About a month ago, dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse was preparing La Cara for an attempt to claim the sophomore filly throne for herself with a third grade 1 win in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1). However, that mission was derailed before she got the chance to run.
On the morning of the July 19 race, Barn 28 at Saratoga Race Course was placed under a precautionary quarantine when a Mike Maker-trained filly, Surprenant Cocca, showed symptoms of the contagious bacterial infection strangles. Maker shares Barn 28 with Casse, who stables La Cara in that barn.
Horses from Barn 28 were not allowed to race or train with the general horse population, prompting La Cara's scratch from the race. The quarantine was lifted July 23 when Suprenant Cocca's tests came back negative.
READ: Precautionary Quarantine of Saratoga Barn Lifted
La Cara will have another opportunity at a third grade 1 win Aug. 16 in the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1), but instead of entering a month after a proper tune-up in the CCA Oaks, she's now entering off a 10-week layoff since her dominating three-length win in the June 6 Acorn Stakes (G1).
"It's not ideal," Casse said about how the quarantine and missing the CCA Oaks impacted preparations for the Alabama. "She was in a nice race pattern, so that's a little disappointing. I've tried to do a little bit more with her than I normally do (in the mornings). Hopefully that works, but it's a little concerning."
Tracy Farmer's homebred daughter of Street Sense was back on the work tab July 25 with a bullet five furlongs in :59.76. A week later on Aug. 1, she fired another bullet at the distance in 1:00.60.
Heading out for her final major Alabama preparation Aug. 8, she put in an easy half-mile in :49.77 with regular rider Mary Rose Hitt aboard.
"I thought it was perfect," Casse said. "She'll do whatever you want. If you want her to go in :46, she will. But we're (eight) days out. We wanted something nice and easy."
The 1 1/4-mile distance of the Alabama will be a new challenge for La Cara, but she has proven to be at the top of her game throughout the season. Holding a record of 3-1-0 from five starts this season, the bay filly has earned two grade 1 victories in her last three starts, including the April 7 Ashland Stakes.
"My feeling, most of the time, is if they can go a mile-and-an-eighth, they can go a mile-and-a-quarter," Casse said. "You never know until you try, but I don't see that being an issue."
Video
