Ward Seeks First Summer Score

Woodbine's GII Summer S. is one of the few turf stakes that Wesley Ward has not won and he looks to change that Sunday with undefeated morning-line favorite Hemp Hemp Hurray (Artie Schiller). Graduating by four lengths in his Belmont unveiling July 9, the Ken and Sarah Ramsey runner romped by 7 1/4 lengths in Monmouth's Tyro S. next out Aug. 6 and tries a mile for the first time in this “Win and You're In” event in an attempt to secure a spot in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf starting gate.

Graham Motion saddles “TDN Rising Star” Untamed Domain (Animal Kingdom) off a third-place effort in Saratoga's GIII With Anticipation S. Aug. 30. Fourth on debut sprinting at Laurel, the bay proved to be more of a router with an impressive victory going 1 1/16 miles at the Spa July 22. Click here for Steve Sherack's feature on Motion and Untamed Domain.

Trainer Todd Pletcher sends out another live runner in El Dulce (Twirling Candy), a debut winner at Saratoga July 29 who checked in second in a muddy off-the-turf renewal of that venue's Skidmore S. Aug. 18.

A number of debut winners take a big step up here, including Woodbine-based Admiralty Pier (English Channel), who wired the field for a 4 3/4-length success on the local lawn Aug. 6. Fellow local hopeful Count Alexander, a son of the red hot international sire Scat Daddy, earned his diploma by fourth lengths going six panels over this course Aug. 27. Click here for a feature on Count Alexander's connections by Editor-in-Chief Jessica Martini.