Ward Fillies Work at Arlington for Royal Meet
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A quartet of trainer Wesley Ward's Royal Ascot hopefuls each breezed a half-mile on the turf at Arlington International Racecourse May 24.
The group, all 2-year-old fillies, worked in pairs with the dogs up. Michael Dubb's Back At the Ranch (Santo Sanjur up) and Gainesway Stable's Storied Tale (Jose Valdivia Jr. up) worked in tandem, with the former going in :49 2/5 and latter in :50 1/5 over the firm turf. Bruised Orange (Sanjur) and Laxfield Road (Valdivia), both owned by Hat Creek Racing, went in :49 flat and :48 3/5, respectively.
The Royal Ascot meet runs from June 16 to June 20,
The Chicagoland oval's turf course has been integral to Ward's international success, including works the last two years by French group I winner No Nay Never in 2013 and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf victor Hootenanny (gr. IT), both winners at Royal Ascot prior to shipping overseas.
Laxfield Road, a daughter of Quality Road out of a half sister to 2008 Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I) winner Monba, was an emphatic winner in her debut April 22 at Keeneland, routing eight others by 11 1/4 lengths.
Bruised Orange, a daughter of City Zip —out of a half sister to Canadian champions Primaly and Poetically, grade I winner Citronnade, and grade III winner and leading Canadian sire Whiskey Wisdom—exuded class while winning by three lengths on her debut Apr. 8 at Keeneland.
Back At the Ranch, a $110,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, is by Artie Schiller and broke her maiden in her second start May 7 at Belmont Park.
Storied Tale, a daughter of Tale of the Cat out of grade III-winning turf mare Caminadora, won easily in the first juvenile race of the New York season April 23 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The fillies may not be the only ones preparing at Arlington to raid the United Kingdom.
Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Ice Wine Stable's Finnegan, a five-length maiden winner second time out on Preakness Day at Pimlico Race Course, is possible to venture up to Arlington from Ward's Keeneland base. Said to be the best juvenile in the barn, the Irish-bred Unbridled's Song half brother to grade I winner, dual classic-placed, and young Central Kentucky stallion Bodemeister , is confirmed as being aimed toward Royal Ascot's Coventry Stakes (Eng-II).