Acapulco Primed For York

Trainer Wesley Ward has declared his G2 Queen Mary S. victress Acapulco (Scat Daddy) ready to take on elders in the G1 Nunthorpe S. at York Aug. 21 after an “awesome” breeze at Keeneland last week.

“She's heading to York and we're all pretty excited about it,” Ward said. “She did a really awesome breeze on the grass last week and she'll do the same here in Keeneland again this week.”

Ward confirmed he is working to secure the services of jockey John Velazquez for the Nunthorpe, where Acapulco would receive up to 25 pounds from her elders rivals.

Acapulco will be joined on her overseas travels by fellow Coolmore flagbearer Finnegan (Ire) (Unbridled's Song). The half-brother to Bodemeister (Empire Maker) made the trip to Royal Ascot but was scratched from the G2 Coventry S. the morning of the race with colic. He will target the G2 Gimcrack S. Aug. 22.

Ward also offered an update on his G1 Diamond Jubilee S. scorer Undrafted (Purim). The 5-year-old gelding is fancied by bookmakers for next month's G1 Haydock Sprint Cup, but Ward said he is likely to bypass that contest.

“We're thinking of it [the Sprint Cup], but looking at the rest of the year, with the Breeders' Cup here in Keeneland this year, we might prefer to keep him at home,” Ward said. “He is not the greatest of shippers; he can ship and then run his race, but then he seems to fall apart a little and it takes time to put him back together.”