The morning air at the Casse Training Center was punctuated by the rhythmic thundering of hooves as Sandman, the high-profile son of Tapit, marked a significant step in his return to competitive form. Clocking a half-mile in 50.2 seconds on Tuesday, the Grade 1 winner led a distinguished group of nine graded-stakes victors appearing on work tabs across the United States. This flurry of activity comes at a critical juncture in the racing calendar, as trainers prepare their elite stock for the prestigious late-summer meets at Saratoga and Del Mar, while others eye the lucrative fall championships.
Sandman’s breeze, the second fastest of four at the distance on the private Casse grounds, represents more than just a routine exercise. For trainer Mark Casse and the ownership group consisting of D.J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, and CJ Stables, the work is a signal of intent. After a grueling early 2025 campaign that saw the colt compete at the highest levels of the American classic circuit, Sandman was given a strategic reprieve following a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Razorback Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park on February 28. His return to the work tab on July 4, followed by this Tuesday’s effort, suggests a horse being meticulously prepared for a second-half resurgence.
The Resurgence of a Classic Contender
To understand the significance of Sandman’s current trajectory, one must look back at the highs and lows of his three-year-old season. In March 2025, Sandman established himself as a leader of his generation with a commanding victory in the Arkansas Derby (G1). That performance propelled him into the Triple Crown spotlight, where he faced the best of his peers. While a seventh-place finish in the Kentucky Derby was a setback, he redeemed his reputation with a gritty third-place showing in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico.
With a career record of 14 starts, three wins, one second, and three thirds, and earnings surpassing $1.54 million, Sandman carries the expectations associated with his $1.2 million yearling price tag and his elite pedigree. As a son of the legendary sire Tapit, Sandman possesses the stamina and class typically associated with horses that peak in their four and five-year-old seasons. The decision by Mark Casse to provide a four-month break following the Razorback suggests a focus on longevity, allowing the colt to physically and mentally recover from the rigors of the Triple Crown trail.
The Tuesday breeze of 50.2 seconds follows a similar four-furlong move ten days prior. This measured approach in the "Casse system" often precedes a steady ramp-up in intensity as the horse nears a racing return. While no specific target has been announced, the timing of his return to training aligns with major stakes opportunities in late August and September.
High-Velocity Moves at Keeneland
While Sandman was the headline act in Florida, the work tab at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky, was equally vibrant. Leading the charge was Englishman, a son of Maxfield who recently cemented his status as a top-tier sprinter-miler. Trained by Cherie DeVaux, Englishman covered four furlongs in a sharp 47.4 seconds. This move was the fourth fastest of 72 recorded at the distance on Tuesday morning, signaling that the colt has exited his recent victory in the Woody Stephens (G1) in peak condition.
Englishman’s victory in the Woody Stephens on June 6 at Saratoga was a career-defining moment, as he navigated seven furlongs on the main track to secure his first Grade 1 title. His Tuesday work was his second since that win, following a similar move nine days ago. DeVaux, who has rapidly ascended the trainer rankings, appears to be keeping the colt on a tight schedule, likely eyeing a return to Saratoga for the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial or a similar high-value sprint engagement.
Joining Englishman at Keeneland was Bracket Buster, a Grade 3 winner of the 2025 Oklahoma Derby. Trained by Vicki Oliver, the son of Vekoma blazed through four furlongs in 47.2 seconds, the second-fastest time of the morning. Bracket Buster has not been seen in competitive action since October 2025, when he finished fourth in the Fayette Stakes (G3). His recent string of fast works suggests that the layoff has served him well and that he is nearing a return to the entry box.
Rounding out the Keeneland contingent was Taking Candy, another trainee from the DeVaux barn. The 2025 Fair Grounds (G3) winner worked a half-mile in 48.8 seconds. Coming off a second-place finish in the River City (G3) at Churchill Downs in November, Taking Candy is another veteran campaigner looking to make a splash in the turf divisions this summer.
Saratoga’s Turf and Distance Specialists
In Upstate New York, the training staff at Saratoga witnessed several notable moves from horses specialized in turf and marathon distances. Trainer Miguel Clement had a busy morning, overseeing works for three of his graded stakes winners: Bellezza, Tawny Port, and Senbei.
Bellezza, a daughter of Siyouni and winner of the 2025 Flower Bowl (G2), worked five furlongs in 1:03.1. This was the second fastest of three works at the distance, a solid maintenance move following her third-place finish in the Robert G. Dick Memorial (G3) at Delaware Park on June 13. As a Grade 2 winner over the Saratoga turf, Bellezza is a horse to watch as the prestigious Saratoga meet progresses, with several Grade 1 and Grade 2 turf marathons for fillies and mares on the horizon.
Clement also sent out Tawny Port, the winner of the 2026 Belmont Gold Cup (G2). The son of Pioneerof the Nile covered five furlongs in 1:03.5. Although it was the slowest of three works at the distance, the move must be viewed through the lens of Tawny Port’s specialty: extreme distance. Having won the two-mile Belmont Gold Cup on June 4, Tawny Port is a stamina-based runner who does not require blazing speed in his morning preparations to be effective on race day.
The third of the Clement trio, Senbei, worked three furlongs in 38.8 seconds at Belmont Park. The 2024 Belmont Turf Sprint (G3) winner is working his way back from a seventh-place finish in the New York Turf Sprint Championship last October. His short, sharp breeze is characteristic of a sprinter being kept on his toes during a training lull.
Regional Reports: Ellis Park and Saratoga Main
The activity extended to Ellis Park in Kentucky, where Medoro, a Grade 3 winner of the Providencia Stakes, worked four furlongs in 49.0 seconds for trainer Peter Eurton. Medoro was last seen finishing fifth in the Mint Julep (G3) at Churchill Downs on May 30. Her sixth-fastest time out of 22 at the distance indicates she remains a consistent worker as she looks to rebound in the Midwest turf circuit.
Back at Saratoga, Bill Mott—a Hall of Fame conditioner known for his patient approach—sent out Spiced Up for a four-furlong move in 49.0 seconds. Spiced Up, the winner of the 2025 Mahony Stakes (G3), recently finished second in a competitive allowance race on June 5. Mott’s decision to keep the Quality Road colt at Saratoga suggests he is being pointed toward one of the many turf sprint stakes offered during the Spa’s summer session.
Strategic Implications and Training Philosophy
The appearance of nine graded stakes winners on a single Tuesday work tab underscores the depth of the current American racing talent pool. For trainers like Mark Casse and Cherie DeVaux, these works are the final data points needed to decide between several high-level racing options.
In the case of Sandman, the analysis of his 50.2-second work must account for the Casse Training Center’s surface, which is designed to be safe and consistent rather than lightning-fast. A "second fastest" ranking indicates that Sandman is doing his work effortlessly, a key indicator for a horse coming off a long layoff. The goal for a Grade 1 winner of his stature is rarely to "win" the morning work, but rather to build the cardiovascular foundation necessary to compete over 1 1/8 or 1 1/4 miles in the autumn.
Conversely, the fast times recorded at Keeneland by Englishman and Bracket Buster reflect a track surface that was playing quick on Tuesday. For a sprinter like Englishman, maintaining that "easy speed" is vital. Trainer Cherie DeVaux’s ability to keep her horses performing at a high level across different categories—from the sprinting Englishman to the turf-route specialist Taking Candy—highlights her versatility as a conditioner.
Looking Ahead: The Stakes Schedule
As these nine athletes progress in their training, the racing world looks toward the upcoming stakes schedule. The return of a horse like Sandman adds intrigue to the handicap division, which is currently seeking a definitive leader. If he can recapture the form that saw him dominate the Arkansas Derby, he could become a major player in races like the Jockey Club Gold Cup or even a late-season tilt at the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
For the turf specialists like Bellezza and Tawny Port, the Saratoga meet offers a plethora of opportunities to add to their resumes. The Belmont Gold Cup win by Tawny Port has already established him as the premier marathoner in the Eastern United States, and his continued presence on the work tab suggests he will be a formidable force in any long-distance event he enters.
The collective activity of this group of graded winners serves as a reminder of the relentless nature of Thoroughbred racing. While the Triple Crown captures the public’s imagination in the spring, the summer months are where champions are refined and the groundwork for championship honors is laid. With Sandman leading the way, the road to the fall championships is officially open.
