Catch a Glimpse Stays Perfect on Turf, Wins G3 Edgewood

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Friday, May 6, 2016) – Gary Barber, Michael James Ambler and Windways Farm’s Catch a Glimpse ran her perfect record on grass to six with a half-length victory over Auntie Joy in the 31st running of the $150,000 Edgewood Presented by Forcht Bank (GIII) for 3-year-old fillies.

Trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Florent Geroux, Catch a Glimpse covered the mile and a sixteenth on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:42.92. It was the first Edgewood victory for Casse and Geroux and the fourth winner of the day for Geroux.

Born to Be Winner led the field of 12 through fractions of :23.34 and :47.59 with Catch a Glimpse in closest pursuit. On the far turn, Catch a Glimpse surged past the leader, opened a daylight advantage at the head of the stretch and never was threatened the rest of the way.

The victory was worth $86,490 to Catch a Glimpse and increased her earnings to $929,052 with a record of 7-6-0-0. It was the fifth graded stakes victory for the Kentucky-bred daughter of City Zip out of the Irish River (FR) mare Halo River.

Geroux has been aboard for all of the graded stakes victories with the biggest coming in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GI) at Keeneland.

Catch a Glimpse returned $5, $3.80 and $2.80. Auntie Joy, ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., returned $19.60 and $9.20 with Harmonize finishing a half-length back in third under Junior Alvarado and paying $4.40 to show.

Jeremy’s Legacy (IRE) finished another head back in fourth and was followed in order by Ava’s Kitten, Nodiac (IRE), Enjoy Yourself (GB), Adore, Believe in Bertie, Born to Be Winner, Heavenly View and Outsider Art.

EDGEWOOD QUOTES

Florent Geroux (rider of Catch a Glimpse, winner) – “This is a very special, special filly. People were doubtful of her coming into this race because she didn’t win her last one very impressively. But, I was always confident in her. She always puts me in a great spot and that’s the key to winning races.”

Mark Casse (trainer of Catch a Glimpse, winner) – “It’s been a long week. We tried to school her Tuesday and in the first attempt we couldn’t get her over here. Second attempt, we got her over. She’s been a challenge but I think that’s one of the things that make her so great. I’ve been fortunate enough to train a couple of really good fillies that were ornery, but today she was very good. Florent (Geroux) said that she was a different horse from when she was at Keeneland. She’s funny because she makes the lead and then pulls herself up. When she does that she pulls herself from her right lead to her left lead and pulls herself up, but when you watch her gallop out they don’t go by her. We just have to try to get her to do that.”

Q: Would you send her to Royal Ascot with Tepin?

“No. This was the biggest challenge. She’s got to go somewhere quiet. Obviously the big goal would be the ($1,000,000) Belmont Oaks (GI on July 9), it’s a mile and a quarter. I’m sure all the experts will say she can’t go that far, and they may be right, but they also may be wrong, so we’ll give it a try I think she’ll go as long as she has someone to go with her.”

Brian Hernandez Jr. (rider of Auntie Joy, runner-up) – “My horse ran really big. We thought she had a big chance today. Last time, we were compromised because of the far outside post but today we drew great and had a great trip. The only regret was going around the far turn, I got shuffled around a bit and she when she saw clear sailing, she ran really hard at the winner.”

Junior Alvarado (rider of Harmonize, third-place finisher) – “She came away from there just a little slow, then she stumbled and it took her five or six strides to get going. Then we were behind horses and I had to wait. I tried to save ground as best as I could and she came running. But it was too much at the beginning. It’s a shame. I think she’s just as good as any of those fillies.”

Churchill Downs