Golden Pal Confirmed for Nunthorpe After Aug. 11 Breeze

Ace 3-year-old turf sprinter Golden Pal  travels Aug. 12 for an overnight flight from Indianapolis, Ind., to Britain to compete in the Aug. 20 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) at York Racecourse, trainer Wesley Ward said.

Last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) winner will make his second start of 2021 in the Nunthorpe, where he is projected as the joint favorite with European standout Suesa . Last out, Golden Pal won the July 15 Quick Call Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course by three lengths.

That was his first start since the Coolmore-affiliated partnership of Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Westerberg acquired him from breeder Randall Lowe. Golden Pal raced for Lowe throughout his 2-year-old season.

Since the Quick Call, the son of Uncle Mo   has worked on turf around cones placed to protect the inner portion of a turf course, covering four furlongs in :51 4/5 at Arlington International Racecourse July 31, followed by five-eighths in 1:01 4/5 at Keeneland Aug. 11.

Commenting on the Keeneland breeze under exercise rider and former jockey Julio Garcia, Ward said, "We got really lucky and got some rain, and the course had a lot of give in it, and he just skipped over it." 

Ward added that his two participants from last week at Deauville in France, Twilight Gleaming  and Campanelle , have returned to the U.S. and are completing quarantine in Chicago before heading to Stonestreet Farm for a few days of rest. Stonestreet owns both.

Twilight Gleaming won the Aug. 7 Prix de la Vallee d'Auge, while Campanelle ran last of 12 following an awkward start in the LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1). Twilight Gleaming will likely be trained up to the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar, Ward indicated.

Frankie Dettori, who rode both Stonestreet runners in France, has the mount on Golden Pal in the five-furlong Nunthorpe.

Ward has twice been second in the race, beginning with Acapulco  in 2015 and followed a couple of years later by Lady Aurelia .

The Nunthorpe is a unique group 1 in which 2-year-olds can compete against horses aged 3 and up, albeit with a sizable weight break from their older rivals. Acapulco competed as a juvenile for Ward, Lady Aurelia as a 3-year-old.

Ward said Golden Pal would carry 135 pounds in the Aug. 20 race. The colt has three wins, all in stakes, and two seconds from five career starts and earnings of $659,056.

The Nunthorpe is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge race series, providing the winner with an automatic, paid berth in the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Del Mar.