Wesley Ward | Horse Racing Free Tips

Nakatomi Wins Bowman Mill On Keeneland’s Closing Day

Marc Detampel, Qatar Racing and Bottle Rocket Stable's Nakatomi and jockey Tyler Gaffalione stormed down the center of the main track to win the $150,000 Bowman Mill Stakes at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

Trained by Wesley Ward, he covered 6 furlongs in 1:10.33.

Nakatomi was relegated to fifth in the early stages of the Bowman Mill while Chattalot and Hope in Him battled on the early lead through an opening quarter-mile fraction of :21.92. Around the far turn, Hope in Him began to fade while Freelancer and My Prankster moved in tandem in their attempt to catch Chattalot on the lead.

Meanwhile, Nakatomi began his charge around horses at the top of the lane, following a half-mile time of :45.29. Nakatomi surged past My Prankster inside the final eighth-mile for a three-quarter-length win.

Nakatomi paid $6.20, $3.20, and $2.40. My Prankster, the slight post-time favorite with John Velazquez in the saddle, paid $3.40 and $2.60. Chattalot, with Brian Hernandez Jr. in the irons, held third to return $2.60.

Freelancer faded to fourth and was followed by Lucky Shot, Hungry Henry, and Hope in Him.

A Keeneland November Sale graduate, Nakatomi is a 2-year-old gelding by Firing Line out of the Flatter mare Applelicious. His Bowman Mill victory was worth $90,000, which increased his bankroll to $175,400 with a record of 5-2-1-1.

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Flurry Of Breeders’ Cup Potentials Work At Keeneland Saturday

Seven horses with aspirations to compete in the Nov. 5-6 Breeders' Cup World Championships – including four stakes winners during Keeneland's Fall Stars Weekend on the opening weekend of the Fall Meet – worked over a turf course labeled good Saturday morning at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

Peter Brant's Blowout (GB), winner of the Grade 1 First Lady Presented by UK HealthCare and a candidate for the $2 million Grade 1 Maker's Mark Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 6, worked a half-mile on her own in :50.80 for trainer Chad Brown.

Phoenix Thoroughbred III's Tiz the Bomb, winner of the Grade 2 Castle & Key Bourbon and a candidate for the $1 million Grade 1 Juvenile Turf on Nov. 5, worked five furlongs on his own in 1:01.80 for trainer Kenny McPeek.

Also working for McPeek was Arriba Arequipa's Reina de Mollendo (ARG) who covered five furlongs in 1:06.40 on her own in preparation for a possible Filly and Mare Turf start.

Trainer Wesley Ward worked a trio of runners headed by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Westerberg's Golden Pal, winner of the Grade 2 Woodford Presented by TVG.

Winner of last fall's Grade 2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and a candidate for this year's $1 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, Golden Pal drilled five furlongs in 1:00.80 with splits of :24.20, :37.20, :49, and 1:00.80. (Click here for a video of the work.)

Other Ward workers were Hat Creek Racing's Averly Jane, winner of the Indian Summer Presented by Keeneland Select, and Gregory Kaufman's Kaufymaker, second in the Indian Summer. Working together for possible starts in the $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint, the undefeated Averly Jane covered five furlongs in 1:03.40 and Kaufymaker went the distance in 1:03.80.

Calumet Farm's Channel Cat, prepping for a possible second start in the $4 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf, worked five furlongs on his own in 1:02.20 with splits of :25.20, :38.60, :50.40 and 1:02.20 for trainer Jack Sisterson.

Three other possible Breeders' Cup runners posted works on the fast main track.

Also working for Calumet and Sisterson was Lexitonian, who covered 5 furlongs in 1:00.60. Winner of the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt two starts back, Lexitonian is a candidate for the $2 million Grade 1 Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Peter Brant's Dunbar Road, runner-up to Letruska in the Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster, worked a half-mile in :49 for trainer Chad Brown in preparation for a likely third start in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1).

Dare To Dream Stable's American Sanctuary, fourth in the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, worked a half-mile in :48.40 for trainer Chris Davis. He is possible for the $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

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Illegal Smile Takes Siena Purse At Keeneland

Hat Creek Racing's Illegal Smile (IRE) surged to the lead at the head of the stretch and cruised to a 1¼-length victory over Bullseye Beauty to win the $90,000 Siena Purse allowance for 3-year-old fillies at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

Ridden by Gerardo Corrales and trained by Wesley Ward, Illegal Smile covered the 5½ furlongs on a turf course labeled as good in 1:02.94.

Illegal Smile is an Irish-bred daughter of Camacho (GB) out of the Iffraaj (GB) mare Fine If (IRE). Now boasting a record of 10-2-4-1, Illegal Smile has earnings of $186,556.

Illegal Smile returned $7.80, $4.20, and $3.20 as the favorite in the field of nine. Bullseye Beauty, ridden by James Graham, returned $5 and $4.20 with Navratilova paying $3.80 to show under Julien Leparoux.

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Campanelle Tops Franklin County

Stonestreet Stables' Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) headlines Friday's GIII Buffalo Trace Franklin County S. at Keeneland. A debut winner at Gulfstream in 2020, she took Royal Ascot's G2 Queen Mary S. a month later and followed suit with a win in Deauville's G1 Prix Morny S. that August. Fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at this venue last November, the bay came up a head short in the G1 Commonwealth Cup back at Royal Ascot June 18, but was promoted to first when the winner was disqualified. Campanelle was last seen finishing 12th back at Deauville in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest Aug. 8 and is likely using this event as a prep for the Breeders' Cup.

Al Stall saddles a live contender in Bal Mar Equine's In Good Spirits (Ghostzapper). An optional claimer winner at Fair Grounds Jan. 30, she was fourth in the course-and-distance Giant's Causeway S. Apr. 10, which was won by the re-opposing Change of Control (Fed Biz). Runner-up in Saratoga's GIII Caress S. July 24, the bay captured the GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint S. Sept. 11, defeating Catch a Bid (Real Solution) by two lengths.

Change of Control captured the GIII Intercontinental S. At Belmont June 3 and was third in the GII Royal North S. at Woodbine next out Aug. 1. She enters off a 10th in the GI Woodbine Mile Sept. 18.

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