BREEDERS’ CUP MILE

(GRADE 1)

“YOU can’t train greatness. You can just kind of make sure you don’t get in their way.”

Mark Casse has learned a lot about greatness in the past few seasons, campaigning Royal Ascot winner Tepin and a burgeoning barn of stakes performers. Put World Approval in that category.

Little got in World Approval’s way in 2017. He won his fifth stakes race of the year in his sixth start of the year, surging to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Ridden by John Velazquez, the son of Northern Afleet won his third consecutive Grade 1 stakes since shortening to a mile this year.

World Approval offered a buoy in the storm of longshots. Sent off favorite in the 14-horse field, the five-year-old American-bred drew off to win by one and a quarter lengths over Lancaster Bomber and Blackjackcat.

For Casse, winning a race almost derailed World Approval’s career. Last year, the gray gelding stretched his speed to 1 3/8-miles, winning the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth Park. Casse stretched him out to one and a half miles twice and then regrouped at the end of 2016.

“The United Nations kind of messed me up last year with him winning, going a mile and 3/8ths. I had in my head that he wanted to run a little farther than what he actually does,” Casse said.

“I said, ‘I don’t think he can beat the best horses in the world going a mile and a half, but he might be able to beat them going a mile.’ So everything we did was to get him ready for this, starting last year.”

World Approval won a minor races at nine furlongs at Tampa Bay Downs, took the Grade 2 Dixie in May, stretched (and faded) in the Grade 1 Manhattan going 10 furlongs and has been unbeaten in three starts going a mile.

Casse won’t change anything - ever again - for World Approval. “It’s funny, because everything we do, starting tomorrow morning, will be pointing for the next Breeders’ Cup,” Casse said.