Casse, 55, said the milestone win by Reimburse at Gulfstream Park has snuck up on him.

"I only became aware three days ago that we were that close. I didn't realize that,” he said.

“It's hard to believe. Time flies. It makes me realise how old I'm getting and all the places and things I've done.

"The second thousand came a lot faster than the first.

“We've been very fortunate, we have some wonderful owners that have given us great horses to train and race.

“With that, I've been able to go and get a bigger and stronger team. I'm always trying to be bigger and better, looking for opportunities, and so far it's working."

A multiple Sovereign Award winner, Indiana-born Casse currently prepares Eclipse Award-winning champion turf female Tepin and Canadian Horse of the Year Catch A Glimpse.

Both are undefeated this season after giving Casse his first Breeders' Cup victories last year in the Breeders' Cup Mile and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Tepin is set to race at Royal Ascot next month in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes.

Before that trip Casse and his son and assistant Norm will ship a large contingent to Pimlico in Maryland for the Preakness Stakes meeting on May 20 and 21.

The team will be led by Fellowship, who was transferred to Casse after a third in the G1 Florida Derby.

He will run in the Preakness on May 21 off a fourth in the G3 Pat Day Mile on May 7 while G1 winner Noble Bird will target the G3 Pimlico Special on May 20.

Team Casse also plans to run G2-placed Theogony, stakes winner R Girls A Charmer and maiden winner Sky My Sky in stakes races at Pimlico.