World Approval Adds To Family Success With Breeders' Cup Mile Win
World Approval ( Northern Afleet) wins the Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar on 11.4.2017. John Velazquez up, Mark Casse trainer, Live Oak Plantation owner.
Favored World Approval finished ahead of a wall of horses in a competitive field to win the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile under John Velazquez on Saturday. Velazquez tucked the gelding in behind early leaders and saved ground along the rail, sneaking up behind Midnight Storm and Heart to Heart on the turn. After going three wide at the top of the stretch, the pair were able to find running room and draw away from a crush of ten horses clumping together for the wire. The final margin was 1 1/4 lengths, with Lancaster Bomber and Blackjackcat behind in second and third.
The win is the fourth Breeders' Cup victory for trainer Mark Casse, which most recently conditioned Tepin in the 2015 Mile. Casse trains World Approval for Charlotte Weber's Florida-based Live Oak Plantation.
"We have a long history," said Casse, referring to his longstanding relationship with Weber. "I'm an Ocala boy for 51 years and I think Live Oak has been there 50 of those years. Her father and my father and her were very good friends. he was always wanting us to be together. I'm sure he's watching."
World Approval started the 5-2 favorite after winning the G1 Woodbine Mile by 2 1/2 lengths, and the G1 Fourstardave at Saratoga by daylight before that. The win is the fourth graded stakes race for the son of Northern Afleet.
The Mile is the 15th career Breeders' Cup win for Velazquez, who also won the Distaff on Friday aboard Forever Unbridled.
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World Approval is a homebred for Live Oak and is out of With Approval mare Win Approval. Win Approval has now produced four millionaires, including Za Approval, Miesque's Approval, and Revved Up.
"I'm so excited i can't even begin to tell you how excited I am. To have a foundation mare is a privilege. I feel privileged to be with the Casse team," said Weber. "For the whole farm, and the people and hard work that goes into this business, it's refreshing and rewarding to win."
Weber and Casse suggested World Approval could return for another season, but they will have to discuss his plans before confirming. First, Weber's trainees with Casse will return to Live Oak for a rest.
"Everything we do, starting tomorrow morning, will be pointing for the next Breeders' Cup," said Casse. "We're always looking forward. We'd talked about it and said, 'I don't think he can beat the best horses in the world going 1 1/2 miles [in the Turf], but he might be able to beat them going a mile.' Everything we did was to get him ready for this, starting last year."
The final time for the mile on firm turf was 1:34.55. See the full chart here.
