Welcome to 2022 Kentucky Derby Prospect Snapshots, where we’ll take a look each week at a recent winner on the Triple Crown trail, usually from the Road to the Kentucky Derby schedule from which the race horses earn points toward qualifying.
Tag: Racing
Golden Pal Has ‘Really Muscled Out,’ Headed To Royal Ascot For King’s Stand
The morning after Golden Pal's dominating performance to win Keeneland's $350,000 Shakertown (G2) in his 2022 debut, trainer Wesley Ward reported on the status of the 4-year-old son of Uncle Mo:
“Ready to go to England.”
Golden Pal, who resides in a renovated tobacco barn on Ward's farm next to Keeneland, is to make his next start in the June 14 King's Stand (G1) on the first day of the prestigious Royal Ascot meet. He first raced at Royal Ascot two years ago, finishing second by a neck to Shakertown foe The Lir Jet (IRE) in the Norfolk (G2).
“We'll probably give him three weeks of just galloping and jogging and resume his work schedule,” Ward said about Golden Pal's preparations.
The Shakertown marked Golden Pal's first start since November, when he won the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Del Mar for the second Breeders' Cup win of his career. The 3-5 favorite in the race, he and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. rocketed to the lead leaving the starting gate and coasted to a 4¾-length victory.
Ward said he “was ready for that, to be quite honest.”
“In the works I've seen this year with him, he's shown more strength – just like a kid who's going from a college athlete to the pros,” he continued. “He's gotten stronger. He's grown. He's really muscled out. I was expecting a big effort like we saw.”
Owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg, Golden Pal has six wins – all stakes – in nine starts and has earned $1,473,431.
The Keeneland sales graduate, who was bred in Florida by Randall E. Lowe, has three stakes wins here: 2020 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2), 2021 Woodford (G2) Presented by TVG and Shakertown.
The post Golden Pal Has ‘Really Muscled Out,’ Headed To Royal Ascot For King’s Stand appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
2022 Kentucky Oaks Hopeful Snapshots: Nest
Welcome to 2022 Kentucky Oaks Prospect Snapshots, where we’ll take a look at a contender for the May 6 Longines Kentucky Oaks, the female equivalent of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. All the major prep races have been run, and all the serious contenders have been established.
‘A Rider’s Dream’: Royal Ship Returns Stylishly In Sunday’s John Shear Mile
Last year's Grade 2 Californian winner and idle since Aug. 21, Richard Mandella's classy Brazilian-bred gelding Royal Ship returned in style Sunday at Santa Anita, as he sat second to the far turn and took command while well within himself a quarter mile out en route to a dynamite five-length victory in the $75,000 John Shear Mile.
Ridden by the only jockey he's known in North America, Mike Smith, Royal Ship got the distance in 1:36.07.
Recently retired and a beloved figure at The Great Race Place for part of eight decades, John Shear retired as Santa Anita's longtime Paddock Captain this past summer and he turned 101 on Jan. 17.
“He's always been a good horse, he just kinda got a little bit stiff and sore, so we gave him a break and he's paid us back,” said Mandella. “I'd say the Californian (for older horses at 1 1/8 miles April 30) would come up a little too quick for him. The Hollywood Gold Cup (Grade 1 at 1 ¼ miles on May 30) is a possibility. We'll just have to see how things go.”
Things went just fine, thank you in today's Shear Mile, as Royal Ship broke sharply and sat a close second inside of pacesetter Affable. Even-up at the three-furlong pole, Royal Ship proved much too much when the real running started and powered home under a hand-ride from Smith.
Second, beaten a head by eventual $12 million Dubai World Cup winner Country Grammer three starts back in last year's Hollywood Gold Cup on May 31, Royal Ship had been idle since well beaten at 5-2 in the G1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar.
The class of the field, he was off as the 7-5 favorite in a field of seven and paid $4.80, $3.20 and $2.60.
“He's a dream,” said Smith, who's ridden Royal Ship in all nine of his stateside starts dating back to his U.S. debut on Aug. 23, 2020. “He's a rider's dream. When he's happy and healthy like he is now, he's a really good horse…I know Mr. Porter (late owner, Rick) is looking down on us from heaven right now and he's a pretty happy guy.”
Attentive to the pace while third most of the trip, Triple Tap checked in second by 2 ¾ lengths over Affable. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Triple Tap was off at 7-2 and paid $4.00 and $3.80.
Affable, with apprentice Diego Herrera up, was off at 8-1 and paid $4.00 to show.
Fractions on the race were 23.10, 46.95, 1:10.58 and 1:23.19.
Live racing resumes at Santa Anita on Friday, with first post time for an eight-race card at 1 p.m.
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