't think I'd be at this position so early on in my career. It's very exciting."

When May 5 arrives, the Louisville native will not only saddle his first horse in the Kentucky Oaks, but will be competing against his father, who'll be represented by last year's champion 2-year-old filly Wonder Wheel  in the $1.25 million, 1 1/8 test for 3-year-old fillies.

"It's a very unique story especially because (Wonder Wheel is) a champion," Casse said. "It would be different if he was coming over here with a random horse but he's coming over here with his champion 2-year-old filly and I'm bringing over a horse that has a serious chance to win the race. It's cool. I'm not dwelling on that so much. I'm more worried about my horse but you have to be proud."

While Southlawn's resume is not quite as loaded as that of D.J. Stable's Wonder Wheel, the daughter of Pioneerof the Nile  certainly enters the Oaks with plenty of upside. The filly, acquired by Masterson for $290,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, is coming off the best performance of her career in the March 25 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2). In that effort, she defeated the best of the New Orleans circuit fillies in decisive fashion, drawing away from Pretty Mischievous , The Alys Look , and Hoosier Philly  by a widening 3 1/4 lengths under jockey Reylu Gutierrez. It was her second straight win following a three-month recess from the races.

"(Southlawn) showed in (the Fair Grounds Oaks that) she's developed so much mentally," Casse said. "One thing that's made her a more effective horse is just that she relaxes more easily. She can stay in that long run because she's so relaxed early in the race. To me, it just seems like that extra sixteenth of a mile is going to be beneficial for her more than for anyone else."

Casse also largely credits Southlawn's newfound success to a myectomy surgery she underwent last fall after a frustrating 2-year-old campaign. A myectomy is a common surgical procedure designed for horses who displace their soft palate when running, thus limiting airflow.

"We knew we were going to give her some time off and bring her back in February (so we did the surgery)," Casse said. "She's been undefeated ever since."

A victory in the Oaks would also be especially meaningful to Casse since Masterson was one of his first clients since leaving his father's barn five years ago. Casse had cultivated a relationship with Masterson through his work with the owner's brilliant, two-time champion turf mare Tepin  when he was still under the tutelage of his father. Tepin had rallied to some of her greatest triumphs, including the 2015 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) and 2016 Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, with Norm Casse by her side.

"Robert is the only guy from that group of clients when I left Dad that sent me horses," Casse said. "And a lot of that was by virtue of what I did with Tepin. He understood I was her day-to-day trainer and those type of things so he had a lot of confidence in me when I went out on my own.

"We've had a few lean years together. We haven't had any superstars yet but he's never lost confidence in me or my team and now I'm hoping to reward him with an Oaks win."