Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos Mensa won his debut by three lengths. He could make his next start at Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Two-year-olds will ultimately be the main focus at Gulfstream Park as the spring and summer meets progress, and if Friday’s first baby race of the season is any indication, it should be a good year for locally based juveniles.
With jockey Patrick Husbands in town for the occasion, Mensa, a son of Complexity, sprinted right to the front and was in control throughout, drawing away to a convincing three-length victory over Unchained Elaine with the 3-5 Delightful Flame finishing a well-beaten sixth following a poor start.
Mensa was timed for the 4 1/2 furlongs in 51.86 seconds and paid $10 to win in the seven-horse field. Mark Casse trains the promising youngster, a $135,000 yearling purchase at the October 2023 OBS sale, for D. J. Stable LLC.
“We have an extremely good bunch of young horses this year,” Casse said. “You just saw the first. I do like getting them started down there. It’s a great place for young horses. Like with this colt, we do a lot of work with them on the farm, then ship them to Palm Meadows. We sent him down just two weeks ago.
“Normally I don’t really focus on winning the first time, but he is just so talented. If all goes well, I’ll probably run him back at Churchill Downs on Derby week.
Casse also said he’s high on Complexity as a juvenile sire.
“We have only two of them at the moment, but I’ve been telling people all along they might want to breed to him,” Casse added.
Casse said aside from the 10 to 15 2-year-olds he currently has stabled at Palm Meadows, he’s also got others in New York, Kentucky, and at Woodbine prepping for their debuts.
“Getting 2-year-old races to go this time of year can be a problem, but if they are going, we will find them,” said Casse.
