Love Reigns Tops Ward-Trained Exacta in Limestone
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Photo: Mathea Kelley
Love Reigns wins the Limestone Stakes at Keeneland
Trainer Wesley Ward once again asserted himself as the undisputed king of turf sprint trainers as his pair of Love Reigns and Lady Hollywood ran one-two in the $208,188 Limestone Stakes for 3-year-old filly turf sprinters at Keeneland.
Stonestreet Stables' Love Reigns saved ground in mid-pack throughout but had nowhere to go as she gained steam approaching the three-sixteenths marker. Joel Rosario had to check sharply before gathering his filly along the rail. The U S Navy Flag filly then weaved around the fading Accomplished Girl before bravely rallying inside her stablemate—AMO Racing USA's Lady Hollywood, with John Velazquez aboard—to win by a half-length.
"We were following a couple of horses and she really came with a nice move," Rosario said. "She put herself together and got back, and that was unbelievable."
Love Reigns completed the 5 1/2 furlongs over a firm course in 1:02.45 and paid $7.38 as the betting favorite. Lady Hollywood was another half-length ahead of My Sweet Affair in the field of 11. Danse Macabre , winner of the March 4 Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park, scratched after drawing the outside post 12.
The winning connections of Love Regins in the trophy presentation for the Limestone Stakes
"I would say these are the toughest 3-year-old fillies in our country sprinting on the turf," Ward said.
The Ward-trained fillies were making their 3-year-old debuts in their first efforts since off-the-board finishes in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T), as was fourth-place finisher American Apple . Love Reigns was favored in that race off a dominant win in the 2022 Bolton Landing Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
Love Reigns will be pointed to the June 20 King's Stand (G1) at Ascot Racecourse, one of the Tuesday fixtures on the first day of the Royal Ascot meeting.
"We'll hope she can move forward—and she'll have to—when we get to the King's Stand," Ward said.
Lady Hollywood, by Havana Grey , ran what appeared to be a winning race, clearing the field with a sixteenth to go before her stablemate burst through in the final jumps. It was Lady Hollywood's first start for Ward, who kept her in Kentucky for AMO Racing following the Breeders' Cup.
"She's kind of a little filly but she's a fighter," Ward said. "I was really happy with her as well. She ran a really beautiful race."
Love Reigns is the fifth winner and third stakes winner of five foals to race for her dam, the Pivotal mare Humble and Proud. The filly is a half sister to two stakes winners, including 2018 Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) winner Glorious Empire . Bred in Ireland by Patrick Grogan, Love Reigns was purchased at the 2021 Goffs Orby Yearling Sale for €160,000 ($187,124) by agent Ben McElroy for Stonestreet Stables. Humble and Proud has an unnamed 2-year-old filly by Kodiac and a yearling colt by Mehmas .