One day after winning the Breeders’ Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland with Classic Empire, trainer Mark Casse sent out his talented three-year-old filly Catch a Glimpse to breeze four furlongs at Keeneland.
According to clockers, the daughter of City Zip went the distance in :49 flat while running the final two furlongs in a sharp :23.40. The reigning Canadian Horse of the Year is prepping for a start in the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (gr. I) on October 15th at Keeneland, in which she will attempt to rebound from a runner-up finish in the Lake Placid Stakes (gr. II) on August 21st at Saratoga.
The Lake Placid defeat snapped an eight-race win streak for Catch a Glimpse that included triumphs in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. I) and Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (gr. I).
Also breezing over the Keeneland turf course were Mokat and Harmonize, both preparing for starts in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. Mokat, who won the San Clemente Handicap (gr. II) at Del Mar earlier this year, went four furlongs in :49.80 while getting the final two furlongs in :23.20.
Harmonize, breezing in company with her graded stakes-place stablemate Heath, went five furlongs in 1:02.60 while finishing in :24 flat. In her last race, Harmonize won the Del Mar Oaks (gr. I) with an impressive late rally, coming home three-quarters of a length in front of Mokat, who finished fourth. As a two-year-old in 2015, Harmonize won the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland and finished seventh behind Catch a Glimpse in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
In addition to Catch a Glimpse, Mokat, and Harmonize, probable starters for the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup include Hawksmoor, On Leave, Outsider Art, Queen Caroline, Stays in Vegas, Time and Motion, and Try Your Luck. Hawksmoor, who won the German 1,000 Guineas (Ger-II) earlier this year (click here for a race recap and replay), arrived at Keeneland from Europe on Sunday morning.
J. Keeler Johnson is a writer, blogger, videographer, and all-around horse racing enthusiast who was drawn to the sport by Curlin's quest to become North America's richest racehorse. A great fan of racing history, he considers Dr. Fager to be the greatest racehorse ever produced in America, but counts Zenyatta as his all-time favorite. He lives in Wisconsin and also writes for the Bloodhorse.com blog Unlocking Winners.
