Outfielder

Wesley Ward has been the greatest international supporter of Royal Ascot in recent years and the American trainer has dispatched a team of seven runners in a bid to extend his record at the meeting of 12 wins to date. The septet includes G1 Commonwealth Cup contender Outfielder (Speightstown), an imposing individual who was fourth in last season's G1 Prix Morny and has picked up a pair of black-type wins at Turfway Park and Churchill Downs this year. Outfielder and Ez Tin, the Golden Pal filly who runs in the...

From Kentucky to France to the Breeders' Cup last year, Outfielder (Speightstown) has always been well-regarded, and he made his return to the races a stylish one with a frontrunning masterclass in the Animal Kingdom Stakes. A buzz horse almost from day one, he was made a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' at first-asking in late May last year when he went gate-to-wire by a commanding 6 1/4 lengths in a five-furlong maiden dash at Churchill Downs. Trainer Wesley Ward saw more than a glimmer of potential in his...

Six hopefuls pre-entered into their respective Breeders' Cup races turned in final works Saturday morning at Keeneland, and connections are reporting positive prognoses ahead of shipping dates. On the dirt track went Bentornato (Valiant Minister), breezing four furlongs in :49.40 (34/89). Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. was in the irons. The 4-year-old is pre-entered into the GI Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint and is looking to improve a placing from last year as the runner-up in the 2024 edition. "[I was] looking for a nice, easy workout," trainer Jose D'Angelo said. "We...

3rd-Keeneland, $116,490, Alw, 10-4, (NW2L), 2yo, 6f, 1:11.26, ft, 2 lengths. OUTFIELDER (c, 2, Speightstown--Notte d'Oro {SW-USA, SP-Can, $242,482}, by Medaglia d'Oro) became a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' at Churchill Downs back in May with an easy 6 1/4-length win on the grass for Wesley Ward. A next planned start at Royal Ascot was punted when he came down with a minor shin issue but Ward was still able to ship the young colt to France where he wound up fourth beaten 2 3/4 lengths in the G1...

3rd-KEE, $120k, Alw (N2L), 2yo, 6f, post time: 2:04 p.m. ET Amo Racing USA, Wesley Ward and Two Eight Racing's OUTFIELDER (Speightstown) was scratched out of Friday's GIII Futurity Stakes in favor of trying the main track for the first time in a two-lifetime allowance at Keeneland. The $850,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga graduate was named a 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard at first asking when streaking away by better than a half-dozen lengths sprinting on the grass at Churchill in May, but was forced to skip Royal Ascot and was...

It was a two-horse race almost right from the gate, but Intricate Spirit (Complexity) overtook the longtime leader late to stamp a ticket to the Breeders' Cup in the GIII Futurity Stakes at the Belmont Big A meet. The Miguel Clement-trainee was unveiled Aug. 1 upstate at Saratoga with a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'-worthy performance ahead of a next out winner at Kentucky Downs. He too took a swing at the boutique meet Aug. 28 and finished second by three-quarters of a length to Street Beast (Street Sense),...

Friday is the start of the unofficial Kentucky state holiday known as Opening Weekend at Keeneland, and GI Spinaway victress Tommy Jo (Into Mischief) headlines a strong card for fantastic racing not just at the venue but across the country. Largely considered the last hurrah for anyone trying to get into the World Championships by way of the 'WAYI' challenge series, several tracks across the country have such opportunities in October, and Keeneland will be hosting three such chances on Friday. The last of the graded races for the opening...

Sunday, Deauville, France, post time: 15:50, SUMBE PRIX MORNY-G1, €350,000, 2yo, c/f, 6fT Field: Outfielder (Speightstown), Coppull (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), Gstaad (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Wise Approach (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Imperial Me Cen (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Venetian Sun (Ire) (Starman {GB}). TDN Verdict: TDN Rising Star Outfielder makes his eagerly awaited return, coming back off a 6 1/4-length debut rout at Churchill Downs in May, in a mouthwatering renewal of a race Wesley Ward has already plundered with No Nay Never, Lady Aurelia and Campanelle. All five rivals have black-type wins...

Former Major League Baseball champion Jayson Werth will be in attendance at Deauville when the exciting Outfielder lines up in the G1 Sumbe Prix Morny on Sunday, August 24. Werth, who owns the son of Speightstown in partnership with Amo Racing and trainer Wesley Ward, won the 2008 World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies. In racing, he is perhaps best known as the part-owner of Dornoch, who won last year's GI Belmont Stakes and GI Haskell Stakes for trainer Danny Gargan. Werth also played a starring role in the Netflix...

There aren't many American trainers who win a two-year-old grass maiden at Churchill Downs and immediately think that the obvious next stop is the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville at the end of August. But Wesley Ward isn't like most American trainers. For one thing, he's tried it four times. Won three. Finished second the other time. He'll take his fifth tilt at the Morny on August 24 when he sends Outfielder (Speightstown) over to Deauville for just his second lifetime start. Ward is known for thinking outside the...

Trainer Wesley Ward has sent some very good horses to Royal Ascot over the years and has won 12 races there. Win No. 13 looked to be well within his reach as he was planning on sending Outfielder (Speightstown) to the GII Norfolk S. on June 19. The horse was so impressive when winning his debut that some believed he could be the best horse Ward ever sent to Ascot. But a Tuesday morning workout at Keeneland yielded a minor injury that will keep the two-year-old home. "We breezed him...

After a sizzling win in a May 23 maiden on the grass at Churchill Downs, Wesley Ward confirmed what he already knew. 'TDN Rising Star' Outfielder (Speightstown) is among the best 2-year-olds he has ever trained. So it's no surprise that the colt will soon be on his way to Royal Ascot to compete in the G2 Norfolk Stakes June 19. "I was nervous going into the race at Churchill, just because I was so excited and he's one of those colts who has so much ability, Ward said. "The...