Times have changed so that longevity, class, and success are becoming rare qualities in any sport. Especially Thoroughbred racing. So on a day when the New York Racing Association honored the memory of the famed gelding Fourstardave, a multiple graded stakes winner who posted wins in eight straight years at Saratoga Race Course during a 100-race career, it was fitting that for the second year in a row a horse cut in the mold of the stakes' eponym captured the Fourstardave Handicap at the Spa.
No, LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stables' Casa Creed will not match Fourstardave's streak of winning years at the Spa, but his three-quarters of a length victory Saturday for trainer Bill Mott cemented the 7-year-old's reputation as one of the handful of stars who have reached the upper levels of their abilities year in and year out at Saratoga.
"He loves Saratoga and he's a great champion. This horse should be remembered for a long time," said sports talk radio icon Mike Francesa of JEH racing Stable. "He has always been an ultra-consistent performer. He might not be as beloved as Fourstardave and he's always been underrated, but he deserves the acclaim. He is a brilliant performer and a great racehorse."
In running in the Fourstardave for a fourth straight year while chalking up consecutive wins and a second straight free "Win and You're In" spot in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF, Casa Creed was sent off as the 9-5 second choice to runner-up and 6-5 favorite Annapolis in Saturday's mile test on the inner turf course. Considering that Casa Creed beat Annapolis in the July 15 Grade 3 Kelso Stakes at the Spa, all of the attention on Annapolis did not sit well with LRE Racing owner Lee Einsidler.
"I was looking at the Daily Racing Form for today and Casa Creed was not on the cover. Annapolis was," Einsidler said. "So, I took the Daily Racing Form to the barn this morning at 5:30 and I showed it to 'Casa.' I told him 'You're disrespected again.' He looked at me and winked and said, 'Don't worry, boss. We'll get them today."'
The win set-up Casa Creed for a fourth straight appearance at the Breeders' Cup. Mott said he was uncertain of plans for Casa Creed, except that some rest is in order.
"He's a good horse, very special," Mott said about the two-time winner of the Grade 1 Jaipur Stakes and $2.46 million earner. "How can you ask for anything more? He's improved with every year he's raced. He's as good now as he ever was."
