Justin Casse

Justin Casse at Fasig Tipton Sales Co.^[1]

Justin Casse (born February 16, 1980) is an American-born Thoroughbred bloodstock agent based in Ocala, Florida.^[2][3] As a bloodstock agent, Casse advises Thoroughbred owners on the purchasing of racehorses, both privately and via auction, and keeps track of the current status of markets for horses around the world, including the valuation of breeding stock, weanlings, yearlings, and stallion breeding rights. A bloodstock agent also needs to have a solid understanding of the practical aspects of training, racing and breeding, basic husbandry and veterinarian issues.^[4]

Early life and education

Casse is the son of Norman Casse, co-founder of the Ocala Breeders Sales and breeder of 1980 Melbourne Cup winner Beldale Ball,^[5] and former horse racing television commentator Linda Casse. He is also the youngest brother of horse trainer Mark Casse.^[2][3] Casse graduated from Florida State University in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in International Affairs.^[3]

Career

Casse's first job post-college was as working as a groom and assistant trainer for his brother, Mark. He followed that up with a stint at consignment agency Paramount Sales in Lexington, Kentucky.^[3]

Casse started Casse Sales LLC, a sales consignment agency, at the age of 24, and gradually built the business to include clients such as Eugene Melnyk, John C. Oxley, Zayat Stables, Coolmore Stud, Kinsman Farm, Gary Barber, Earle I. Mack, Stonerside Stable, and Vincent Viola.^[6] The first 2-year-old he ever sold, a Rahy filly for George Steinbrenner's Kinsman Farm, brought $500,000.^[2] Jim Rome's two-time Breeders' Cup winner Mizdirection was also sold via Casse Sales LLC in 2010 and later achieved $2.7 million at Fasig-Tipton's November 2013 sale.^[7][8]

Casse is active as an buyer's agent, pinhooker and consignor. In October 2016, Dancing Rags, sold by Casse on behalf of Kinsman Stud, won the Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland. Gary Barber’s Keep Quiet, bought by Casse for €37,000 ($45,455) at the 2014 Arqana December sale in France, won the Dixiana Bourbon Stakes. He purchased a part interest in Haveyougoneaway on behalf of Barber and the mare later won the Ballerina Stakes.^[9] Barber's 2013 purchase Jack Milton, won the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes.^[10] Negligee, consigned by Casse, also won the Alcibiades Stakes in 2009.^[11] She later went on to sell for $625,000 as a broodmare prospect at the 2011 Keeneland January sale.^[12] Lear's Princess, co-pinhooked by Casse with his father, won the Gazelle Stakes at Belmont Park. In November 2013, Casse purchased a weanling son of Zensational for Ahmed Zayat, the owner of American Pharoah, for $130,000. Zayat named the colt Justin Squared, in honor of both Casse and Justin Zayat. Justin Squared won the Chick Lang Stakes on the Preakness Stakes undercard.^[13] As a pinhooker, Casse sold the mare Gamay Noir in November 2015 for $1.1 million in foal to Tapit after being purchased for $375,000 nine months earlier.^[14] He also purchased a daughter of More Than Ready in September 2016 for $390,000, who achieved $1 million as a two year old in training seven months later.^[15]

In January 2017, Casse visited Gold Coast, Australia to attend the Magic Millions yearling sale and purchased approximately $1.1million Australian dollars in yearlings with Gai Waterhouse.^[16] Ten days later at Cape Town he purchased the highest-priced yearling filly in the sale, sired by Frankel (horse), for 4 million South African rand.^[17] The filly was also Frankel's 3rd highest priced filly in the Southern Hemisphere to date. In February 2017, Casse was brought to Sydney, Australia by Inglis Sales company, founded by William Inglis (auctioneer), to advise investors and help Inglis develop their two year old in training sales.^[16] After a second place finish in the 2017 Preakness Stakes, it was announced that Coolmore Stud had purchased the stallion breeding rights to Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and Eclipse Award for Outstanding 2-Year-Old Male Horse winner Classic Empire (horse) in a deal brokered by Justin Casse.^[18]

References