Royal Ascot Runners Return to Work Tab for Ward

Trainer Wesley Ward sent out a slew of runners to breeze in the early morning hours of July 19 at Keeneland, including his Royal Ascot runners who were logging their first timed works back stateside. 

"We gave them all some nice time (off) since they've been back until we had this breeze," Ward said. "They all had some very, very nice breezes today. All of them came out of their works great, so we will see what happens." 

Ten Broeck Farm's Kimari, who finished a credible second in the June 19 Commonwealth Cup (G1) at Ascot, worked four furlongs on the turf in :50 3/5. 

"Kimari broke off six or seven lengths behind Campanelle and just kind of stayed there," Ward said. "Julio Garcia was on Kimari and was sitting back clocking the other filly, and they maintained their positions. We're weren't looking for anything big. We were just looking to get around there and for them to come out as good as they went in—just a nice, cruising work."

Keeping pace in front of Kimari was Stonestreet Stables' Campanelle, who proved she was more than ready to get back to work for Ward. The 2-year-old daughter of Kodiac and winner of the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) also breezed four furlongs on the grass and was clocked in :49 3/5. 

"Campanelle worked a little quicker than I would have liked," Ward said. "But as a 2-year-old, fresh, and coming off a nice win, she just kicked around there and it was an eye-opening breeze. I wasn't looking for something like that, but she gave it to us anyways. 

"Of any horse that I've brought back over to work after Ascot—Hootenanny , No Nay Never, and Lady Aurelia—Campanelle's work today was probably more impressive than theirs. It was visually amazing. It wasn't just me that thought that. Everyone that was watching the work was thinking the same thing I was. She has a big, long reach to her and a big stride, and she's going to go a lot further than three-quarters of a mile." 

Working in company with Stonestreet's maiden winner Wink was Ranlo Investments' Golden Pal, who ran second in Ascot's Norfolk Stakes (G2). The 2-year-old son of Uncle Mo  went four furlongs in :50. 

"Wink is a one-for-one debut winner at Belmont Park who went wire to wire," Ward said. "She had a really nice comfortable breeze in company with Golden Pal. She was very nice and relaxed, and Golden Pal was ready to roll. Garcia broke off on him a little behind them, came up and engaged, and he had his feet on the dash the whole way around. He wanted to do a lot more."

As for future race options, Ward said there is plenty for his horses to point toward.  

"We're thinking of a couple options right now," Ward said. "For Kimari, the (Aug. 8) Test Stakes (G1) or the (Aug. 21) Racho Bernardo (G3). The Test might be a little stretch with her distance limitations being about seven-eighths, so we will monitor her as we go along. That being a grade 1, you certainly want to jump into something like that if she looks like she's up to it."

As for Golden Pal, the colt will likely head back across the pond to contest the Aug. 22 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) at York against older horses.

"He'll take on the older horses," Ward said. "He gets a massive weight break at 113 pounds when the older horses get in with 140 pounds. We tried it once with Acalpulco and we were second. There have been a bunch of 2-year-olds that have been very successful in the race and won. It's a big weight break to take advantage of with a 2-year-old that has the quickness and quality he has."