Wonder Wheel 'Great' After KY Oaks, Heading to Woodbine
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Wonder Wheel is saddled ahead of a start in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs
In the winner's circle after a victory in the May 6 American Turf Stakes (G2T) at Churchill Downs with D. J. Stable's Webslinger , trainer Mark Casse fielded questions on Wonder Wheel 's ninth-place finish a day earlier in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). The 3-year-old daughter of Into Mischief is also campaigned by D. J. Stable—the husband and wife duo of Leonard and Lois Green.
After fighting traffic early on, Wonder Wheel missed a chance to fire and stayed towards the back of the 14-horse field for the duration of the race.
"She's great, I think frustrated. She broke sharp and our plan was to try to be mid-pack and she got wiped out right after that. (Joel Rosario) checked her three or four times and she just didn't run her race," Casse said.
The filly was crowned champion 2-year-old last year after a win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), which was preceded by a runner-up finish in the Spinaway Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course and a win in the Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at Keeneland's Fall Meet.
Casse says Wonder Wheel will ship up to Canada where the connections will map out future plans.
"We're going to re-group and she's probably going to go to the place I love to re-group more than anywhere; she's going to go to Woodbine. And then (we'll) look for some big races in the fall," he said.