Golden Pal Has Final Work Before Saratoga Assignment

Trainer Wesley Ward stood along the rail of the Oklahoma Training Track on a spectacular summer day July 29 and watched his best do his thing. And Golden Pal , owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg, did what he was supposed to do in his final work before his date with the $300,000 Troy Stakes (G3T) Aug. 5

Golden Pal drilled five furlongs in a time of 1:01.86 on the turf course at the Oklahoma Training Track with exercise rider Julio Garcia, a former jockey, on his back. Ward flew Garcia up from Keeneland to work the horse.

Garcia is a member of Ward's Kentucky team.

"He worked great," Ward said. "Julio knows the horse; he has worked him his whole life. He seemed relaxed and went nice and easy for Julio."

Ward has called Golden Pal, a 4-year-old son ofUncle Mo  , the best horse he has ever trained. He has won six of nine career starts on turf, including the Skidmore (T) in 2020 and the Quick Call (G3T) last summer. In his last start, the Kings Stand Stakes (G1T) at Royal Ascot June 14, Golden Pal broke slowly and was never a factor, finishing 16th as the 9-5 favorite.

Ward said Golden Pal has done everything right during his summer stay at Saratoga Race Course. This was his third work.

"We are ready," Ward said. "This is a very talented horse. The main thing was to come in and out of this work perfect. With the track the way it is, with the rain we had, we could not have asked for anything better."