By Bill Finley
Wesley Ward will put his Royal Ascot-bound horses through their final round of serious preparations Monday morning at Keeneland, where several will show up on the work tab. A few could be added or dropped from the list of his Royal Ascot runners depending on how they work, but for the most part, Ward has all his plans in line.
“I am very strong in all the categories with the horses I'm coming in with,” Ward said on this week's TDN podcast. “I know the races now, I know what it takes to win. All the horses I am bringing are going to be very competitive.”
Who's In:
Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy): A winner last year at Royal Ascot in the G2 Queen Mary S., the 3-year-old filly will take on males in the G1 King's Stand S. June 20. She is coming off a win in the April 15 Giant's Causeway S. at Keeneland.
“She will be in against the older horses and she is a 3-year-old filly,” Ward noted. “We get a weight concession. Still, it will be tough race for a 3-year-old filly. She is the favorite for the race right now, which tells us we're in the right spot, and she likes the course. She is doing great and our fingers are crossed. I'm not worried about taking on males. Over there, the fillies race against the colts all the time and if you have a fast filly, why not? You get a weight break and many times when I have run fillies against boys and thought they'd win they have.”
Arawak (Uncle Mo): He will go June 20 in the G2 Coventry S. The 2-year-old broke his maiden by seven lengths May 26 at Belmont in a maiden race on the dirt.
“Unfortunately, that race came off the grass at Belmont, but he won convincingly,” Ward said. “Although by Uncle Mo, I've breezed him numerous times on the grass and I believe he's way better on the grass.”
Happy Like A Fool (Distorted Humor): A horse Ward also bred, the 2-year-old filly won a 4 1/2-furlong maiden at Keeneland Apr. 9. She will run in the G2 Queen Mary S. June 21.
Con Te Partiro (Scat Daddy): Will go in the June 21 Sandringham S. after kicking off her 2017 campaign with a fourth-place finish in the Soaring Softly S. at Belmont.
“She came from way, way back, came charging (in the Soaring Softly) and just got beat three-quarters of a length and was fourth. That was her race since Frankie [Dettori] rode her against the boys going down the hill on Breeders' Cup Day [in the GI Juvenile Turf Sprint]. She's also a stakes winner on grass at two in Saratoga in the Bolton Landing.”
McErin (Trappe Shot): After breaking his maiden at Keeneland, he was third, beaten a neck, in the Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill Downs. He will go June 22 in the G2 Norfolk.
“He is a Trappe Shot, but he really likes the grass more than the dirt,” Ward said. “I've breezed him many times in Florida on the dirt and on the turf at Palm Meadows. He was lengths better on the grass. I'm really looking forward to this colt's race. He should be very, very tough in the Norfolk.”
Bound For Nowhere (The Factor): The 3-year-old, who is two-for-two, was an easy winner of an Apr. 20 allowance at Keeneland. He will go in the G1 Commonwealth S. June 23.
“This is a very nice colt who is undefeated,” Ward said. “The win at Keeneland was an explosive performance. He's been working with Lady Aurelia and been giving her everything she can handle down the lane. I'm very confident in him, as well. He's a big, improving colt. I think he has a really big chance.”
Fairyland (Scat Daddy): Another 2-year-old filly who broke her maiden easily at Keeneland. She will run June 23 in the G3 Albany.
“This a Scat Daddy filly that Coolmore paid $375,000 for,” Ward said. “She won very easily in her maiden at Keeneland. She's been breezing on the grass and should be very tough.”
Who's Out:
Undrafted (Purim): “We had talked about bringing him over for the Wokingham on closing day,” Ward said. “[Owners] Sol Kumin and Wes Welker got together and thought it be best he go instead in the (GIII) Jaipur on Belmont Stakes Day. Selfishly, I wanted to bring him over there. I love that horses so much. In the bigger picture, they thought it would take too much out of him to go over and back and compromise how many starts he might have this year.”
On the Bubble:
Elizabeth Darcy (Ire) (Camacho (GB) and Nootka Sound (Lonhro {Aus}): Both are 2-year-olds who won at first asking. Ward said they will work against one another Monday and whichever one is more impressive will be headed to the Windsor Castle S. on opening day.
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