Wesley Ward | Horse Racing Free Tips

Golden Pal Back and Still Brilliant in Quick Call

Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), off since a front-running tally in last year's GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland, returned as sharp as ever to dominate the GIII Quick Call S. on Saratoga's opening day card Thursday. Pounded down to 1-5 favoritism while making his first start since being acquired privately by the Coolmore partners and Georg von Opel's Westerberg from his breeder Randall Lowe, the bay looked like a winner every step of the way, clicking off splits of :21.92 and :44.88 without much company and cruising away to a geared-down three-length victory in 1:02.99 over the good ground. Rank outsider Omaha City (Temple City) spiced up the exacta at 36-1, while 'TDN Rising Star' Jaxon Traveler (Munnings) checked in third in his first turf attempt.

“He's a nice horse,” said winning pilot Irad Ortiz, Jr., who had ridden Golden Pal in both of his wins last term. “I'm happy he came back where he left off. He broke really nice for me. When I asked him, he responded really well. I didn't want to ask too early. I didn't want him to do too much, he's been off for a long time.”

Golden Pal is expected to take on the G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S. at York Aug. 20.

Bought back for $325,000 as a KEESEP '19 yearling, the son of brilliant turf sprinter Lady Shipman (Midshipman) was a close second at 1-2 in his main-track Gulfstream unveiling last April, and missed by a neck in the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot that June. He broke through by an emphatic 3 1/2 lengths in this venue's Skidmore S. in August, and justified heavy favoritism at the Breeders' Cup, holding on by 3/4 of a length after showing the way.

“He's so extremely talented and quick,” said trainer Wesley Ward. “He's a big horse and he moves like a cat and that's where he really has an advantage. I was a little concerned going into the race that I didn't have a gate work into him, but he's so smart that he overcame that in the first jump. When they said 'go,' he was gone.”

As for the time off, Ward explained, “I like sprinters off layoffs. I think they run their best races off layoffs, more so than the distance horses. I think they need spacing in between because they are so fast and put so much into it, especially the first part of the race.”

Thursday, Saratoga
QUICK CALL S.-GIII, $120,000, Saratoga, 7-15, 3yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.99, gd.
1–GOLDEN PAL, 124, c, 3, by Uncle Mo
1st Dam: Lady Shipman (GSW-Can, MSW & GISP-USA, $902,387), by Midshipman
2nd Dam: Sumthingtotalkabt, by Mutakddim
3rd Dam: Nannetta, by Falstaff
($325,000 RNA Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Mrs. John Magnier, Michael
Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg; B-Randall E Lowe (FL); T-Wesley A.
Ward; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $66,000. Lifetime Record:
GSP-Eng, 5-3-2-0, $659,056. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Omaha City, 120, c, 3, Temple City–Lady Of Harrods (Aus), by
Dubawi (Ire). ($5,500 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Mohamed & Bibi N.
Jehaludi; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Amzadali Jehaludi.
$24,000.
3–Jaxon Traveler, 122, c, 3, Munnings–Listen Boy, by After
Market. ($80,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP; $140,000 2yo '20 OBSAPR).
'TDN Rising Star' O-West Point Thoroughbreds & Marvin
Delfiner; B-A. Leonard Pineau (MD); T-Steven M. Asmussen.
$14,400.
Margins: 3, HF, 6 1/4. Odds: 0.20, 36.00, 4.20.
Also Ran: Rebel Posse, Second of July, Kentucky Pharoah. Scratched: Fauci, Fire Sword, Mr Sippi.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:
Golden Pal is one of 40 graded winners for his top sire, but is the only one out of a Midshipman mare–two are out of mares by Midshipman's sire Unbridled's Song. He is the lone stakes winner from a small number of mares so far for Midshipman.

Lady Shipman, perhaps among the most talented runners in recent memory to have never won a Grade I–she missed by a neck in the 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint–was also bred by Lowe and he still owns her. She produced an Omaha Beach colt Mar. 24 and is back in foal to Uncle Mo. A Violence half-brother to Lady Shipman RNA'd for $170,000 earlier this week at Fasig-Tipton July.

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Maker Files New Motion In Civil Case Against Ramseys, Alleges Payments Have Stopped

Trainer Mike Maker filed a motion for summary judgment against multiple Eclipse Award-winning owner/breeders Ken and Sarah Ramsey in Kentucky's Fayette Circuit Court on July 14, alleging that the couple have once again stopped paying their training bills.

Maker brought suit against the Ramseys in March 2021, alleging he was owed $905,357.29, which at the time was an improvement on the $1.25 million he had been owed in summer 2020. Ken Ramsey told this and other publications at the time of the filing that he expected to reach an agreement with Maker to finish paying off the bills and convince the trainer to drop the suit.

According to an affidavit filed by attorney Tyler Powell, Maker said Ramsey offered to pay $100,000 or more to him on or before the 15th of each month — and for a while, he did. Maker notes payments of $127,531.70 in March, $131, 290 in April, and $160,000 in May. After that, however, Maker said the payments stopped. In the meantime, the horses the Ramseys still had in Maker's barn continued running up bills in March and April, eroding some of his progress on the outstanding balance. Maker says the Ramseys now owe $505,385.92, and that figure doesn't include attorneys' fees associated with pursuing the outstanding balance.

Maker had filed UCC-1 financing statements with the Kentucky Secretary of State around the time he filed his civil suit, placing liens on the 27 horses he still had in his care at the time. His July 14 motion states he no longer has Ramsey horses in his barn.

The motion filed this week points out that Ken Ramsey hasn't contested that he owes the money.

“It's not that I'm not paying, it's just that I guess I'm not paying fast enough,” Ken Ramsey told the Paulick Report in March 2021. “I have never beaten anybody out of a dime.”

Maker requests a summary judgment from the court against the couple, and that motion is scheduled to be heard at the end of the month.

Trainer Wesley Ward also filed suit against the couple in March 2021, claiming he was owed $974,790.40 in unpaid training bills, his portion of purses, and interest. Ward placed liens on 44 horses in his care at the time he brought his civil suit. That case also remains open in Jessamine Circuit Court.

The Ramseys have won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Owner four times (2004, 2011, 2013, and 2014) and the award for Outstanding Breeder twice (2013 and 2014). Since 2000, Equibase reports the couple has won 2,223 races from 9,814 starts for total earnings of more than $98 million. Their annual earnings have fallen from their peak in 2013 of over $12 million, and last year the stable brought in $2.3 million from 274 starts. Their Ramsey Farm in Nicholasville, Ky., was the longtime base for the operation's homebred and centerpiece stallion, Kitten's Joy, who relocated to Hill 'n' Dale in 2018.

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Wesley Ward-Trained Headline Report Tops Field Of 12 Juveniles In Saturday’s Sanford

Trainer Wesley Ward will continue the tradition of using the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course to help springboard careers of talented juveniles, with the conditioner sending out Headline Report as part of a 12-horse field in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Sanford for 2-year-olds going six furlongs on the main track.

The 106th edition of the Sanford, on the first Saturday of the 40-day meet at the Spa, will go off in Race 9 on the 11-race card that will be highlighted by the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana for older fillies and mares in Race 10. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

Headline Report captured his debut by 2 1/4 lengths on April 23 at Keeneland, besting a five-horse field by completing the 4 1/2 furlongs in a final time of 51.75 seconds as the heavy favorite over a fast track. Ward, who will be seeking his first Sanford win, kept Headline Report training at Keeneland since, and the Gormley ridgling worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 from the gate on Independence Day.

Owned by Breeze Easy and bred in Kentucky by Ledgelands and Andrew C. Ritter, Headline Report started his career with lofty expectations after being purchased for $550,000 at the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

“We're excited about that guy,” Ward said. “He's been coming along pretty well. He had a nice work from the gate at Keeneland. We're excited to get him in the Sanford.”

Hall of Famer John Velazquez piloted Headline Report in his first start and will have the return call on Saturday, breaking from post 9.

Greg Tramontin's Ottoman Empire rallied from seventh-of-11 in his debut to post a one-length victory in a five-furlong maiden special weight on June 20 at Churchill Downs. Trainer Tom Amoss said the Classic Empire colt had been training well at Churchill leading into his first race but then showed an ability to take dirt and adapt to racing circumstances under pressure.

“What I really liked was how he handled the shock that a lot of young horses get when breaking from the gate for the first time,” Amoss said. “When they all break at the same time and get that experience, they get dirt kicked in their face, which is a lot for a young horse to take in. He broke fine, but it was just a lot for him to take in at once and he handled it well.”

A $120,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Ottoman Empire showed a strong closing kick, rallying from third in the stretch to overtake Chileno and Conagher before holding off Texas Red Hot's late charge.

“I really liked how he finished,” Amoss said. “He had a bit of a wide trip but he still finished up nice and strong.”

Bred in Kentucky by Pedro Gonzalez and Lenny Cohen, Ottoman Empire will be ridden by Jose Ortiz from post 7.

Bell Gable Stable's Maryland Brando trounced an eight-horse field by 11 1/2 lengths in a five-furlong maiden sprint on June 2 at Delaware Park. The first-out effort for trainer Gary Contessa netted a 59 Beyer Speed Figure and showed the form that made the Flatter colt a $250,000 purchase at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Midatlantic Eastern Fall Yearling Sale.

“I knew what I had; he won and he was being pulled up the last eighth of a mile,” Contessa said. “He drew away but there's a lot more left in the tank with that horse. He just has everything in the right place. His mind is good – not great – but he's very business-minded. He's got a big, strong shoulder on him. As soon as I started training him, I pretty much knew what I had. He dots all the i's and crosses all the t's.”

Bred in Maryland by Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds, Maryland Brando has found a comfort zone training at Delaware Park but will now ship in for a race for the first time, drawing post 6 with Carol Cedeno aboard.

“I'm coming far enough in advance where he'll get over it if he doesn't ship well,” Contessa said. “I'll school him a couple of times in the paddock, which you need in Saratoga. I've been at Saratoga for the last 35 years, so it's an opportunity for me to be there and I think I'm bringing the right horse.”

Mueller Thoroughbred Stable's Candy Landing also made an impact in his first start, cruising to a 4 1/2-length score that netted the Brendan Walsh trainee a 70 Beyer for his victory going 5 1/2 furlongs on June 11 at Churchill.

A son of Twirling Candy, Candy Landing will be shipping to Saratoga from his base at Churchill, drawing post 2 with James Graham in the irons.

Wit, owned by Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable and Gainesway Stable, showed the form that made the Practical Joke colt a $575,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, drawing away to a six-length score in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint over a good Belmont main track on June 5. Wit will enjoy a formidable trainer-jockey combination, as Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher will saddle the horse with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard from the inside post.

Willis Horton Racing's Seize the Night won on debut for conditioner Dallas Stewart on May 14 going five furlongs at Churchill and will take the step up in class, drawing post 11 in tandem with Jon Kenton Court.

Due Vini was a half-length winner in his first start on June 20 at Monmouth Park. Trained by Kelly Breen, the Florida homebred owned by Mr. Amore Stable will exit from post 8 as Luis Saez rides.

Kavod, who ran second in the Tremont for co-owner and trainer James Chapman, will be making his fourth career start. After running fourth on debut in April at Keeneland, the Lea colt earned a winner's circle trip in April at Belmont before his stakes bow in early June. He is also co-owned by Tritain Biddinger. Manny Franco rides from post 10.

Palm Beach Racing's Trust Our Journey, an American Pharoah chestnut trained by Carlos David, enters from a prominent third in the Tremont.
A maiden winner at first asking in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on May 1 at Gulfstream, Trust Our Journey will exit post 4 under Eric Cancel.

Cammarota Racing's Lucago, third in his first start on June 3 at Gulfstream, won over the same track in his second start, besting Fishing for Fun by three-quarters of a length on July 1. Junior Alvarado will have the call from the outermost post.

Richie's World Stables' Dance Code edged For the Dreamers by a neck to win his debut going 4 1/2 furlongs on June 28 at Parx. Trained by Juan Vazquez, Dance Code will depart post 5 with Jose Lezcano aboard.

Frank Catapano and Nicholas Primpas' Catch the Smoke, a half-length first-out maiden-claiming winner on June 20 at Monmouth Park, will look to go 2-for-2 for trainer Wayne Potts, drawing post 3 with Dylan Davis on the bridle.

Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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‘Happy’ Days are Here Again: Schuylerville Kicks off Saratoga Meet

With a pair of blowout wins already on her resume headed by Belmont's Astoria S. June 3, Happy Soul (Runhappy) sets her sights on Saratoga's opening day co-featured GIII Schuylerville S. She has been working in company with her Wesley Ward-trained 4-year-old stablemate and GISW Kimari (Munnings).

“Visually, Kimari is a better horse, but she's doing it with speed to spare as well,” Ward said. “She has had some nice works underneath her and she's come to handle it quicker than I thought.”

Mainstay (Astern {Aus}), a half-sister to last year's champion 2-year-old filly Vequist (Nyquist), earned her 'TDN Rising Star' badge with a visually impressive romp in the slop on debut at Monmouth June 4.

Velvet Sister (Bernardini), a $500,000 FTFMAR breezer, graduated by 9 3/4 lengths in front-running fashion in a three-horse field for Steve Asmussen in her unveiling at Belmont June 10.

The rail-drawn Pretty Birdie (Bird Song) became the first winner for her expatriated sire with a sharp, wire-to-wire tally first out at Churchill Downs June 18.

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