Mark Casse aims 2 hopefuls at Derby Winner’s Circle
By: John Lewis
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Trainer Mark Casse has saddled eight Kentucky Derby starters but has yet to hit the Winner’s Circle. He came close in 2017 with Classic Empire, which finished fourth.
This year, Casse has a duo of Derby hopefuls: Tampa Bay Derby winner Helium (50-1) and Florida Derby runner-up Soup and Sandwich (30-1).
“Many times, when I’ve done these interviews, I’ve said, ‘He’s going to have the run the race of his life and have the perfect trip,'” Casse said Thursday after arriving at the Churchill Downs backside. “That’s not the case with these two. I think they both have a lot of ability, and I don’t think we’ve seen it yet. Just hope it comes out on Saturday.”
Casse said Helium showed some of his ability in winning at Tampa Bay after a rough start.
“A lot of people are looking at Helium because he won the Tampa Bay Derby, and he came from out of it and that’s because he broke bad,” he said. “So I would hope that he would break a little better on Saturday and maybe just sit behind the speed. He’s faster than what you saw in the Tampa Bay Derby.”
For Soup and Sandwich, maturity has been key in his development.
“I’m very pleased with Soup and Sandwich,” Casse said. “He’s been a bit of a teenager and doesn’t pay attention. We had to sit there and wait like 10 minutes to get on to the track and a few horses got upset, and he just stood there. So he’s come a long way.”
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