Wesley Ward

by Jessica Martini and Stefanie Grimm A filly from the first crop of Jackie's Warrior became the second highest-priced juvenile to ever sell at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale when she brought a final bid of $2.3 million and the four-day auction reached its halfway point Wednesday with double-digit gains over its 2025 renewal. Through two sessions, 314 horses have sold for a gross of $50,655,000. The average of $161,322 is up 13.0% from the same point in last year's Spring sale and is up...

The first runner and winner for freshman sire Golden Pal (by Uncle Mo), SKARA BRAE (Golden Pal--Mince, by War Front) was installed for her debut as the 2-5 favorite here. The filly exited the gate in good order and proceeded to make every pole a winning one. Running free down the lane, the 2-year-old won by 4 1/2 lengths over Crossfire (Goldencents). On Wednesday at Keeneland, owners Ten Broeck Farm had the first winner for freshman sire Life Is Good, and they also campaigned Kimari (Munnings) who in took home...

Giving his connections no anxious moments, Waggley (Life Is Good) kicked off her young career with a splash, running off to post a 3 1/2-length score in her 4 1/2-furlong unveiling at Keeneland on Wednesday afternoon. The victory marked the first winner, and runner, for Freshman sire Life Is Good, who stands at WinStar Farm. Sent straight to the front by Joel Rosario from post 6, the bay filly scooted through an opening quarter in :23.02. On top turning for home, the $200,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase crossed the wire...

The Wesley Ward-owned and -trained SUSPICIONS (c, 2, Corniche--Manoag, by Nyquist) loaded the gate as the 13-10 favorite for the opening race of the Keeneland Spring meet Friday afternoon and reported home a relatively easy winner to get his freshman sire (by Quality Road) off the mark with his very first runner. Drawn one from the outside, Suspicions was beaten out of the gate by the well-backed Joe Joe Dude (Practical Joke) down on the inside, but the Ward runner quickly made up for lost time and was right alongside...

When the list of probables for the $2-million G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen came out a week ago, it was hardly surprising to see Qatar Racng and Mrs. Fitri Hay's Nakatomi (Firing Line) among the five American-based horses bound for Meydan Racecourse. After all, the Emirates have become a regular late-winter/early-spring destination for the chestnut gelding, as he makes his third straight appearance in the 1200-meter dash. The way connections see it, the racing Gods owe them one. Off to a slow start and awkward in the early stages in 2024,...

Since the inception of HISA, the diuretic Lasix (also known as furosemide) has been banned in all 2-year-old races and in stakes races. But that may be about to change. On May 22, HISA's nine-member Board of Directors will take a vote on whether or not the medication should be banned in all races. On that date, unless the board votes unanimously to continue the status quo, the medication will be banned. The board could also make any number of recommendations for modifications to the current provisions. To the extent...

The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, which continued straight on from the strength of the company's record-setting September Yearling Sale, concluded its eight-day run Tuesday with new highwater marks for average and median and the auction's highest gross since 2007. "This year marked a watershed moment for Keeneland Sales," said Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin. "From a record-shattering September Yearling Sale that topped $500 million in gross sales to the continued momentum into an outstanding November Breeding Stock Sale, the confidence in this marketplace has never been stronger. These...

$3.7-Million Lush Lips Tops Book 1 by Jessica Martini, Christina Bossinakis, & Alan Carasso LEXINGTON, KY - The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale blitzed through its opening session Tuesday with 17 offerings--including a pair of weanlings--selling for $1 million or more and figures up dramatically from the auction's Book 1 session in 2024. "It was a really strong day," said Keeneland President Shannon Arvin. "The broodmare market was very, very strong. We had 15 who brought $1 million or more, seven of those brought $2 million or more. The weanling...

A filly by Curlin realized a $1.25 million final bid from Wesley Ward at Keeneland's opening session of the November Sale in Lexington Tuesday. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, the February 20 foaled filly is out of Galloping Ami (Victory Gallop), Broodmare of the Year in 2016. Offered as Hip 82, the bay is a Kentucky-bred half-sister to MGISW Kopion (Omaha Beach), Canadian Champion 3-year-old Amis Gizmo (Giant Gizmo) and GSW and GISP Ami's Flatter (Flatter.) She was bred by Tall Oaks Farm and The Curlin Syndicate.

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...

It's rare for a racehorse to have the same exercise rider for his entire career. It's almost unheard of for one rider to have been with a horse since the first time a saddle was on his back. But such is the case for Breeders' Cup hopeful Nakatomi (Firing Line). Jose Hernandez was the first person to ride the Grade I winner when he was just a yearling at Wesley Ward's farm, and five years later, he's still the one galloping him each morning at Keeneland. From the first time...

6th-Keeneland, $109,588, Msw, 10-12, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:10.50, ft, 4 3/4 lengths. CUT TO THE CHASE (f, 3, Complexity--Listen to Libby, by Indian Charlie), seen just once prior when finishing fourth after setting the pace on the lawn July 14 at Ellis, again showed the way Sunday but with a much different result. The bay--second choice Sunday at 3-1--emerged from the early fray to briefly chase Contemplate (Hard Spun) before leaving that one in her wake, clocking the first quarter in :22.15. Moving easily, she stayed in front, doing it...