Shamrock Rose eyes La Brea

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mark Casse wishes he could somehow canvass Eclipse Award voters regarding the female sprint division.

Speaking this week from his Ocala, Fla., base, Casse said he wants to give time off to Shamrock Rose, the upset winner of the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint – but only if he feels confident she will be voted the divisional Eclipse over her obvious main rival for the award, Marley’s Freedom. The Dec. 26 La Brea at Santa Anita, a Grade 1 race restricted to 3-year-old fillies, could be used as a clinching factor, but Casse can’t tell if it’s necessary to run there.

Eclipse Award voting concludes in early January, and the results will be announced Jan 24.

“I can’t just wait and decide a week or two out whether to ship to California,” he said. “It’s a decision I need to make very soon. Either we keep her in serious training now, or we don’t. I honestly feel like she deserves it, so I’ll probably just sit chilly and rest her up and let the chips fall where they may.”

Meanwhile, Wonder Gadot, the 2018 Queen’s Plate winner who was fourth in the BC Distaff, also shipped to Ocala from Churchill alongside Shamrock Rose and will be freshened toward a 4-year-old campaign.

Also in Ocala, Flameaway, unraced since August, returned to training this week, while World Approval, the 2017 turf champion who soon turns 7, is ready to return to serious training after getting extended time off when his form went sour.

As for other Casse trainees: Awesome Slew, scratched from the BC Dirt Mile with a minor illness, may run in the Dec. 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct, “and if not, he’ll be retired,” Casse said.

Valadorna runs next in the Dec. 2 Matriarch at Del Mar, while War of Will, fifth in the BC Juvenile Turf, will be entered in a maiden race on the main track, probably on the second Stars of Tomorrow card on Nov. 24 at Churchill.

In local action, Casse was elated with a maiden victory Wednesday by Souper Jackpot, a half-brother to Awesome Slew, while he was disappointed when the 3-year-old debut of Conquistador was delayed when the colt was scratched at the gate prior to the sixth race Thursday.

Conquistador, purchased for $2.45 million in April 2017 by a partnership led by the Coolmore group, was kicked by an opponent in the paddock. A superficial flesh wound to his left stifle kept trickling blood during the warmup, precluding him from starting.

No decision on Monomoy Girl

Trainer Brad Cox said Friday that no decision has been reached on whether Monomoy Girl will resume serious training toward the Jan. 26 Pegasus World Cup, or if the star filly will be turned out ahead of a later 4-year-old campaign.

“We’ll probably revisit it in a week or so,” Cox said.

Monomoy Girl, owned by a four-way partnership, is a cinch to win the Eclipse Award for top 3-year-old filly of 2018 after capturing the Breeders’ Cup Distaff here last weekend.

As for other Cox horses, no decision has been made on a next start for Arklow (fourth, BC Turf), while Will Call (fifth, BC Turf Sprint) and Covfefe (fourth at 3-5 in the Oct. 6 Frizette) both are getting a break.

Leofric, winner of the Fayette to close the Keeneland meet, goes next in the Nov. 23 Clark at Churchill, and Meadow Dance, most recently third in the Oct. 5 Alcibiades, will race in the Nov. 24 Golden Rod at Churchill.

‘Bugs’ making an impact

It’s been an eventful week at Churchill for apprentice riders. Known as “bugboy” or “buggirl” because the asterisks that designate their weight allowances in racing programs resemble bugs, a trio of apprentices accounted for a total of seven wins during the 20 combined races run here Wednesday and Thursday, while a fourth escaped serious injury in a spill.

Edgar Morales, who has hopes of becoming a 2018 Eclipse nominee with 84 wins on the year (through Thursday), rode three winners during those two cards. Morales, 20, is scheduled to lose his bug next weekend, since his fifth career win came Nov. 17, 2017. Also, Declan Carroll and Ezequiel Lara both rode two winners during that span.

In the 10th race Wednesday, Virginia Tormey was dislodged from her mount and suffered a hand injury that will keep her off horses the next couple of weeks, agent Cory Prewitt said.