Papilio Soars to Victory in the Appalachian Stakes

With a determined rally down the stretch of Keeneland's turf course, Papilio edged Cairo Consort by a neck to secure her first stakes win April 8 in the $338,600 Appalachian Stakes (G2T). The victory brought a big smile to the face of trainer Mark Casse, who has been most impressed with the Irish-bred 3-year-old daughter of Starspangledbanner when it matters most—during her races. Casse saw potential when he watched a video of Papilio, who made her first five starts in Ireland. After the Papilio was purchased privately by her current owners after her juvenile...

Wonder Wheel is the champion 2-year-old filly of 2022.

By Frank Angst  As trainer Mark Casse watched Wonder Wheel improve as spring turned to fall, he couldn't resist sharing the encouraging progress of the 2-year-old filly—even comparing her precocity with that of 2016 champion 2-year-old male Classic Empire. "I put some pressure on myself, and sometimes I would ask myself, 'Why did I do that,'" Casse said after this year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). "But I tell people the way I feel." Voting for 2-year-old filly: Wonder Wheel, 240; Hoosier Philly, 3; Meditate, 2; Julia Shining, 1.    The pressure most assuredly was off Casse...

Patience, Passion Led Horse Racing Hall of Fame Trainer Mark Casse to Stardom

January 23rd, 2023 BY J. Keeler Johnson There she was – in the lead, vying for victory in the final furlong of the historic Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in England. When Tepin gallantly crossed the finish line in front, the mare had made history as the first American-trained racehorse to win Royal Ascot’s signature meet-opening race. Sharing the glory was the trainer who made it all possible, the trainer who never made a wrong move in managing a versatile but slow-maturing racehorse until she was ready to make history on...

Watch: Wonder Wheel Breezes At Casse’s Training Center In Her First Work Since Breeders’ Cup Win, Presumptive Champion Title In Sight.

Wonder Wheel is expected to be crowned Champion 2-Year-Old Filly for 2022 after her impressive win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. On Jan 11, 2023, the 3-year-old filly of Into Mischief returned to the work tab and breezed three furlongs in 35.4 seconds at conditioner Mark Casse's training center in Ocala, Florida. Casse posted a video of the workout on social media, revealing his plans for Wonder Wheel's sophomore debut. https://twitter.com/markecasse/status/1613212692063330304?s=61&t=Ua7Ej5Xj7v9NNdN3RcqZ1w Casse mentioned that the Suncoast Stakes on Feb. 11 at Tampa Bay Downs is part of the...

Happy New Year! 🎉

Happy New Year to all of our fans of Casse Racing! As we say goodbye to 2022 and welcome in 2023, we at Casse Racing are looking forward to another exciting year of racing. We have a talented group of horses in our stable, and we can't wait to see them perform on the track. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our team, and all of our fans for their support over the past year. We couldn't do it without you, and we appreciate your passion...

Photo by Sarah Andrew

Mark Casse Shares His Thoughts on the Benefits of HISA for the Industry

Over the last few months, I have read and heard numerous concerns about HISA's involvement in the thoroughbred industry. Purported issues range from, “we don't need the government in our business” to, “these new rules are too burdensome,” to “they should have asked horsemen to be involved in the rulemaking.” I believe most of those complaints come from a place of misunderstanding about what HISA is trying to accomplish and also how imperative it is to our livelihood that we have a centralized set of rules. As someone fortunate...

Team Casse Thrives Together

By Alicia Hughes If there is a commonality that stretches across most major racing jurisdictions in North America, it is that evidence of Mark Casse’s Hall of Fame career can be found at nearly every locale where significant accolades are earned. At Toronto’s palatial Woodbine oval, the signature red and white signage depicting the presence of Casse Racing has been dominant for so long, the Indiana-born trainer must occasionally remind acquaintances he is not, in fact, a native of Canada. Head down to New York, stopover in Kentucky, drive...

Renegade Rebel holds off Ryder Ryder Ryder in Mazarine Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Renegade Rebel gave trainer Mark Casse his ninth win in the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes on Saturday at Woodbine when she beat out her stablemate, Ryder Ryder Ryder, who was probably best in the 1 1/16-mile route for 2-year-old fillies. Over a speed-favoring Tapeta surface, Renegade Rebel ($4.30) shook loose on the early lead and set moderate fractions with second-choice Honor D Lady chasing her all the way. Renegade Rebel had a three-length lead until she began to weaken inside the eighth pole. Ryder Ryder Ryder,...

Barn Tour: Wonder Wheel Leads Casse’s Promising Juveniles

Hall of Fame Trainer Mark Casse has a likely Eclipse Winner in his barn after Wonder Wheel won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies last weekend. But she's not his only talented young filly. Casse told Horse Racing Nation this week that "we have six or seven fillies that have the potential to go on and be nice horses." But first, Wonder Wheel. The daughter of Into Mischief is 4-for-5 this year, with the loss coming in a second-place finish in the Spinaway (G2) at Saratoga. She led gate to wire in the...