Coaching Club American Oaks boasts strong field

Trainer Mark Casse is staying the course with Salty in today’s Coaching Club American Oaks.

One of the prestigious events on the American racing calendar for 3-yearold fillies, the CCAO is a Grade 1 event at 1 1/8 miles with a purse of $300,000.

“She loves her training and she is doing extremely well since she got up here,” said Casse.

Salty has finished behind division leader Abel Tasman in her last two starts, the Kentucky Oaks and Acorn, both Grade 1 races.

In the May 5 Kentucky Oaks, she drew post 14 in the historic race at 1 1/8 miles, which was contested on a sloppy track at Churchill Downs.

Despite a trip full of trouble, Salty still managed a rally to finish fifth, four lengths behind Abel Tasman.

In the Acorn, at Belmont Park on June 10 she was second, beaten a length that was marked by a startling move to the inside by Mike Smith aboard Abel Tasman in the upper stretch.

“I thought Mike Smith made a brilliant ride,” said Casse. “We were waiting for him and the next thing you know we went from him behind us to him in front of us, so it was a strange deal. But I thought her performance was still good, and I think her and Abel Tasman are a good pair. I think their abilities are pretty similar.”

Joel Rosario is named on Salty, who is owned by Bacarri Racing and Gary Barber.

Abel Tasman has been a consistent filly throughout her career, with five wins and two seconds in eight starts.

Her victories in the Kentucky Oaks and Acorn have lifted her to the top of the division, and she has made several sharp training moves at her home in California since the Acorn.

Like Salty, her style is to come from off the pace.

The CCAO pace might go to Elate, who is drawn inside, and who seems to be returning to top form.

She turned heads with a debut victory last fall at Aqueduct, winning by more than 12 lengths at one mile.

Elate hit the board in several subsequent stakes races, but did not return to the winner’s circle until her last start.

That came in the Light Hearted Stakes at Delaware Park on June 15.

Daddys Lil Darling is an intriguing entrant here.

She was second in the Kentucky Oaks from post 12 in a terrific performance.

She is coming off a fourth in the Belmont Oaks at 1 ¼ miles on turf at Belmont Park.

Berned, a rallying fifth in the Delaware Oaks, is also a factor in this event.

She had a miserable trip when seventh to Abel Tasman last fall in the Grade 1 Starlet in California, but has rebounded with a pair of nice efforts this season.

Completing the CCAO field are Corporate Queen and Summer Luck.

The CCAO at one time was the final leg of the old New York Racing Association triple crown for fillies.

The series consisted of the Acorn at one mile, the Mother Goose at 1 1/8 miles, and the CCAO at 1 ½ miles.

It was moved to Saratoga from Belmont Park in 2010.