Casse, D. J. Stable Looking For More In Woodbine Oaks

[Wandering Eyes]

Fresh off their 4,000th and 2,600th victories, respectively, trainer Mark Casse and D. J. Stable will try to add to those lofty achievements in Sunday's C$500,000 Woodbine Oaks.

Casse, who is looking to tie trainer Jim Day as a five-time winner of the nine-furlong contest, has no fewer than five chances, two of which are campaigned by the Green family. Winterberry (Frosted) has won half of her six trips to the post, including last year's seven-furlong Glorious Song Stakes as a short-priced favorite and a latest pillar-to-post success in the restricted Fury Stakes June 7, also going seven panels. The $210,000 Keeneland September purchase tries two turns and a distance beyond a mile for the first time from an awkward gate in 11 on Sunday, but her Hall(s) of Fame conditioner is cautiously optimistic.

“She is interesting in that we thought all along that she was a sprinter,” said Casse. “But she has really matured. She was scratched twice before she ever ran because of her antics. I talked to [jockey] Patrick [Husbands] the other day after he worked her, and he told me that she is a different horse. I know that he is excited about her running.

“Winterberry may keep going. She is coming into the Oaks better than ever. I am still not 100% sure she can get the mile and an eighth, but she is very talented.”

Husbands has ridden three of Casse's four Oaks winners, including Gary Barber's next-out Queen's Plate heroine Lexie Lou (Sligo Bay {Ire}) in 2014. Barber is represented Sunday by the rail-drawn War Signal (War of Will).

D. J.'s Shifty (Medaglia d'Oro), a $350,000 Fasig-Tipton October acquisition, is the morning-line 5-2 favorite from the five hole with 2023 Oaks-winning jockey Sahin Civaci at the controls. Winner of the grassy Catch a Glimpse Stakes on the grass last season, she bossed an allowance field on the synth by 9 1/2 lengths on seasonal debut May 11, but exits a one-paced third at 2-5 in the Fury.

“Shifty is probably the most talented [of the group],” said Casse. “She has her quirks. If she can settle and get into a good rhythm, she will be tough. She's very talented.”

Those looking for longer-priced chances could be drawn to Innisfree Isle (Bolt d'Oro), well beaten on sprint debut May 25, but a visually impressive winner over a mile and a sixteenth June 21. In a race that looks to have a fair bit of speed, the $75,000 FTKOCT grad may find the race shape to her liking.

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