Stealcase might represent trainer Mark Casse in the Belmont Stakes
The third placed finisher in the Grade 3 Derby Trial Stakes at Churchill Downs, Stealcase is being considered for the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on 9 June, 2012, according to trainer Mark Casse.
Mark Casse, who trains the 3-year-old colt for owner John C. Oxley, broke the news on the morning after I’ll Have Another ran down Bodemeister twice in two races to win the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on 19 May, 2012.
The “Test of the Champion” isn’t going to be a happy hunting ground for Stealcase, who has only managed a single victory in six career starts so far.
Bred in Kentucky by Secret Whispers Partnership, Stealcase broke his maiden at third asking after a couple of fourth place finishes in his first two attempts at Saratoga and Gulfstream Park respectively, last year.
Though, this season the son of Lawyer Ron stretched out in his maiden race from six and a half furlongs to 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Park, relished the opportunity and scratched the maiden tag off of him on 19 January, 2012.
Out of Cat Thief mare Steal The Show, Stealcase was part of the Derby prep, and after breaking his maiden participated in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct racetrack.
He found it a little difficult to compete with the cream of the crop, finishing sixth to winner Hansen in the 1 1/16 mile test.
Next up was the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes – which was dominated by the Team Valor International owned and trained by the last year’s Kentucky Derby winning trainer, Graham Motion’s Went The Day Well, who downed the field over the 1 1/8 mile Turfway Park’s synthetic surface, as Stealcase managed a fifth place finish.
“The Belmont is definitely under consideration,” Casse said. “His last race was big and yesterday (Saturday) Paynter ran a huge race (won an allowance race on Preakness undercard by 5 ¾ lengths).”
Casse believe that his runner, Stealcase is a Grade 1 calibre, and that is why the trainer has opted for the Belmont Stakes to see where his colt stands against top company.
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