Casse Sends Out Formidable Duo in Saratoga's Sanford

After finishing second best to a filly in his first start in a stakes, Blinging It Back will try again—this time strictly against the boys. Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Blinging It Back will face five rivals July 5 in the $175,000 Sanford Stakes (G3) for 2-year-olds at Saratoga Race Course as he bids for his maiden win. The son of Volatile owned by Gary Barber and Peter Deutsch was last seen in the June 5 5 1/2-furlong Tremont Stakes at the Spa when he finished second by 3 1/2 lengths to the fleet filly Mythical. It was an improved effort off his May 1 debut at Churchill Downs when he fell 10 lengths behind in a short, 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight sprint and closed well to grab third, just 1 3/4 lengths behind the winner. "I thought our horse ran well. He cleared himself from the rest of the field," Casse said about the Tremont. "They ran fast, but he came back and has done well, so we'll see." In the Tremont, Blinging It Back finished 7 3/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher Romeo, who took the listed Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs in his subsequent start. Bred by Forever Spring Farm out of the Too Much Bling mare Ima Three Blinger, Blinging It Back was bought for $80,000 from the Ballysax Bloodstock consignment at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Obliteration certainly lived up to his name in his June 12 debut at Churchill Downs as he romped by 7 1/2 lengths in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden sprint for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who owns the sport's record for career wins. The Violence colt owned by Leland Ackerley Racing showed speed throughout in that initial start. He was second in the early stages before taking charge in the stretch and drawing clear. Out of the Master Command mare I'mclassyandsassy, he was bought for $200,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training out of breeder Ocala Stud's consignment. Another first-out winner in the field is John Oxley's Strategic Risk, a lopsided 8 1/4-length winner for Casse in a June 7 maiden race at Gulfstream Park. Casse said Oxley was considering entering the homebred colt in the OBS March Sale, but he advised against it. "I saw him and told Mr. Oxley, 'I don't think you should sell this horse. I really like him.' I trained his sire (Noble Bird) and dam (Strategize) and his full sister (Strategic Bird), who was a stakes winner, and I thought he could be better than her," Casse said. Some cuts from a starting gate mishap slowed Strategic Risk's progress, but even though Casse rated him as 80% ready for his debut, he romped in front-running style. "He was impressive," Casse said. "He has the potential to be a pretty good horse in his own right."