Second Chances: Casse Pointing Well-Bred Maiden Americathegreat to Debutante

[Wandering Eyes]

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar.

The beautifully bred maiden of one career start Americathegreat (f, 2, Curlin–America, by A.P. Indy) is being aimed at the Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs June 29, per Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse.

“She's shown me some things that I haven't seen very many times,” Casse said. “Allen Jerkens always told me, 'You don't judge a horse until they run five times.' But I think she's an extremely serious horse.”

Casse continued, “I wanted to get a start into her, then give her a little break and get her ready for the Debutante. If she runs her race back, she should be very tough. And now we're getting to go three quarters of a mile, which should be right in her wheelhouse.”

Off at odds of 9-2 in her five-furlong unveiling beneath the Twin Spires May 15, Americathegreat was off to a slow start and quickly outfooted, trailing the field of eight through an opening quarter in :22.32.

Still at the rear with a ton to do approaching the quarter pole, she was tipped out by Jose Ortiz at the top of the stretch and came rocketing home down the center in a field-best :11.99 to finish three lengths adrift 'TDN Rising Star' Color Comin' In (Rock Your World). The final time was :58.14.

“We broke her at our place in Ocala, and right from the beginning, she was amazing,” Casse said. “I start 'em early, I never worry about winning first time out. I knew she was ready to run. I wasn't expecting her to win, even though if she breaks a little better, she probably does.”

What Americathegreat did after the wire caught the eye as well.

“The part I really loved was her gallop out, and that's the way she trains,” Casse said. “You would have to know the surrounding area of Louisville, but I read somewhere, and I thought that this was cute, that she galloped out to the Watterson Expressway.”

Americathegreat, a full-sister to MGSW & GISP 'TDN Rising Star' First Captain, brought $1.2 million as a yearling from Gary Barber and D. J. Stable following a private sale at Keeneland September.

The daughter of GSW & MGISP America was bred in Kentucky by B. Flay Thoroughbreds. The out-of-this-world Curlin x A.P. Indy cross has produced champions Malathaat, Nest and Stellar Wind as well as fellow top-level winners Clairiere, Global Campaign, Idol and Paris Lights.

Celebrity chef Bobby Flay gained access to this family when acquiring Americathegreat's second dam Lacadena (Fasliyev) privately after she was led out unsold on a bid of $1.4 million at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton November Sale.

This is also the female family of bluehen mare Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister), dam of GI Belmont Stakes winners Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy) and Jazil (Seeking the Gold).

“I saw her at the yearling sale, graded her and gave her an 'A,' and I hardly give any 'A's,'” Casse said.

“I knew she was gonna be expensive. I got a call from (D. J. Stable's) Jon Green afterwards, and he said that she was bought back for $1.2 million. I said, 'She's worth it,' and they wanted to buy half. So, I made a phone call to Gary Barber and said, 'I have a crazy idea,' and he said, 'You got my attention.'”

Casse continued, “If you know Gary, that's Gary, and he'll always start the conversation that same way. So, this time I had the crazy idea. I told him more about the filly and he actually called Bobby Flay himself. And within about 20 minutes, we owned her.”

Since launching 'Second Chances' in 2017, 64 maidens have been featured in these pages (through 2024), producing 23% graded stakes winners and 47% stakes horses.

The series has introduced eight future winners at the top level, led by this year's GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin) and fellow two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo).

COLOR COMIN' IN ($17.42) becomes the first winner for @spendthriftfarm's Rock your World! The filly made a professional debut in the 2nd at @ChurchillDowns. @luissaezpty had the ride for trainer @NormCasse. pic.twitter.com/cDv6mOJeEI

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) May 15, 2025

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