Casse Hits 2,000 Mark, Gears Up for Pimlico

His 2,000th winner came at Gulfstream Park and he was at Woodbine, but that's just another day in the life of trainer Mark Casse and his far-flung racing operation.

"It's a great testimony to our team, which I'm very proud of," said Casse, 55, whose Reimburse won the second at Gulfstream Park for owner/breeder Gabe Grossberg. "I only became aware three days ago that we were that close. I didn't realize that. The last three days has caused a lot of reflection, and it's hard to believe. Time flies. It makes me realize how old I'm getting and all the places and things I've done.

"I am very proud of our team. The second thousand came a lot faster than the first thousand. You're only as good as your horses, and what's happened is we've been very fortunate, we have some wonderful owners that have given us great horses to train and race. With that, I've been able to go and get a bigger and stronger team. If you stand still, you get run over, so I'm always trying to be bigger and better, looking for opportunities, and so far it's working." 

A multiple Sovereign Award winner, Casse conditions Eclipse Award-winning champion turf female Tepin and Canadian Horse of the Year Catch a Glimpse. Both are undefeated this season after giving the Indiana native his first Breeders' Cup World Championships victories last year in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT), and Tepin is set for a Royal Ascot visit in the June 14 Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-I).

Before that trip, however, Casse and his son and assistant Norm plan to ship a large contingent to Pimlico Race Course for a run at the stakes action on Preakness Stakes (gr. I) day. 

Fellowship, who was transferred to Casse after a third in the Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (gr. I) by breeder Jacks or Better Farm, will run in the Preakness off a fourth in the May 7 Pat Day Mile (gr. III). John Oxley's grade I winner Noble Bird will wheel back two weeks after finishing last of eight as the favorite in the Alysheba (gr. II) and will target the $300,000 Sagamore Spirit Pimlico Special (gr. III) May 20.

Team Casse also plans to run grade II-placed Theogony in the $150,000 Allaire DuPont (gr. III); stakes winner R Girls a Charmer in the $150,000 Adena Springs Miss Preakness; and maiden winner Sky My Sky in the $100,000 Hilltop on the Black-Eyed Susan (gr. II) program May 20.

Theogony worked four furlongs in :49 May 14 at Churchill Downs, while Sky My Sky went the same distance in 48 1/5.

On the Preakness undercard, Team Casse will be represented by Za Approval and Conquest Typhoon in the $250,000 Longines Dixie (gr. IIT); Josdesanimaux, Mississippi Delta, and Ol' Fashion Gal in the $150,000 Gallorette (gr. II); Moon King in the $100,000 Sir Barton; and Conquest Windycity in the $100,000 James W. Murphy.

Josdesanimaux (:47 3/5), Conquest Typhoon (:48 1/5), Ol' Fashion Gal (:48 1/5), Mississippi Delta (:49) and Za Approval (:49 3/5) each worked four furlongs Saturday at Churchill.

The Casse contingent is scheduled to leave Kentucky around 4 p.m. ET May 16 and should arrive in Baltimore early the morning of May 17.

"Everybody worked really well. We're really excited to come to Pimlico for Preakness weekend with a lot of horses that have chances to win a lot of these good races," Norm Casse said.