Tag: Wesley Ward

Keeneland Closes Out Record Spring

Keeneland concluded its 2023 Spring Meet on Friday following 15 days of racing that generated record all-sources wagering of $224 million, the track said in a release late Friday.

All-sources wagering (not including whole-card simulcasting at Keeneland) for the Spring Meet totaled $224,348,745, surpassing the previous record of $219,284,979 set during last year's 15-day Spring Meet.

The Spring Meet marks the fifth consecutive season of record wagering at Keeneland, which was boosted by an all-time record Pick 6 handle of $4,788,759 Apr. 21. On-track wagering for the Spring Meet totaled $15,844,092 versus last year's $16,190,832.

“A huge thanks to our fans, the community and our horsemen who turned out in full force this spring to support Keeneland racing,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said.

Spring Meet Leaders
Wesley Ward notched 12 wins to earn his sixth consecutive Spring Meet training title and ninth total. Boosted by two multiple-win race days, Tyler Gaffalione recorded 21 victories to secure his second consecutive Spring Meet riding title and fifth overall. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Godolphin celebrated its third leading owner title at Keeneland with six meet wins.

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Wednesday’s Racing Insights: Into Mischief Juvenile Filly Working Bullets for Ward

5th-KEE, $80k, Msw, 2yo, f, 4 1/2f, 3:08 p.m. ET

Trainer Wesley Ward debuts another well-meant juvenile firster in this full field of 12. BARBTOURAGE (Into Mischief), a $425,000 FTKOCT yearling purchase by Stonestreet Stables, has posted three straight three-furlong bullets in Lexington, including a :35 flat move (1/14) from the gate Apr. 13. The bay was produced by Velvet Mood (Lonhro {Aus}), a 2-year-old stakes winner at Woodbine and half-sister to GI Frizette S. heroine Wicked Whisper (Liam's Map) and GSW & MGISP Point of Honor (Curlin). She is the 4-5 morning-line favorite. Ward and Barbara Banke's operation unveiled 'TDN Rising Star' American Rascal (Curlin–Lady Aurelia) to a buzzworthy debut victory at Keeneland last week. TJCIS PPs

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Curlin-Lady Aurelia Juvenile Colt Romps to Rising Stardom; Royal Ascot Next

Stonestreet homebred American Rascal (c, 2, Curlin–Lady Aurelia, by Scat Daddy), the first foal out of international superstar and two-time Royal Ascot winner Lady Aurelia, romped on debut in a jaw-dropping 'TDN Rising Star' performance for Wesley Ward over the Keeneland main track Thursday afternoon. A trip to Royal Ascot could be in the cards for the mighty Curlin's 24th 'Rising Star.'

“He's a super fast horse,” Ward said in the winner's circle on FanDuel TV. “The good thing about running at Ascot is that they go in and out of the races completely sound. That turf course there and at Keeneland are ideal–just so safe for all these fast 2-year-olds early in their career. We'll center in on the [G2] Norfolk [going five furlongs at Royal Ascot June 22]. Of course, we'll talk it over with Ian Brennan and Barbara [Banke]'s team and Barbara herself. That's what he was given to me for. His mother did so great over there. I really look forward to this guy. He's gonna be something.”

American Rascal fired a three-furlong bullet in :35 3/5 (1/13) at Keeneland Apr. 9 and was hammered down to 1-2 in this nine-horse field. He broke sharply beneath a whipless Joel Rosario and was content to back off and chase Loudermilk (Bernardini) from second through an opening quarter in :22.21. American Rascal began to wind up on the far turn and blasted off down the stretch in eye-catching fashion with just a shake of the reins to graduate by 10 1/4 lengths. Prints Money (Munnings) was second.

The Stonestreet-bred and Ward-trained Lady Aurelia, a $350,000 KEESEP yearling purchase  campaigned by Stonestreet, George Bolton and Peter Leidel, brought $7.5 million from Stonestreet to dissolve a partnership at the 2018 FTKNOV sale.

Lady Aurelia romped on debut with a 'Rising Star' performance of her own over the same course and distance in Lexington in 2016. She captured Royal Ascot's G1 King's Stand S. and G2 Queen Mary S., the G1 Darley Prix Morny in France and the Giant's Causeway S. over the Keeneland lawn. She fell just a nose short in the G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. at York. Lady Aurelia produced a filly by Into Mischief in 2022.

2nd-Keeneland, $79,675, Msw, 4-20, 2yo, 4 1/2f, :51.21, ft, 10 1/4 lengths.
AMERICAN RASCAL, c, 2, by Curlin
                1st Dam: Lady Aurelia (Hwt. Filly-Eng & Fr, G1SW-Eng & Fr, SW-USA, $834,945), by Scat Daddy)
                2nd Dam: D' Wildcat Speed, by Forest Wildcat
                3rd Dam: Velvet Panther, by Pentaquod
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $47,120. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward.

 

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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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