Horse Racing

Untitled Hopes To Make A Name For Himself In Grade 3 Swale


When Untitled streaked to an 11-length debut victory at Gulfstream Park Dec. 14, the son of Khozan caught the attention of a lot of people, most notably trainer Mark Casse.

Untitled, who was saddled by Ralph Nicks for owners/breeders Brent Fernung and Michael Sebastian, is scheduled to make his second career start in Saturday’s $150,000 Swale (G3) at Gulfstream Park for new connections, including Casse and owner Gary Barber.

The seven-furlong Swale is one of five stakes for 3-year-olds on Saturday’s 12-race card that will be headlined by the $250,000 Holy Bull (G3), a 1 1/16-mile prep on the road to the March 28 Florida Derby (G1)

Following his smashing debut victory, Untitled was sold to Barber (with Sebastian maintaining an interest) and transferred to Casse’s farm in Ocala, where he breezed once before being shipped to Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, for three breezes in preparation for the Swale.

“I watched him when he broke his maiden. He got away just a touch slow. They asked him to go and he shot up there,” Casse said. “I’m not sure of the quality that he beat. I’m sure it was OK. The water gets deeper now.”

Cross Court, the runner-up to Untitled, came back to break his maiden by 3 ½ lengths in his next start.

While preparing for his 3-year-old debut, Untitled has done nothing to give Casse a case of buyer’s remorse.

“I really like him. So far, everything I’ve seen of him I really like,” Casse said. “I like his demeanor. He’s a handsome horse. He’s my kind of horse, which is that he has a little more leg and length than to him than a lot of other horses, which I like. He’s a good mover. He has a great attitude.”

While Untitled will begin his 3-year-old campaign at seven furlongs, Casse expects the Florida-bred colt to stretch out in the very near future.

“That’s one of the reasons we bought him. His pedigree says he could possibly run long. His physique says he can possibly go long,” Casse said. “But guess what? You never know until they run long.”

Jose Ortiz has been named to ride Untitled.

While Untitled is no longer in his barn, Nicks will still be well represented in the Swale field by multiple-stakes winner Shivaree. Nicks is still a fan of Untitled but is not ready to concede the Swale to his former trainee.

“Hopefully, we can beat him with experience,” Nicks said. “He’s a very talented horse. We’re more accomplished with Shivaree at this point, so we’ll see what happens.”

Jacks or Better Farm’s Shivaree will seek his fourth straight victory Saturday. After breaking his maiden in his fifth career start, the homebred son of Awesome of Course won back-to-back stakes. The Florida-bred colt defeated open company in the Buffalo Man Nov. 30 and the Jan. 4 Limehouse, both at six furlongs at Gulfstream.

“The last three races have been good, hopefully he keeps it going,” Nicks said. “The seven furlongs should be better for him.”

Emisael Jaramillo has the return mount.

Stronach Stables’ Green Light Go figures to be an imposing rival in the Swale off his second-place finish in the Oct. 5 Champagne (G1) at Belmont Park behind Tiz the Law, who is expected to be solidly favored in the Holy Bull.

Trained by James Jerkens, Green Light Go set the pace before settling for second money in the mile Champagne.  In his two prior starts, the homebred son of Hard Spun previously broke his maiden at Belmont and captured the Saratoga Special (G2), a 5 ½ and 6 ½ furlongs, respectively.

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano is scheduled to ride Green Light Go for the first time Saturday.

Cash Is King LLC’s Mischevious Alex enters the Swale off a dazzling 9 ½-length victory in the Parx Juvenile at the seven-furlong distance. The John Servis-trained son of Into Mischief‘s only off-the-board finish in five career starts came in his only race on turf.

Irad Ortiz Jr. is scheduled to ride Mischevious Alex for the first time.

Necker Island, owned by Sagamore Farm LLC and trainer Stanley Hough, will make his stakes debut in the Swale after breaking his maiden and winning an optional claiming allowance at Churchill Downs in his second and third starts, respectively.Tyler Gaffalione has the mount.

Frank Occhigrossi’s Flash Pass, Pet Go Racing Stables LLC’s Point Winner and Santa Rosa Racing Stables’ Inter Miami round out the field.





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