Photo Credit: Brittlan Wall
NYRA Press
Tracy Farmer’s Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets winner Sir Winston, who was expected to make his first start since finishing 12th in the Woodchopper on December 28 at Fair Grounds, was downgraded from probable to possible for the $100,000 Jazil on January 25 at Aqueduct according to trainer Mark Casse.
Casse said Sir Winston is being treated for a foot issue after pulling a shoe during his five-furlong breeze in 1:02.86 on Thursday at the Belmont Park training track.
“Unfortunately, he pulled a shoe at some point during the work and we’ve been soaking his foot every day since the incident,” said Casse. “We’re watching him and right now I’d say he’s 50-50 to run in the Jazil. We’re certainly not going to rush to bring him back. We’ll take our time and continue to watch him and see if he can make the race.”
The Casse barn enjoyed a successful afternoon at Fair Grounds on Saturday where John C. Oxley’s Enforceable,a maiden winner at Saratoga in August, captured the Grade 3 Lecomte and picked up 10 qualifying Kentucky Derby points with the win.
Casse said the Tapit colt, who rallied from 11th to secure the 1 1/2-length score under Julien Leparoux, exited the race in good order and his prolonged development reminds him of Sir Winston.
“I was telling Mr. Oxley that I thought he was going to be a special colt back in March of last year. It’s just taken him a little while to put everything together,” said Casse. “He looked impressive the way he won. Not being too anxious, sitting back and making one big move to victory, he did it well. He’s a good example of our program and reminds me of Sir Winston in that we don’t try to rush our horses. We’re patient and it paid off.”
Enforceable is out of the multiple graded-stakes winning Dixie Union mare Justwhistledixie, who has already produced graded-stakes winners New Year’s Day, Mohaymen and Kingly. Both Mohaymen and Kingly are by Tapit and full brothers to Enforceable.
Casse confirmed Enforceable would most likely make his next start in the Risen Star on February 15 at Fair Grounds. Casse also reported multiple graded stakes winner Got Stormy, who completed her second breeze of the year on Tuesday working five furlongs in 1:02.00 at the Casse Training Center in Ocala, Florida, would likely make her seasonal bow in the Grade 3 Endeavour on February 8 at Tampa Bay Downs.
