Ward Eyes Troy With Golden Pal, KY Downs for Campanelle

Considering the disappointment of a winless Royal Ascot raiding trip last month, Wesley Ward is taking a pragmatic view.

"That's horse racing, ya know? Things happen," Ward said on a warm summer morning at his barn near Keeneland, where he is already plotting to get back on track with crack sprinters Golden Pal  and Campanelle , the highest-profiled of his five Royal Ascot runners.

"We came back well," Ward said of the contingent. "We kinda had our heads hung low but we finished up with Campanelle with a very admirable (dead-heat) third (in the group 1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes)... so that was good. Number one, she's just an incredible filly, blessed with immense talent. She ran a beautiful race over there, being third in probably the biggest sprint race they have in Europe, and a demanding race with it being six furlongs on a straight course uphill."

Stonestreet Stables' 4-year-old daughter of Kodiac  was seeking a third straight Royal Ascot victory, having won the 2020 Queen Mary Stakes (G2) and the 2021 Commonwealth Cup (G1), the latter via disqualification. Ward has her pointing toward the Sept. 10 Kentucky Downs Mint Ladies Sprint Stakes (G3T), and has pitched a plan to Stonestreet connections that would have Campanelle return after competing in the 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland for a 5-year-old campaign and another trip across the pond.

"That was only her ninth total start of her career; she'd be really, really tough going back again next year if we race her lightly this year," Ward said. "She only had the one start in the spring (a win in the April 16 Giant's Causeway Stakes at Keeneland) and she ran beautiful and came out the race in great shape… She's just such a wonderful filly, that every time she goes over, she really, really tries hard for us."

Ward said the undulating turf course at Kentucky Downs should suit Campanelle, who has raced at Gulfstream Park, Ascot Racecourse, Deauville, and Keeneland thus far.

"Kentucky Downs is a beautiful track for her with it being such a wide (course)," he said. "The rider could kinda tuck her back a little bit and have her settle and come with a big run... I think culminating in the Breeders' Cup here in the fall should set her up permanently, not only for this year's Breeders' Cup but also for next year."

Ward Spa Dreaming With Golden Pal

Ward is ready to turn the page after grade 1 winner Golden Pal lost all chance when left at the start in the June 14 King's Stand Stakes (G1), ultimately finishing 16th under Irad Ortiz Jr.

"Right after the (King's Stand), you could see how dejected the horse was," Ward said. "Knowing the horse and how vibrant he is at the stables, he was just down for a few days, all of those days until he got back here to Keeneland. Once he got back, he still wasn't himself… but every day that goes by now… he's getting himself back together. On the track, you can see him every day training forward. He's just jogging now, (but) every day he's getting more energy to him. So… mentally, it got him a little bit. Physically, he came out of the race perfect." 

Ward is considering the Aug. 5 Troy Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course for the 4-year-old Uncle Mo   colt owned by Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Georg von Opel's Westerberg. Golden Pal won the Quick Call Stakes (G3T) there last year to launch the 3-year-old campaign that culminated in a Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) score at Del Mar. Golden Pal also won the 2020 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) at Keeneland, where he is undefeated in three starts over the Lexington lawn.

"I'd like to get a work or two back into him here, to see where he is at," Ward said. "The race is five weeks from now, so it's ample spacing, and ample spacing from race to race, especially being here, just a van ride away from Saratoga. So we will see how he progresses. We will nominate him to the race, and we will see how his workouts are, but initially that would be my plan. Of course, I've got to go over that with Coolmore, if that works for them. But I think that is a good race and a good track where he won last year, got him going... he's got an affinity for the track, and (the race could) get him back on the right track for the Breeders' Cup here."  

Ward did not outline future plans for Love Reigns , fourth in the June 15 Queen Mary Stakes (G2), Seismic Spirit , off the board in the June 15 Windsor Castle Stakes, or Ruthin , off the board in a June 17 stakes.

"All these horses, we're kind of waiting to see how they are before we plan another race; we'd like to get another work or two in them and then decide where we're going to go," he said.