Campanelle Returns in Limestone Turf Sprint
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Photo: Keeneland/Coady Photography
Campanelle trains over the turf course ahead of the Breeders' Cup last fall at Keeneland
The April 9 TVG Limestone Turf Sprint Stakes appears to be the 2021 lift-off for two talented fillies entering off disappointing performances in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) last fall. The highly touted Wesley Ward-trained Campanelle , a group 1 winner in France, and the grade-1 placed Graham Motion protégé Alda , will make their sophomore debuts against 11 other 3-year-old fillies in the $100,000 5 1/2 furlong sprint test over the Keeneland turf.
Owned by Stonestreet Stables, Campanelle was a wire-to-wire winner in her debut at Gulfstream Park as a 2-year-old before defeating Europe's best overseas in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot. The Kodiac filly followed up that triumph with a sharp score in the Darley Prix Morny (G1) at Deauville over soft ground. Sent back to the U.S., Campanelle was made the third choice when stretching out to one mile in the Breeders' Cup but tired to finish fourth after pressing the early pace.
Breaking from post 8, Campanelle secures the services of the red-hot Joel Rosario in the Limestone Turf Sprint.
The bay breezed five furlongs in 1:01.80 on the grass in company with her stablemate Carimba April 4 at Keeneland.
Unbeaten in two starts, the lightly raced Carimba hasn't started since a 3 3/4 length allowance win going five furlongs on the turf last September at Indiana Grand. The Kantharos filly trained at Palm Meadows Training Center throughout the winter and was originally entered in the March 20 Texas Glitter Stakes at Gulfstream Park but was scratched.
Also owned by Stonestreet Stables, Carimba will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.
Alda trains before the Breeders' Cup last November at Keeneland
Wertheimer and Frere's homebred Alda was a second time out winner at Belmont Park as a juvenile prior to crossing the northern border into Canada for two consecutive outings on the Woodbine turf course. The daughter of Munnings didn't disappoint, earning a black type victory in the Catch a Glimpse Stakes and placing in the Natalma Stakes (G1T) to Lady Speightspeare . Alda struggled home in 12th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, and like Campanelle, will cut back in distance for the Limestone Turf Sprint.
"This is what we have pointed her for," said Motion. "My intention was to shorten her up for her first start off the break."
John Velazquez reunites with Alda for her first effort of the year.
The Brett Calhoun-trained New Boss ships in from Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, where she rattled off two back-to-back turf wins in front-running fashion—a Dec. 28 allowance optional claimer and the March 6 Allen Black Cat LaCombe Memorial Stakes.
Adam Beschizza retains the mount on the Street Boss filly, owned by Barry and Carol Conrad.
Keeneland, Friday, April 09, 2021, Race 7Entries: TVG Limestone Turf Sprint S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Inajiffy (KY)
Gabriel Saez
118
Joe Sharp
15/1
2
2Threatlevelmidnite (GB)
Rafael Bejarano
118
Ethan W. West
50/1
3
3Carimba (IN)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
118
Wesley A. Ward
8/1
4
4Salvaje (KY)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
118
Cherie DeVaux
30/1
5
5Igloo (KY)
UMBERTO RISPOLI
118
Jonathan Thomas
30/1
6
6New Boss (KY)
Adam Beschizza
118
W. Bret Calhoun
6/1
7
7Tobys Heart (KY)
Javier Castellano
118
Brian A. Lynch
6/1
8
8Campanelle (IRE)
Joel Rosario
123
Wesley A. Ward
8/5
9
9Goin' Good (KY)
Florent Geroux
118
Brad H. Cox
8/1
10
10Alda (KY)
John R. Velazquez
118
H. Graham Motion
6/1
11
11Nimbostratus (FR)
Luis Saez
118
Peter Miller
8/1
12
12Phantom Vision (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
118
Michael J. Maker
30/1
13
13Navratilova (KY)
Julien R. Leparoux
118
George R. Arnold, II
30/1
