Wesley Ward

When it comes to American trainers winning races at Royal Ascot, Wesley Ward has no equal. He's won 12 races there. But he might want to look over his shoulder as there's another American trainer intent on winning races at the prestigious meet. In 2023, George Weaver won the G2 Queen Mary Stakes with Crimson Advocate (Nyquist) for his first Royal Ascot winner. This year, he'll be back with Sandal's Song (Mendelssohn), the winner of last Saturday's Royal Palm Juvenile at Gulfstream. The Royal Palm is a qualifier race for...

Lennilu (Leinster), who beat both Kadabra (Good Magic) and Chambourcin (Copper Bullet), both return winners in recent days, in her Apr. 6 Keeneland slop debut took another step forward in her stakes debut over this turf course. Partnered by Luis Saez, she bumped into Satisfied Mind (First Samurai) leaving the gate before forcing the pace in the early stages. The 4-5 favorite in a field of 11 took over from Satisfied Mind turning for home and readily kicked clear from the rallying debutante Bibi Dahl to prevail by 3 3/4...

One of two fillies in a scratched down field of six for Thursday's Kentucky Juvenile Stakes, Pinky Finger (Army Mule) made those that swallowed the 1-2 starting price sweat it out in the waning strides, but was home narrowly best to run her record to two wins from as many appearances. A 7 1/2-length debut winner at even-money at Keeneland while also facing the boys Apr. 7, the $90,000 Keeneland November weanling hit the ground running here and dueled through the early stages with Monster (Leinster) before opening up some...

2nd-Keeneland, $90k, MSW, 2yo, f, 4 1/2f, post time: 1:32 p.m. Repole Stable's homebred Nonna's Love (Caravaggio) makes her first trip to the post for trainer Todd Pletcher. Out of Nonna Bella (Stay Thirsty), the gray filly is a half-sister to 2023 Eclipse champion juvenile and multiple Grade I winner Fierceness (City of Light) and to graded winner Mentee (City of Light). Wesley Ward saddles morning-line favorite Gracie's Delight (American Pharoah) on behalf of For the People Racing Stable. TJCIS PPs

Two horses have been supplemented to Keeneland's April Select Horses of Racing Age Sale, set to begin Apr. 25, namely stakes winner Incanto (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and the maiden-placed Happyhappyboy (Runhappy), the auction house announced Friday afternoon. The former is trained by Jose D'Angelo and has two victories to his credit in 2025, including the Texas Glitter Stakes at Gulfstream Park Mar. 22, before he shipped out to Santa Anita for a try in the Listed John Shear Stakes. Finishing fifth there, the gelding will be selling remotely from Santa...

1st-Keeneland, $81,360, Msw, 4-13, 2yo, 4 1/2f, :51.96, ft, 3 lengths. OHOOPEE (f, 2, Bee Jersey--Lady Ekati, by Tale of Ekati), who debuted as part of an uncoupled entry alongside favorite Diblasi (Win Win Win) for trainer Wesley Ward, did not let a field of colts intimidate her one iota. The 9-5 second choice came running out of the blocks and set the pace heading out of the chute. Continuing to carve out the fractions around the far turn, the filly sailed home a winner by three lengths over her...

Named a 'TDN Rising Star' when decimating a field of main-track maidens at Gulfstream by 16 1/4 lengths last October, Shisospicy (Mitole) faded to third after setting hot fractions in the Fern Creek Stakes at Churchill in November. She just failed to last in the Jan. 4 Mockingbird Stakes at Oaklawn, but most recently wired a Gulfstream allowance in her first go on the grass Feb. 5. Carrying an imposing worktab for this return to stakes competition, the Morplay colorbearer was kicked straight into a clear advantage by Irad Ortiz,...

1st-Keeneland, $82,854, Msw, 4-7, 2yo, 4 1/2f, :52.56, gd, 7 1/2 lengths. PINKY FINGER (f, 2, Army Mule--Bird Map, by Liam's Map), the lone filly in the field, was sent off at even money and never gave her backers any doubts. The bay shot out to the early lead and had a clear advantage in a matter of strides. She was some three lengths in front at the top of the stretch after a quarter in :22.10 and, with jockey Joel Rosario glancing back for challengers more than once, extended...

With less than five weeks remaining to Dubai World Cup night at the sprawling Meydan Racecourse Apr. 5, the American challenge for the $12-million main event is coming together, with at least two U.S.-based middle-distance gallopers targeting the 2000-meter contest. Wathnan Racing's Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) has come out of his distant third-place effort to 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) in Saturday's GI Santa Anita Handicap in good order and connections have accepted an invitation to the World Cup, Case Clay, Wathnan's U.S. advisor, confirmed Sunday. "Will pow-wow...

This could only happen to Brad Cox. He trained the best 2-year-old filly in the country last year as Eclipse Award winner Immersive (Nyquist) whipped everything she faced, including eight challengers in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Earlier this year, she looked like the runaway leader among the fillies eyeing the GI Kentucky Oaks, but came down with a minor injury and will not be ready in time for the Oaks. For most other trainers that would have been a severe setback, losing out on a chance they may...

Stud TNT's Running Away (f, 3, Gun Runner--Allez Marie, by Unbridled's Song), a five-length, wire-to-wire winner at third asking--her first try on dirt--going two turns at Churchill Downs Nov. 30, never looked back in Saturday's $125,000 Busanda Stakes at the Big A, good for 20 points on the road to the GI Kentucky Oaks. The 3-2 favorite cleared her rivals from her outside draw in post six beneath the hot-handed Sahin Civaci, led through fractions of :23.83 and :48.50 and kept on finding in the stretch to score by 2...

by Jessica Martini & Stefanie Grimm LEXINGTON, KY - The Keeneland January of All Ages Sale produced its third $700,000 mare when Love to Shop (Violence), consigned by Claiborne Farm, brought that co-sale topping bid from Pin Oak Stud Tuesday. During the second session of the three-day auction, 242 horses sold for $10,854,300. The average was $44,852 and the median was $20,000. With 89 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 26.89%. Through two sessions, 442 head have grossed $28,941,300, for an average of $65,478 and a median of...