Casa Creed triumphs in the $175,000 Kelso S. (G3) at Saratoga
July 16, 2023
Casa Creed winning the 2023 Kelso S. (G3) at Saratoga – Janet Garaguso/NYRA
Jimmy Creed’s top-class turf specialist Casa Creed earned fifth lifetime graded stakes win in Saturday’s Kelso S. (G3), also the 7-year-old’s third graded win at the historic oval.
Trained by Bill Mott, Casa Creed was making his third start of the year after finishing third in the June 10 Jaipur S. (G1), a race he won in both 2021 and 2022. He drew the outside post in the field of seven for the Kelso, and was two-wide on the first turn, about a half-dozen lengths off the leader Big Everest (GB).
After a half-mile in :47.07, Casa Creed came three-wide on the final turn and surged to the front turning for home. Favorite Annapolis gave chase but could not catch Casa Creed, who won by a lengths in 1:35.51 on the firm turf.
“It’s very rewarding,” said Mott after the Kelso. “Ordinarily, you don’t get any more than two seasons out of a horse running at the top level. To have a horse that can run at two, three, and maybe four seasons to run at the very highest level is very good. You don’t find those kind.”
Mott added that the Fourstardave S. (G1), which Casa Creed won last year, would be the likely next target.
“He’s special,” said Lee Einsidler of co-owner LRE Racing (along with JEH Racing Stable). “He’s taken us around the world and he’s made a huge difference in our lives, really. When you get into this game, they become part of your family. Life is all about building memories and this is another great one.”
Casa Creed has earned $2,185,308, more than 20 times his auction price of $105,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling sale.
Pedigree notes from the TDN
Three-time GISW Casa Creed is one of five graded winners for Spendthrift Farm’s Jimmy Creed, who also has 21 black-type winners.
Bred in Kentucky by Silver Springs Farm, Casa Creed is out of Achalaya. She has a 2021 colt named Bold Landing (Omaha Beach), who hammered for $775,000 from White Birch Farm at Keeneland September, and a yearling filly by Authentic, who was a $390,000 RNA as a Fasig-Tipton November weanling.