Fauci to Make 2021 Debut in Palisades Turf Sprint
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Photo: Keeneland/Coady Photography
Fauci breaks his maiden last July at Keeneland
Lindy Farms and Ice Wine Stable's multiple stakes-placed winner Fauci , never worse than second in four career starts, will begin his 2021 campaign during opening day at Keeneland April 2 in the $100,000 Palisades Turf Sprint Stakes.
The 3-year-old son of Malibu Moon has not raced since Sept. 12 when he was second to Wesley Ward stablemate Outadore in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint Stakes going 6 1/2 furlongs on the grass. Prior to the Juvenile Turf Sprint, Fauci was second to stablemate Golden Pal in the Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. Golden Pal went on to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) at Keeneland.
Ward said the 5 1/2-furlong Palisades has been for awhile the go-to spot for Fauci to launch his 2021 campaign.
"We had a minor issue toward the end of the year so we gave him extra time. He's back and training great so we're excited," said Ward. "He'll definitely stretch out. This is just a starting point. He was ready a little earlier than this, but we decided to wait and run here, which has been his home for the last year and half."
Golden Pal wins the 2020 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland
Golden Pal also had a minor setback following the Breeders' Cup, and Ward said he expects the Uncle Mo colt will return to sprinting in late spring.
"(Golden Pal) is equally as talented on the dirt, but we are probably going to bring him back on the grass for his first race back," he said.
Tyler Gaffalione has the mount on Fauci and will break from post 8.
Returning to Keeneland, where he won the 5 1/2-furlong Indian Summer Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select last October, is Kristin Boice and Marylou Holden's Bodenheimer . Trained by Valorie Lund, the son of Atta Boy Roy also raced in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint where a bad break and wide trip left him in eighth-place at the finish. Bodenheimer is the highweight in the Palisades field at 120 pounds with all other runners carrying 118. Brian Hernandez Jr. retained the mount and will break from post 2.
The field of 10 includes a couple of last-out winners.
Ward will saddle Chasing Artie for Ken and Sarah Ramsey. The homebred gelded son of We Miss Artie won a five-furlong turf sprint gate-to-wire Feb. 26 at Gulfstream Park by 1 1/2 lengths in :55.43. Chasing Artie will be ridden by Joel Rosario and break from post 3.
Two Hearts Farm's Blameworthy also won his previous start March 11 in a six-furlong allowance race at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Trained by Christopher Davis, the son of Blame has finished off the board once in five starts. He's won twice and been second twice. Florent Geroux has the mount and will leave from post 4.
The rest of the field includes Lookin for Loki , Smokin' Jay , Rustler , Unitedandresolute , Lock Up , and J C's Champ .
Keeneland, Friday, April 02, 2021, Race 7Entries: Palisades Turf Sprint S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Lookin for Loki (KY)
Mitchell Murrill
118
Chris A. Hartman
12/1
2
2Bodenheimer (WA)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
120
Valorie Lund
4/1
3
3Chasing Artie (KY)
Joel Rosario
118
Wesley A. Ward
7/2
4
4Blameworthy (KY)
Florent Geroux
118
Christopher Davis
4/1
5
5Smokin' Jay (KY)
Luis Saez
118
Kelsey Danner
15/1
6
6Rustler (KY)
Corey J. Lanerie
118
Robert B. McCutchen
15/1
7
7Unitedandresolute (KY)
James Graham
118
Thomas M. Amoss
10/1
8
8Fauci (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
118
Wesley A. Ward
2/1
9
9Lock Up (KY)
Drayden Van Dyke
118
D. Wayne Lukas
20/1
10
10J C's Champ (KY)
Emmanuel Esquivel
118
Aaron M. West
50/1
