Ward Stablemates Fauci, Golden Pal to Meet in Skidmore
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Photo: Keeneland/Coady Photography
Fauci breaks his maiden July 9 at Keeneland
A trio of Wesley Ward trainees make up half the entries in the $85,000 Skidmore Stakes Aug. 21 at Saratoga Race Course. The conditioner has entered maiden winner Fauci, Norfolk Stakes (G2) runner-up Golden Pal, and the debut-winning filly Sunny Isle Beach.
The Skidmore, for 2-year-olds dashing 5 1/2 furlongs on the Mellon turf, will be run Lasix-free.
Lindy Farms and Ice Wine Stable's Fauci won at second asking July 9 at Keeneland, pressuring the pace before getting up for a length score going the Skidmore distance on yielding turf. He was scratched from the Aug. 8 Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park after the race was moved to the main track, but Ward said the Malibu Moon colt has the ability for both surfaces.
"He can do both. I see more ability on grass than dirt right now," the trainer said. "I was impressed with how he ran on the soft turf at Keeneland. I've seen in the past where a horse goes :58 and change and then backs out. For him to take that heat up front and still go on with it was nice to see. He has heart, and he has will."
Skipping a bid in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) at York against older horses, Ranlo Investments' homebred Golden Pal will remain stateside for the Skidmore. The Uncle Mo colt has finished second in both of his starts. He was edged by three-quarters of a length on debut April 17 on Gulfstream Park's main track and was caught late by The Lir Jet, a neck winner, in the June 19 Norfolk during the Royal Ascot meet.
"He is a very, very special colt. He is really an amazing horse, and if he keeps moving on up, I think he could really be something," Ward said. "He's done everything right, and he's just extremely, extremely gifted."
Golden Pal is the first foal out of Lady Shipman, an earner of $902,387 whose 11 stakes wins include the 2016 Royal North Stakes (G3T). She was also second in the 2015 TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T). Like her son, she was bred and campaigned by Randall Lowe's Ranlo Investments.
"He's pure speed. He takes after the mare in that regard," Ward said of the juvenile. "He's got a real great personality. He's like the high school quarterback, just thinks he's a real cat daddy."
Ward also entered Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Sunny Isle Beach. The Jimmy Creed filly rallied to win by a head in her lone start, a five-furlong maiden claiming race June 6 on Churchill Downs' main track.
"She's doing well. She's done everything right," Ward said. "The race might be a little tough for her, but we're giving it a shot."
Fauci and Golden Pal will break from posts 5 and 6, respectively. Tyler Gaffalione keeps the mount on Fauci, and Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Golden Pal. Sunny Isle Beach will depart from the rail under Javier Castellano.
The other three entries are Baytown Bear, the most experienced horse in the field with five starts, including a one-mile maiden win on Indiana Grand's main track July 7; Kentucky Knight, who has not started; and Sky's Not Falling, a debut winner and stakes-placed on dirt.
Saratoga Race Course, Friday, August 21, 2020, Race 3Entries: Skidmore S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Sunny Isle Beach (KY)
Javier Castellano
117
Wesley A. Ward
20/1
2
2Baytown Bear (KY)
Dylan Davis
122
Paul McEntee
30/1
3
3Kentucky Knight (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
118
Amira Chichakly
30/1
4
4Sky's Not Falling (MD)
Jose L. Ortiz
122
Michael J. Trombetta
5/1
5
5Fauci (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
122
Wesley A. Ward
8/5
6
6Golden Pal (FL)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
118
Wesley A. Ward
3/5
