Golden Pal, narrowly beaten in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at 2, has a return ticket to Royal Ascot for the June 14 King's Stand following an easy victory over nine overmatched foes in Saturday's Grade 2 Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.
Trained by Wesley Ward, who was winning his fourth Shakertown in the last seven runnings, Golden Pal broke on top, scorched through very fast fractions and coasted to the wire to win by 4 3/4 lengths with one reminder from jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.'s crop.
Johnny Unleashed, a 70-1 longshot, finished second, with Gear Jockey third and Diamond Oops fourth. The 3-5 favorite, Golden Pal paid $3.20.
A 4-year-old son of Uncle Mo out of the stakes-winning Midshipman mare Lady Shipman, Golden Pal is owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg. He was bred in Kentucky by Randall Lowe.
Golden Pal raced to the front at the start and opened up several lengths on the competition while going an opening quarter mile in :20.94 and the half in :43.58 on a turf course rated good. He held a commanding lead into the stretch and reached the finish in 1:02.21 for 5 1/2 furlongs.
Golden Pal lost his debut in April 2020 before going to Royal Ascot in June, finishing second to The Lir Jet in the Norfolk. He completed his 2-year-old season with a victory in the G2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. At 3, Ward tried Golden Pal in Europe again, this time at York in the G2 Nunthorpe Stakes, but he wound up seventh. Golden Pal came back to win his final two races in 2021, culminating with a victory in the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar.
After Golden Pal's winning performance at Keeneland, Ward said the King's Stand Stakes would be targeted for the colt's next race.
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