Kentucky owner/breeder Tracy Farmer's decision eight years ago to consolidate his racing operation with Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse has paid dividends far beyond the expectations of both men.
Farmer has campaigned 22 black-type stakes winners alone and in partnerships since 1997 and of these, 12 have been photographed in a winner's circle alongside Casse since 2019. These stakes winners include seven grade 1 winners of which four have been trained by Casse, including 2019 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Sir Winston and most recently La Cara, who won the April 7 Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.
Homebred La Cara is now a leading challenger for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) as the second-ranked contender by points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard and a multiple graded stakes winner with four wins and two seconds out of nine career starts.
"It is a dream, and to be the breeder, too, is really something else," Farmer said. "La Cara is on the top of her game, but I look at all the horses in the Oaks and all of them are just great horses. It will be whoever gets the best trip and has the best luck that day. It has happened to me, but it is not as simple as most people think it is."
Casse made winning the Ashland appear as easy as adding it to Farmer and his wife Carol's wish list for this year.
"In January, I asked the Farmers what they wanted to do," Casse said after the Ashland. "They said, 'We really want to win the Ashland.' So we came up with a plan to win the Ashland."
Casse paused and laughed, "My job is done."
"I've been going to the Ashland for 40 years, and I've been the guest of everybody," Farmer said about Keeneland's premier race for 3-year-old fillies. "I have always wanted to buy one or breed one to run in the Ashland. I've won some great races and one of the highest times was winning the Belmont, but winning the Ashland is another. Now one day I want to win the Blue Grass."
While Farmer and Casse started out with horses bought at auction in 2017, it has been Farmer's homebreds that have been the backbone of the owner and trainer's success together. At the time, Farmer said he had "too many horses with too many trainers." He wanted to consolidate his racing operation with one trainer and followed the advice of good friend and fellow owner/breeder John "Jack" Oxley, who is a longtime client of Casse's.
"I think we were at the Hall of Fame ball, and Tracy said, 'I wouldn't mind having a horse out of the (Fasig-Tipton) October sale, if you see anything let me know,"' Casse recalled. "I called him and told him there were about 10 fillies I liked and that we could go over the pedigrees and figure out which one he wanted to buy. He said, 'Why don't we just buy them all?' I think we bought eight of the 10 and they did all right, but along with that I started to get his homebreds. One of the first ones was Sir Winston and the rest is history."
Farmer has bred 12 black-type stakes winners that include seven graded stakes winners. Casse is the trainer of four of those stakes winners: grade 1 winners Sir Winston and La Cara and stakes winners Alydiva and Fly So Pretty.
"I think Mark is a thoughtful trainer, and he is very good at placing horses in stakes," said Lincoln Collins, an adviser to Farmer. "He has won several grade 1s with different horses with different styles and different types. It has been a very productive relationship, and we're extremely excited about La Cara."
Casse also trained La Cara's dam, Cara Caterina, who did not show her best at the races.
"She couldn't outrun you or I, she was slow," Casse said. "But she has just an exceptional pedigree, as a full sister to To Honor and Serve and Angela Renee."
To Honor and Serve and Angela Renee are both grade 1 winners by Bernardini out of the Deputy Minister stakes winner Pilfer. To Honor and Serve won the 2011 Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) and 2012 Woodward Stakes (G1), while Angela Renee won the 2014 Chandelier Stakes (G1) and was second in the 2015 Ashland Stakes.
"Sid Fernando does my matings, and he was hung up on Street Sense going to Cara Caterina," Farmer said. "We have a full brother to La Cara going to Casse this fall, and the mare was bred back to Street Sense. So, we're committed."
Street Sense , a 21-year-old son of Street Cry, was the first horse to capture both the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and the Kentucky Derby (G1). The champion 2-year-old colt of 2006 would go on to run second in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and win the Travers Stakes (G1). As a sire at Darley Stallions, Street Sense has been represented by 102 black-type stakes winners, including 43 graded/group winners and five champions.
The cross of Street Sense with Bernardini daughters has produced 14% stakes winners from starters led by grade 1 winners Maxfield and Speaker's Corner and grade 3 winners Shared Sense and Comparative.
Farmer, who owns Shadowlawn Farm near Midway, Ky., said he loves the challenge of breeding and the excitement of racing more than he did when he won his first race at River Downs (now Belterra Park) with trainer Rusty Arnold in 1985.
"We live on the farm and the first thing I see every morning is horses," Farmer said. "I love racing and enjoy it. I have no memory of not doing it, or trying to do it, or wanting to do it. It is a wonderful road, but it is a tough road. It takes a total commitment. It is something you have to believe in."
Casse has that same devotion, which is being rewarded this year with La Cara heading to the Kentucky Oaks and Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Sandman heading to the Kentucky Derby (G1).
"It's a dream come true," he said. "I never take anything for granted. I just love it. And Tracy is just wonderful to work with. He doesn't get too excited, he doesn't get down. He is even keel. He is just a great guy."
