Tag: Wesley Ward

The Weekly Wrap: Fit For A King

Khalid Abdullah's legacy will live long in Thoroughbred genealogy thanks to the female families he cultivated, like the one that supplied him Sunday's 'TDN Rising Star' and G1 Cadoo Oaks contender Noon Star (Galileo {Ire}).

Juddmonte's sires, likewise, have started the season off with a bang. In this space last week we were singing the praises of Frankel (GB) off the back of a week of intercontinental successes. While Frankel remains poised to have an excellent season, in the space of 35 minutes at Sandown on Friday along came his Banstead Manor barnmate Kingman (GB) to steal the spotlight with a pair of exciting 4-year-olds. First up was Waldkonig (GB), who had flashed talent early last season before being sent to the sidelines by setbacks. He earned a first black-type victory second up in the 2000 metre G3 Gordon Richards S. in just his fifth start, and considering the bottom half of his pedigree, connections-including trainers John and Thady Gosden–should be enthusiastic that he will keep improving: his half-brother, Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) was at his best at five when he beat Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) to win the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe-his fourth win at the highest level.

The Gosdens and Frankie Dettori barely had time to digest Waldkonig's win before last year's champion 3-year-old Palace Pier (GB) upstaged him to win the G2 bet365 Mile by eight lengths. John Gosden insisted that Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed's colt was only at 80% for his comeback, and while last year's G1 St James's Palace S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois winner will stick to a mile for the G1 Lockinge S. and G1 Queen Anne S., Gosden said that longer races are on the radar for the second half of the season.

Waldkonig became Kingman's 34th stakes winner last week, three days after the sire had notched his 33rd in the form of Godolphin's Listed Blue Riband Trial scorer Wirko (GB), a €700,000 Baden-Baden yearling bred by Gestut Rottgen. Wirko is out of the listed-winning Mount Nelson (GB) mare Weltmacht (GB), herself a daughter of the Group 2 winner and multiple stakes producer Wild Side (Ger) (Sternkoenig {Ire}), and thus a sturdy template has been written for crossing Kingman with German pedigrees.

Mehmas On The Up

Kingman has consistently proven the class leader of his sire crop and another who looks like doing so, Mehmas, likewise had a productive week. On the same Sandown card on which Palace Pier and Waldkonig starred, 3-year-old Nelson Gay (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) won the five furlong bet365 H. by 6 1/2 lengths, igniting Royal Ascot dreams for trainer Richard Hughes. On Sunday Fayathaan (Ire) became Mehmas's eighth stakes winner in Rome's G3 Premio Parioli (Italian 2000 Guineas). After comfortably breaking the record for winners for a first-season sire last year, Mehmas has kicked on with 20 at this early stage of the year. While he presented something of a question mark last year based on the fact that he himself didn't race beyond two, Mehmas appears to be supplying progeny with scope. Fayathaan was his third stakes winner of 2021, joining the G3 Leopardstown One Thousand Guineas Trial scorer Keeper Of Time (Ire) and Going Global (Ire), who has won a pair of Grade IIIs this year since being sold to California connections. Keeper Of Time was in the news this weekend after it was revealed that she too has been sold to race on in America, where Mehmas has had two stakes winners (last year's Listed Blue Norther S. winner Quattroelle {Ire} in addition to Going Global). With Acklam Express (Ire), Mystery Smiles (Ire) and Mehmento (Ire) having also picked up placings in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint, G3 Craven S. and G3 Greenham S. in the past month, Mehmas looks to be continuing on his upward trajectory.

Amid all the excitement of the young pretenders, it was nice to see a headline horse on Sunday for Coolmore stalwart Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) in the form of the 4 1/2-length Listed Salsabil S. winner Rocky Sky (Ire). Standing for €5,000, Rock Of Gibraltar certainly wouldn't be the flashiest horse in the sire ranks, but he has compiled an admirable body of work in 19 years at stud that places him currently fifth on the TDN's Cumulative Lifetime Active Sire List for European stallions, behind only his barnmate Galileo and Dubawi (Ire), Exceed and Excel (Aus) and Invincible Spirit (Ire). Rock Of Gibraltar has sired 135 stakes winners at a rate of 6.2% of his starters, and in Rocky Sky-who also provided trainer Ross O'Sullivan and jockey Gary Halpin with their first stakes wins-he looks to have one that could take him back to the top table. Rocky Sky races as a homebred for Catherine Kinane, whose husband Mick partnered Rock Of Gibraltar to six of his seven Group 1 wins.

More Derby Dreams For Adlerflug

Another star rising through the sire ranks in recent seasons has been Gestut Schlenderhan's Adlerflug (Ger), and his loss at age 17 earlier this month has already been keenly felt through the opening weeks of the turf season. Adlerflug's 2020 G1 Deutsches Derby winner and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up In Swoop (Ire) made an encouraging start to his 4-year-old campaign when a narrow second to the race-fit Sublimis (Ire) (Shamardal) in a mile-and-a-half listed race at ParisLongchamp two weeks ago, and Adlerflug has another Classic contender on the books in Alenquer (Fr), who sprang a 25-1 upset in Friday's 2000 metre G3 Classic Trial at Sandown. Alenquer is another feather in the cap for trainer William Haggas, who has made a bright start to the season, and the trainer insisted Alenquer would be better upped in trip and could target the German Derby or be supplemented to the G1 Cazoo Derby. Rider Tom Marquand picked up exactly where he had left off last weekend in Australia; Alenquer was his first ride since piloting Addeybb (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) to victory in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. in Sydney.

Euro-Breds Star At Keeneland

The exodus of European-bred horses to America with aim on the country's lucrative turf purses is no new phenomenon, and last week saw a rapid-fire double for Stonestreet Stables and trainer Wesley Ward in that sphere at Keeneland. Last autumn, bloodstock agent Ben McElroy was dispatched to Europe with the memorandum to find a select team of yearlings that could excel on both continents. McElroy possessed the track record for the job, having plucked last year's G2 Queen Mary S. and G1 Prix Morny winner Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) out of Book 1 at Tattersalls October for 190,000gns, and his 2020 class has gotten off to a bright start, with Ruthin (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}) (350,000gns at Book 1) and Napa Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) (£420,000 at Goffs Orby) each breaking their maidens in professional fashion at Keeneland last week. Ruthin, in fact, was the first winner for Ribchester and she achieved that accomplishment in memorable fashion, earning 'TDN Rising Star' status.

McElroy admitted to the TDN that he felt more relieved than excited in the aftermath of Ruthin and Napa Spirit's races, which is understandable considering that both horses were relatively large outlays. The risk on them as yearlings, however, must have been somewhat lessened by the fact that they had $60,000 2-year-old maiden special weight purses to run for at Keeneland. American buyers have become a growing force at European yearling sales in recent years, and though at a disadvantage currency-wise, the promise of fat purses back home gives them considerable spending power. Successes at Royal Ascot for Ruthin or Napa Spirit would only fuel that fire, and all going well, that's where they are headed. It's probably a safe bet, too, that McElroy will be headed back this year's European yearling sales.

Breeze-Ups Looking Bright

On the subject of the sales, we were afforded a deeper look into the breeze-up market last week with the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale following on from Tattersalls's Craven Sale a week prior, and happily the outlook was once again bright. The aggregate of £6,219,500, average of £48,590 and median of £34,000 were all records for the sale, as was the number of six-figure lots (15). Likewise, the clearance rate of 89% (it had been 88% at Craven, the highest at that sale since 2000) pointed to a strong desire for bloodstock, and indeed there appeared to be a wide cross-section of buyers at both Doncaster and Craven, with no entities dominating the buyers' sheets. It is interesting that at the first two breeze-up sales of the season we have seen strong trade, but no true fireworks; the Tattersalls top lot was 360,000gns, while the joint top lots at Doncaster sold for £210,000. It appears thus far that there has been a slight weakening at the top of the market with simultaneously a strengthening in the middle market. The next clues will be provided by the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale on Friday.

The post The Weekly Wrap: Fit For A King appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Stonestreet, Agent McElroy Strike it Big With European Buys

When Napa Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) won Friday's first race at Keeneland, bloodstock agent Ben McElroy was more relieved than ecstatic. Some six months earlier, he purchased Napa Spirit at the Goffs Orby Yearling sale in Ireland with a set goal in mind. He was looking for a unique type of horse, one that could win in the U.S. and Europe, would be fast and precocious, like the grass and be a good fit for the Royal Ascot meet. Friday's win was the latest sign that he had more than accomplished his mission.

It was the second win in as many days with a 2-year-old European import for the team of McElroy, Stonestreet Stables LLC and trainer Wesley Ward. Thursday's first race at Keeneland was won by their filly Ruthin (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}), who was bought at the Tattersalls October Yearling sale in Great Britain. Both will soon be on their way to Ascot for what their connections hope will be a successful ending to a story that took McElroy to the major yearling sales across Europe last year.

McElroy bought five yearlings in Europe last year for Stonestreet, a list that includes Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}), who finished second in her debut Apr. 8 at Keeneland.

McElroy isn't alone. More and more U.S. stables have been buying at the European yearling sales in recent years, looking for horses that can thrive in the U.S. Stonestreet and McElroy hit with the same formula last year. Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) was bought for 190,000 guineas at the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling sale and went on to win two group races, the GII Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot and the GI Darley Prix Morny.

“There is more turf racing now than ever in the U.S. and the prize money is very good,” McElroy said. “And horses stay sounder longer when they race on the grass.”

With Ruthin, McElroy stuck his neck out. Selling for 350,000 guineas (the equivalent of $474,776) she is from the first crop of sire Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and was the most expensive yearling by that sire sold at auction last year.

“Ribchester was a very high-class racehorse trained by Richard Fahey,” McElroy said. “He won the (GI) Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot and was very impressive in that race. He is son of Iffraaj, who is the sire of Wootton Basset (Iffraaj {GB}), who has turned into a sensational sire. I had a good feeling all along on Ribchester, based on the fact that he was precocious, very talented and is by Ifraaj.”

It was no surprise when Ruthin won Thursday, leading all the way in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden on the grass to win by six lengths. Sent out by Ward, who dominates the spring 2-year-old races at Keeneland, she was the 3-5 favorite.

“With the way that filly was working they had very high expectations for her,” he said. “We knew she had a lot of ability. She is a strong-willed filly. Every time we looked at her she reminded me more and more of Campanelle.”

The expectations for Napa Spirit weren't quite as high. He sold for €420,000 or the equivalent of $539,926. Sent off at 2-5, he lagged near the back of the pack early before his late rally carried him to a 1 1/2-length win.

“The colt is the bigger and stronger horse of the two and I think he needed that run,” McElroy said. “He is a very, very laid back horse, so we were relieved that he won in his first start. I was kind of nervous going in. Wesley thought he might need the race and that he will improve off the race. He's not as push button as the filly is.”

McElroy said he is a fan of Napa Spirit's sire, Invincible Spirit.

“Invincible Spirit is the sire of Kingman,” he said. “He stands for €100,000 and is a real high-end stallion. When I purchased (Napa Spirit), he was in early at that sale. For what he was physically and that he is by that sire, I'm not saying he was cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but we certainly didn't overpay for him. It's not like we were picking from the top. We were looking for horses that suit Wesley and what we thought might suit Ascot.”

One of the most prestigious race meets in the world, Royal Ascot, awaits Ruthin and Napa Spirit. Ward, by far the most successful U.S.-based trainer at Ascot, said Ruthin will go next in the Queen Mary. Napa Spirit's next start will be in the GII Coventry S.

 

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Robust Wagering, Safe, Top-Quality Racing Mark Return Of Keeneland Spring Meet

Friday marked closing day of the 2021 Spring Meet in Lexington, Ky., featuring the return of a limited number of fans to the track, strong all-sources wagering fueled by quality racing led by champion Essential Quality's win in the Toyota Blue Grass (G2) and an emphasis on community initiatives in furtherance of Keeneland's philanthropic mission.

“We thank our fans, both near and far, the Central Kentucky community, our horseplayers, our corporate partners and our loyal horsemen for a fantastic racing season,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “Keeneland's continued success is built on the contributions of many, and we extend our appreciation to all those who make racing at Keeneland such a memorable experience.”

In accordance with COVID-19 restrictions, only a limited number of fans were permitted to attend the races at Keeneland this spring. Attendance totaled 96,243, for an average daily crowd of 6,416.

Despite the limited capacity, fans on track and remotely enthusiastically wagered on the Spring Meet. All-sources wagering for the 15-day Spring Meet, held April 2-23, increased 7.55 percent to $164,680,229 versus the 16-day Spring Meet in 2019, when all-sources wagering totaled $153,116,119. (Keeneland canceled its 2020 Spring Meet due to the COVID-19 pandemic.) Average daily wagering of $10,978,682 was up 14.72 percent compared to $9,569,757 during the 2019 Spring Meet.

Boosting total wagering was robust handle on Toyota Blue Grass Day, April 3, which featured six stakes worth $2.1 million on the 11-race card. All-sources wagering that day totaled $22,723,197 to be the third-highest single-day handle in Keeneland history. The Pick 5 handled a record $1,485,090, eclipsing the previous mark of $1,395,051 set on Toyota Blue Grass Day during the 2020 Summer Meet.

Limited attendance this spring resulted in total on-track handle of $9,224,273, for average daily on-track handle of $614,952. In comparison, on-track handle totaled $16,490,636 for the 2019 Spring Meet.

Spring Meet Racing Moments and Milestones
Average daily purses of $739,902 at Keeneland this spring ranked among the richest in North America and attracted the sport's top trainers and jockeys.

Competitive racing was showcased in 18 stakes worth $4.1 million in purse money. Six graded stakes were carded for opening Saturday, anchored by the $800,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2) and $400,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1), major preps on the Roads to the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1), respectively.

Champion Essential Quality kept his undefeated record intact in winning the Toyota Blue Grass, earning 100 points to establish himself as the top point earner and early favorite for the Kentucky Derby. With the victory, he became the fifth horse to win Keeneland's Breeders' Futurity at 2 and the Blue Grass at 3. The others are Brody's Cause (2015-2016), Carpe Diem (2014-2015), Dullahan (2011-2012) and Round Table (1956-1957). Essential Quality also won the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at Keeneland last fall.

Undefeated Malathaat won the Central Bank Ashland to rank among the top point earners on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard. The victory marked owner Shadwell Stable's eighth graded stakes win here to earn a Keeneland Tray as part of Keeneland's signature Milestone Trophy Program. Only 20 other owners have such an accomplishment at Keeneland.

Other notable achievements by human and equine athletes this spring:

  • Raging Bull (FR) made a powerful move on the far turn and cruised to a 2-length victory in the $300,000 Maker's Mark Mile (G1) in his third start in the prestigious turf stakes.
  • Juliet Foxtrot (GB) led from gate to wire to win the Coolmore Jenny Wiley (G1) and leading owner Juddmonte's 16th graded stakes win at Keeneland. For the accomplishment, Juddmonte received a Keeneland Pitcher – another level of the track's Milestone Trophy Program. Only three other owners have earned the Keeneland Pitcher: Claiborne Farm (Fall 1968), Bwamazon Farm (Spring 1983) and William S. Farish (Spring 2003).
  • In his first mount of the Spring Meet, jockey Julien Leparoux recorded his 500th career victory at Keeneland. He became the fourth rider to reach that milestone, joining Hall of Famers Pat Day (918 wins) and Don Brumfield (716) along with Robby Albarado (526). Leparoux won his first race at Keeneland during the 2005 Fall Meet in his first season as a jockey. Since then, he has earned 12 leading jockey titles at Keeneland, most recently during the 2019 Fall Meet, and two Eclipse Awards.
  • Trainer Michelle Lovell notched her first Keeneland stakes win and her 500th career victory when Change of Control won the Giant's Causeway (L). Lovell began training in 2003.

“Keeneland sincerely appreciates the loyalty and support of our horsemen, not only this spring but throughout the challenging past year,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell said. “Our goal is to offer the opportunity for the best to compete against the best, which continues to produce thrilling performances and memorable accomplishments.”

Under the leadership of Equine Safety Director Dr. Stuart Brown, Keeneland continues to deploy rigorous safety protocols and measures to protect its horses and riders, which has resulted in no racing incidents this spring.

“We are proud of the collaborative effort between our horsemen, their attending veterinarians and the regulatory team that works with Keeneland to deliver on our time-honored promise of service to the horse in the area of safety,” Dr. Brown said.

Spring Meet Leaders
Keeneland-based Wesley Ward dominated the trainer standings, tallying 20 wins to secure his seventh leading trainer title to tie Henry Forrest for third place on the list of leading trainers by meet titles. Now with 201 career victories, Ward ranks seventh all time at Keeneland in the win category.

Ward's four wins on closing day ties him with Kiaran McLaughlin, Bill Mott and Todd Pletcher for most victories for a trainer on a single day during the Spring Meet.

Ward won four 2021 Spring Meet stakes: Madison (G1) with Kimari, Shakertown (G2) with Bound for Nowhere, Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select with Twenty Carat and Palisades Turf Sprint with Chasing Artie. The total equals the record for most Spring Meet stakes victories shared by Ben Jones (1948), Todd Pletcher (2011) and Chad Brown (2018).

With 19 career stakes wins at Keeneland, Ward is tied with Hall of Famers Carl Nafzger and Woody Stephens for 13th place on the list of the track's leading trainers by stakes wins.

Finishing second in the trainer standings was Brad Cox with 10 wins, including the Toyota Blue Grass with Essential Quality, Coolmore Jenny Wiley with Juliet Foxtrot and Baird Doubledogdare (G3) with Bonny South.

Todd Pletcher finished with nine wins, highlighted by Malathaat's win in the Central Bank Ashland and Jouster's victory in the Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association, to rank third.

Among jockeys, Luis Saez recorded six multiple-win days during the meet to amass 29 wins and earn his first Keeneland riding title. Joel Rosario ranked second with 22 wins, riding three winners on closing day.

Saez and Rosario combined to win all nine stakes on opening weekend of the Spring Meet. On Friday, Saez rode Twenty Carat to win the Beaumont. On Saturday, he won four races topped by the Toyota Blue Grass on Essential Quality and the Appalachian on Jouster.

Rosario rode five winners on Toyota Blue Grass Day, including four consecutive stakes: the Commonwealth (G3) on Flagstaff, Shakertown (G2) on Bound for Nowhere, Central Bank Ashland on Malathaat and Madison on Kimari. On opening Friday, he captured two stakes: the Palisades Turf Sprint with Chasing Artie and the Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3) on Scarlett Sky.

Rosario joins Jerry Bailey (1999) and Javier Castellano (2016) as riders with a record six stakes victories during a Spring Meet.

Tyler Gaffalione finished third in the standings with 12 wins, led by his victory aboard Juliet Foxtrot in the Coolmore Jenny Wiley.

Juddmonte locked up their second Keeneland leading owner title with six wins, boosted by their aforementioned Milestone victory in the Coolmore Jenny Wiley with Juliet Foxtrot followed by Bonny South's victory in the Baird Doubledogdare.

Kirk Wycoff's Three Diamonds Farm, Bob Lothenbach's Lothenbach Stables and Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Stables tied for second in the owner standings with three wins each.

Grade One Gamble Draws Record Field of Players
Frank Mustari of Chicago topped a record field of 248 players who competed at Keeneland and through XpressBet, TVG, NYRA Bets and 4NJBets to win the Grade One Gamble on April 10. Mustari took home a record first prize of $50,000, a berth in the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) at Del Mar and an entry in the 2022 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) in Las Vegas.

Spring Meet Celebrates Philanthropic Mission and Valued Partnerships
Keeneland continued to honor its mission this spring by teaming with sponsors and industry partners to support the community and the Thoroughbred industry.

Keeneland designated the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden as its featured charity for the Spring Meet. Located in Lexington's historic East End, the Art Garden is on property owned by the legendary 19th century jockey. It is the first park in the U.S. to honor the earliest African American professional athletes: Thoroughbred jockeys. Proceeds from sales of the 2021 commemorative Maker's Mark Bourbon® bottle in partnership with Keeneland were earmarked to benefit LexArts and for the placement of a permanent art installation by artist LaVon Van Williams Jr. and for future programming within the park.

Keeneland celebrated the 25th running of the prestigious Maker's Mark Mile under the sponsorship of the world-famous bourbon distillery. Maker's Mark also made a $10,000 contribution to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.

Toyota, sponsor of the Toyota Blue Grass, and Keeneland made a $10,000 donation in support of Nourish Lexington, founded in 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic to use displaced hospitality and food service employees to provide more than 160,000 nutritious meals for community members in need.

The Spring Meet also marked the 10th running of the Doubledogdare sponsored by Baird (formerly Hilliard Lyons).

Among the other philanthropic and community-oriented initiatives this spring were:

  • Kentucky Utilities and Keeneland donated $5,000 to Black Soil KY to support and highlight their successful area programs. Keeneland collaborated with Black Soil KY, an agritourism social enterprise that fosters a greater market share for Black farmers in Kentucky, on two strategic initiatives during the Spring Meet: creating a locally sold Black Soil KY Skillet Frittata Meal Kit and incorporating local produce from Black Soil KY farmers and producers into Keeneland's rotating dining menus.
  • Keeneland and Country Boy Brewing of Lexington collaborated to create the Keeneland Spring Lager, with sales of the beer benefiting Blue Grass Farms Charities' Back to School Backpack Program to provide supplies for nearly 1,000 children whose parents work in Keeneland's stable area or on Central Kentucky horse farms.
  • More than 1,700 students representing 35 colleges and universities in 15 states participated in Keeneland's popular College Scholarship Day Presented by Lane's End, held virtually on April 9. Students had a chance to win a total of $35,000 in scholarships and prize packages provided by local Lexington businesses. Lane's End, Coca-Cola and Kentucky Thoroughbred Association were sponsors of the event.
  • On April 11, five lucky families won a day at the races as part of Kids Club Family Day Presented by Kentucky Children's Hospital.
  • Keeneland hosted Military Day Presented by UPS on April 18 that featured a POW-MIA Chair of Honor to raise awareness of past and current POWMIA military members through a partnership with The Rolling Thunder Kentucky Chapter 5. UPS and Keeneland contributed $2,500 to the POWMIA program.

On closing day, Keeneland honored track announcer Kurt Becker, who this spring reached a unique milestone as the only track announcer in Keeneland's history. For 60 years prior to Kurt's appointment, Keeneland did not have an on-track race caller. Then-president Bill Greely hired Kurt from more than 40 applicants, and he began calling the races on April 4, 1997. The Spring Meet marked Becker's 25th Spring Meet at Keeneland.

2021 Spring Meet at a Glance (April 2-23)

  Spring 2021

(15 days)

 Spring 2019

(16 days)
All-Sources Handle on Keeneland $164,680,229 $153,116,119
Avg. Daily All-Sources Handle on Keeneland $10,978,682 $9,569,757
Total On-Track Handle $9,224,273 $16,490,636
Avg. Daily On-Track Handle $614,952 $1,030,665
Total Attendance 96,243* 242,547
Avg. Daily Attendance 6,416 15,159

*Limited number of fans permitted on track due to COVID-19 protocols

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All-Sources, Average Daily Wagering Jumps at Keeneland

The 15-day Spring meet at Keeneland Race Course concluded Friday, with total all-sources wagering reaching $164,680,229, an improvement of 7.55% versus the 2019 Spring meet, when all-sources handle totaled $153,116,119. The 2020 Spring meet was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Average daily wagering on the Keeneland product was $10,978,682, an increase of 14.72 when compared to $9,569,757 during Spring 2019.

A limited number of patrons were allowed on track during the 15-day stand. Attendance totaled 96,243 for a daily average of 6,416.

With four winners on Friday's closing-day program, trainer Wesley Ward finished well ahead of the competition for leading trainer. Ward saddled 20 winners during the meet, double that of runner-up Brad Cox. Ward's four stakes winners (Kimari, GI Madison S; Bound For Nowhere, GII Shakertown S.; Twenty Carat, GIII Beaumont S; Chasing Artie, Palisades Turf Sprint) equals the record for Spring stakes victories shared by Ben Jones (1948), Todd Pletcher (2011) and Chad Brown (2018).

Luis Saez won his first Keeneland riding title with 29 trips to the winner's circle, seven better than Joel Rosario. Saez (three) and Rosario (six) teamed to win all nine stakes on opening weekend. Saez's marquee win came aboard champion and likely GI Kentucky Derby favorite Essential Quality (Tapit) in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S., while Rosario rode five winners on Blue Grass day, including the GI Ashland S. and Madison S. in a streak of four consecutive stakes rides.

There were no racing incidents during the meet.

“We thank our fans, both near and far, the Central Kentucky community, our horseplayers, our corporate partners and our loyal horsemen for a fantastic racing season,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “Keeneland's continued success is built on the contributions of many, and we extend our appreciation to all those who make racing at Keeneland such a memorable experience.”

Added Keeneland Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell: “Keeneland sincerely appreciates the loyalty and support of our horsemen, not only this spring but throughout the challenging past year. Our goal is to offer the opportunity for the best to compete against the best, which continues to produce thrilling performances and memorable accomplishments.”

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