Trainer Cox scores hat trick with Juddmonte homebred on Saturday’s card
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Norm Casse’s promising 2-year-old maiden winners Glacial and Ontheonesandtwos are both targeting the $150,000 Bashford Manor (Grade III) and $150,000 Debutante (Listed), respectively, following their impressive debut victories at Churchill Downs.
“Both horses have really touted themselves in the morning, so we were expecting them to run well in their debuts,” Casse said. “After winning the way they did, I think it’s reasonable to point them to the stakes races at the end of the meet.”
Glacial, a 2-year-old colt by Frosted who is owned by Robert Masterson, cruised to a rail-skimming 2 ½-length win Saturday in a $100,000 maiden special weight contest. Casse and Masterson have a long relationship outside of Glacial. Masterson campaigned two-time champion grass mare Tepin while Casse was the assistant to his father, Mark.
Tepin was purchased as a yearling by Masterson for $140,000 at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton August Sale with the help of bloodstock agent Deuce Greathouse.
Fast forward nine years, Greathouse was the agent who purchased Masterson’s colt Glacial for $140,000 at the 2021 OBS March Sale and is the co-owner, along with Cindy Hutson, of 1 ¾-length debut winner Ontheonesandtwos.
Ontheonesandtwos, a chestnut filly by Jimmy Creed, bested five rivals in a $100,000 maiden special weight event on May 13.
“(Masterson and Greathouse) have supported me from the beginning,” Casse said. “We had a great relationship when I was the assistant to my dad. It’s very special to now have two very quality 2-year-olds for them.”
The Bashford Manor and Debutante are two of seven stakes events on the undercard of the $600,000 Stephen Foster (GII). Nominations for all seven races close Saturday, June 12.
Trainer Cox scores hat trick with Juddmonte homebred on Saturday’s card
Trainer Brad Cox continued his charge to become the Spring Meet leading conditioner after Juddmonte homebreds Fulsome, Set Piece (GB) and Snow House recorded victories on Saturday’s program at Churchill Downs.
“It was a really solid Saturday from our barn,” Cox said. “The horses performed to our expectations, and we were able to get the job done in three of the six races we were in.”
Cox made his first trip to the Woodford Reserve Winner’s Circle Saturday in Race 4 when Snow House dug in nearly the entire length of the stretch to hold off an oncoming Wayakin for a three-quarters of a length victory in a $102,955 first-level allowance event.
Five races later, Fulsome rallied from last-to-first for a 3 ¾-length win in the $150,000 Matt Winn (GIII). In the finale, Set Piece overcame a slow start to dominate six rivals by four lengths in the $110,000 Douglas Park Overnight Stakes.
With his three victories on Saturday, Cox held a 13-9 win lead entering Sunday’s nine-race card over Mike Maker and Brendan Walsh.
DOWN THE STRETCH – Racing continued Sunday at Churchill Downs with a first post of 12:45 p.m. The nine-race program featured the return of $150,000 William Walker Stakes winner Field Day in Race 3. … Bruce Lunsford’s Grade II winner Art Collector breezed a half-mile in :48.40 Sunday morning with Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.80. This was Art Collector’s second work back following nearly six months on the sidelines. … Multiple Grade I winner Knicks Go recorded the fastest five-furlong move of 23 others at the distance when he cruised :59.80. Knicks Go is the likely favorite for Saturday’s $1 million Metropolitan Handicap (GI) at Belmont Park. … There were 14 horses that worked on the turf Sunday including Grade I winner Juliet Foxtrot (GB), who breezed a half-mile in :49. … There will be a special nine-race Monday card at Churchill Downs in honor of the Memorial Day holiday weekend. First post is 12:45 p.m. … Following Race 5 at 3 p.m. on Monday, Churchill Downs bugler Steve Buttleman will participate in the annual sounding of Taps as part of “Taps Across America.” The National Moment of Remembrance is an annual event that asks all citizens, wherever they are at 3 p.m., to pause for a duration of one minute in silent tribute to the men and women who have honorably served in uniform and to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. … For more information and to purchase tickets for the Spring Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.
Edited Churchill Downs Press Release
Photos: Glacial (left) and Ontheonesandtwos, (Churchill Downs/Coady Photography)
