Dancing Duchess winning the Algonquin. (Michael Burns)
Four-time Alywow winner Mark Casse sends out four in this year’s edition
Chris Lomon, Woodbine Communications
TORONTO, Ont. – Mark Casse trainees Creed’s Gold, Dancing Duchess, Karaya, and Stormcast are set to go postward in the $100,000 Alywow Stakes, on Saturday at Woodbine.
Seven 3-year-old fillies, including the Casse quartet, will take to the E.P. Taylor turf in the 6 ½-furlong Alywow.
Creed’s Gold, a daughter of Jimmy Creed-Foxyfromfairbanks, is 1-1-0 from four starts.
Owned by Kristin Meldahl, the chestnut filly contested her first three races at Gulfstream Park.
After a pair of sixth-place finishes to launch her career, Creed’s Gold struck gold in her third start, a neck score at one mile on the turf.
Her most recent run came at Woodbine on June 1, when she finished a strong second in a mile test over the E.P. Taylor turf.
“She got beat by an older filly (4-year-old Liam’s Gift) last time out,” said Casse. “I thought that was a very good performance on her part. She continues to get better with each start.”
A $25,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale, Creed’s Gold was bred in Kentucky by Linda Griggs.
Dancing Duchess, who is the field’s most experienced entrant having raced eight times, won last year’s five-furlong Algonquin Stakes at five panels over the Woodbine inner turf.
After a disappointing seventh in her career bow in May 2023, the daughter of Munnings-Duchess Dancer recorded five top-three finishes in her next seven starts, including a victory in her second career engagement last June at Woodbine.
At 2, she was second in both the My Dear Stakes and Soaring Free Stakes. An off-the-board finish in the Natalma (G1T) was followed by the Algonquin triumph.
Dancing Duchess comes into the Alywow off a fourth in a five-furlong sprint over the Woodbine inner turf on May 18.
“She has progressed very nicely over her races,” said Casse. “It was a tough start to her career, but she has come back with some excellent efforts. She tries hard each time the gate opens.”
Bred in Ontario by Mitchell Kursner, the filly is owned by Tracy Farmer, who purchased the dark bay for $400,000 at the 2022 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale.
Karaya, owned by M Racing Group, LLC, brings a mark of 3-1-1 from six career starts, all at Gulfstream, into the Alywow.
The daughter of Bucchero-Jim’s Lonesa finished third in her five-furlong turf debut last December.
She then reeled off three straight scores, including a 2 ½-length victory in a five-furlong race that was originally slated for the grass.
Second in the Melody of Colors Stakes on March 24, Karaya heads into Saturday’s race off a tenth-place result in the Honey Ryder Stakes on May 4.
“She’s a very nice one,” praised Casse. “We tried running her long last time and she just can’t go that distance – she is a turf sprinter. This distance is much more suited to her talents.”
The dark bay filly was bred in Florida by Shade Tree Thoroughbreds Inc. and sold for $145,000 to M Racing Group, LLC, at the 2023 OBS June Two-Year-Olds and HRA Sale.
Casse’s fourth hopeful comes in the form of Stormcast, a daughter of Mitole-Scolara, who has assembled a 1-2-1 record from four starts.
Bred in Ontario by Dr. Tan Hyka, Stormcast finished second in her debut last June, a five-furlong sprint on the Woodbine all-weather course.
After a third in the 5 ½-furlong My Dear Stakes next time out, she broke her maiden courtesy of a 3 ½-length win at seven panels on the E.P. Taylor turf.
She heads into the Alywow off a second to multiple stakes winner De Regreso in the Honey Ryder.
“We had to give her some off after she won her first race, but she came back with a very nice effort in the Honey Ryder. This race is a little short for her, but she always comes up with a strong showing.”
K E M Racing Stable purchased Stormcast for $95,000 at the 2023 OBS Company March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training.
Casse has won four editions of the Alywow: Road to Victory (2018), Mississippi Delta (2015), Dene Court (2012) and Silky Smooth (2007).
The race is named for the talented turf performer who was Canada’s Horse of the Year in 1994 for owner Kinghaven Farms and trainer Roger Attfield. Alywow was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2009.
Listed as the eighth race, the Alywow is part of a 10-race Saturday card. First post is at 1:10 p.m. Fans can wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and bet365.com.
