Spring in the Air

Prep Race History

Date	Race	Grade	Distance	Finish	Chart	Replay
Oct 5 2012	Darley Alcibiades Stakes Keeneland	I	1 1/16 M	1	alciabides2012.pdf	REPLAY

Connections

Mark Casse

Trainer

Mark became involved in racing through his father, Norman, a veteran owner, trainer and breeder for over 40 years, and the former chairman of the Ocala Breeders Sales. At age 12 he rode in a horse van with his father to witness Secreatriat capture the 1973 Kentucky Derby and he was hooked from that moment. He took out his trainer's license at age 18 and won his first race in 1979 at Keeneland. Casse has won the Sovereign Award as Canada's top trainer in a record setting three years in a row 2006-2008.

John C. Oxley

Owner

John's winners include Monarchos who was the 2001 Kentucky Derby winner, 1999 Breeders’ Cup Distaff and Eclipse Award winner Beautiful Pleasure, 1995 Kentucky Oaks winner Gal in a Ruckus, and graded stakes winners Sky Mesa, Dancinginherdreams, Northern Passion, Prospective and Dr. Pleasure. His wife Debby is a part of the stable and campaigns horses under her name as well including stakes winner Darling My Darling. In 1962, John founded an oil and gas exploration firm Oxley Petroleum in Tulsa Oklahoma.

Pedigree

The biggest question surrounding Spring in the Air at this point is whether the Spring at Last filly can handle a conventional dirt surface. Her first unplaced effort came on Santa Anita’s dirt in the BC Juvenile Fillies following three runs on synthetic tracks and one turf start.

Spring at Last successfully answered that question himself after competing on Santa Anita’s old synthetic surface in 2007. The 10-year-old would ship to Gulfstream Park to take the Grade 1 Donn Handicap the next year.

Another of Spring at Last’s daughters, fellow Oaks hopeful Seaneen Girl, also triumphed when switching from Woodbine’s Polytrack to Churchill Downs’ conventional dirt in the Grade 2 Golden Rod last November.

Spring in the Air’s dam, the Unbridled mare Unbridled Run, could never find the winner’s circle in seven lifetime starts, but finally found success when foaling Spring in the Air.

Unbridled Run’s half-siblings Tejano Run and More Royal did much better than her while competing. Tejano Run captured a Grade 2 and ran second in the 1995 Kentucky Derby while More Royal won a Grade 2 contest.

Spring in the Air’s female family includes a slew of Grade 1 caliber winners and runners.