Ward Works Ascot-Bound Squad at Keeneland

Looking to build on his 12 victories at Royal Ascot, trainer Wesley Ward sent out several horses with intended engagements at the prestigious meeting–all campaigned by Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Stables–for Friday morning breezes over the Keeneland turf course.

Making his first appearance on the grass was American Rascal (Curlin), the first foal out of multiple Royal Ascot winner and Cartier Award-winning 2-year-old filly of 2016 Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy), who was accorded 'TDN Rising Star' status for his towering 10 1/4-length victory in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden over the Keeneland main track Apr. 20. Ward pronounced himself pleased with the half-mile move from American Rascal (:50 flat), whose workmate Fandom (GB) (Showcasing) went the same distance in :49 3/5. The latter won his maiden on his Apr. 27 bow by 6 3/4 lengths.

 

 

“Julio [Garcia] was on him,” Ward said about American Rascal. “I wanted him to work nice and relaxed. Today was an ultra-impressive workout. To look at this horse, he's all speed. He looks like a running back: muscles on muscles, very compact. Just excited to see the next couple of works here. As long as all goes well, we're heading to the [June 22 G2] Norfolk [S.] and we're really excited about it.”

Fandom's Royal Ascot target has yet to be determined.

'TDN Rising Stars' Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}) and Love Reigns (Ire) (U S Navy Flag), each exiting Keeneland stakes victories and each set to make a second Royal Ascot appearance, breezed four furlongs in company in :50.40. Twilight Gleaming, second in the 2021 G2 Queen Mary S., won the Giant's Causeway S. in April and runs in the June 20 G1 King's Stand S., while Love Reigns was a solid fourth in last year's Queen Mary. This year's FanDuel Limestone S. winner is possible for the age-restricted G1 Commonwealth Cup June 23.

“Those were two nice works as well,” Ward said. “Julio [on Twilight Gleaming] broke off quite a bit behind Love Reigns and made up the ground down the lane, just comfortably. They finished together at the wire.”

 

 

Ward is also likely to be represented by Three Chimneys Farm's Bundchen (Gun Runner), who missed by a nose on Keeneland unveiling Apr. 28 and who worked in the company of the GI Jaipur S.-bound Arrest Me Red (Pioneerof the Nile). Candymaker (Twirling Candy), a debut winner sprinting on turf at Horseshoe Indianapolis May 22, rounds out the Ward team.

 

 

Turf works at Keeneland are scheduled for the next two Fridays. Ward said his Royal Ascot squad would depart Indianapolis June 14 on a direct flight to London Stansted Airport. They will spend several days at nearby Chelmsford Racecourse before moving to Ascot.

Ward said Irad Ortiz, Jr. and Joel Rosario will have Royal Ascot mounts on the horses they have been riding.

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Twilight Gleaming Preps For Royal Ascot With Win In Giant’s Causeway S.

A sprint specialist, Twilight Gleaming made her seasonal debut Saturday with a clear win in Keeneland's 5 ½ furlong Giant's Causeway S. The GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint winner from 2021, the Stonestreet-owned 'TDN Rising Star' won two of her four starts last year culminating in a fourth-place effort behind GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Caravel (Mizzen Mast) in the GIII Franklin S. at Keeneland Oct. 16. Not seen since, Twilight Gleaning returned to the races with aplomb Saturday as the 5-2 favorite.

Sitting pretty outside of Miner's Queen (Bernardini), she kept pressure on that pacesetter through an opening half in :44.39. Pushed to the front from the three path around the turn, Twilight Gleaming kicked into gear past the furlong marker and easily overtook the lead, keeping a closing 87-1 shot Querobin Duorada at bay for the win.

Trainer Wesley Ward seemed to indicate a return to Royal Ascot for his winning filly.

“Both fillies (Love Reigns and Twilight Gleaming) certainly look like they would do really, really well in the G1 King's Stand. We'll get home and assess it with the team. To have a stakes record in this race–there's been a lot of great fillies that have run in it– that really says a lot.”

Twilight Gleaming has a placed 3-year-old half-brother, Spartan Arrow (Ire) (Sioux Nation), a 2-year-old half-sister by Phoenix of Spain (Ire), and a yearling Ribchester (Ire) half-brother still to race. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

GIANT'S CAUSEWAY S., $214,650, Keeneland, 4-15, 3yo/up, f/m, 5 1/2fT, 1:01.74, fm.
1–TWILIGHT GLEAMING (IRE), 122, f, 4, National Defense
(GB)–Thames Pageant (GB), by Dansili (GB). (£75,000 Ylg '20
GOFOR). O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Pier House Stud (Ire);
T-Wesley A. Ward; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $113,150. Lifetime Record:
GSW-USA, SW-Fr, GSP-Eng, 10-6-3-0, $906,580.
2–Querobin Dourada, 122, f, 4, Capo Bastone–Gusto Dolce
(Uru), by T. H. Approval. O-Brownwood Farm, LLC; B-Haras
Phillipson Inc. (KY); T-Paulo H. Lobo. $45,625.
3–Star Devine (Ire), 122, m, 5, Fastnet Rock (Aus)–Stars At
Night (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (200,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT).
O-Lawrence Goichman; B-Rockhart Trading Ltd. (Ire); T-Jorge
Abreu. $18,250.
Margins: 1HF, HD, NK. Odds: 2.77, 87.18, 5.34.
Also Ran: Happy Soul, Little Jewel, Mamba Wamba (Ire), Minaun (Ire)-(DH), Miner's Queen-(DH), Oeuvre, Opening Buzz, Train to Artemus, Creative Credit. Scratched: Amy C (GB), Fast Giselle, Sarah Harper.

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Ward Workers Highlight Keeneland Tab

By all accounts, trainer Wesley Ward is planning on coming out full force when Keeneland opens the doors on its spring meeting Friday, Apr. 8. To that end, four of the stable's stars tuned up for opening weekend stakes engagements Saturday morning in Lexington.

Happy Soul (Runhappy) is set to represent Ward in the GI Central Bank Ashland S., her first try around two turns, and the Gayla Rankin-owned filly blitzed six furlongs in a race-like 1:11.20 Saturday morning. Since dropping her career debut at Keeneland last April, Happy Soul has won three straight including the Feb. 19 Dixie Belle S. at Oaklawn Park. John Velazquez has the call in the Ashland.

Working on a Keeneland turf course with a bit of give in it were Ward's two 2021 Breeders' Cup winners, Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) and 'TDN Rising Star' Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}). Winner of last year's GI Turf Sprint to go along with his victory in the 2020 GII Juvenile Turf Sprint, Golden Pal makes his 4-year-old debut in the GII Shakertown S. Apr. 9 and covered the distance in 1:01.20. Twilight Gleaming, who took out last year's Juvenile Turf Sprint, was timed in 1:01.40 and goes in the Listed Palisades S. Apr. 10.

Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), whose two wins at Royal Ascot include the 2021 G1 Commonwealth Cup, galloped five furlongs on turf in 1:02.40.

“I'm feeling great,” said Ward, in search of a fourth consecutive spring title at Keeneland. “We've got a lot of horses in various different categories–a lot of nice stakes horses. The 2-year-olds are always fun to see which ones blossom. This is the highlight of opening up my year to see how we're going to progress. We're really looking forward to it–as is everyone who comes to Keeneland in the spring. It's a great place to be–the only place to be.”

Ward is also set to saddle defending champ and 'Rising Star' Kimari (Munnings) in Saturday's GI Madison S. and one of her chief adversaries, Bell's the One (Majesticperfection), got her final tune up Saturday in Lexington. A dead-heat second last year, the 6-year-old went an easy half-mile in :49.60.

“I didn't want anything real fast,” trainer Neil Pessin said. “All of her major work was done at Fair Grounds [where she had eight works following a 2 1/2-month break].”

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National Defense To Miss Breeding Season

National Defense (GB), who sired a first-crop Breeders' Cup winner when Twilight Gleaming (Ire) won the GII Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 5, will miss the 2022 Northern Hemisphere breeding season after suffering an injury while on covering duty at Widden Stud's Victorian satellite in Australia. The 2016 G1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere winner will remain at Widden rather than traveling back to the Irish National Stud, where he was due to stand for €8,000.

“Unfortunately National Defense sustained an injury while on covering duties in Australia,” said Irish National Stud Chief Executive Officer Cathal Beale. “He is recuperating well but on veterinary advice and in the interest of the welfare of the horse we have decided it would be prudent not to travel him at this moment in time. It is an unfortunate setback with his first crop having performed with such distinction but we look forward to welcoming him to the Irish National Stud to resume Northern Hemisphere duties in 2023.”

National Defense has sired five winners from a crop of 21 this year.

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