Welker’s Undrafted Scores at Royal Ascot in Diamond Jubilee

Undrafted, above in a file photo from 2014 at Belmont Park, won the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday. (Image by Eclipse Sportswire)
National Football League wide receiver Wes Welker’s talented sprinter Undrafted rallied to a breakthrough victory at the highest level on Saturday at the prestigious Royal Ascot meet in England.
A graded stakes winner in the U.S. who finished third in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, Undrafted closed powerfully and took command in the final stages of the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes under Frankie Dettori.
Undrafted edged co-favorite Brazen Beau by a half-length for his first career Group or Grade 1 win for trainer Wesley Ward.
“The horse has been training unbelievably well and every week has been firing bullets at Keeneland [Race Course], but I’ll tell you what, Frankie is superb,” Ward said after Dettori rallied Undrafted from last to first.
“You can have a Porsche against Porsches, but you still gotta have the right guy [at the wheel] and this is a magical guy. He’s just a cool sitter and a go-getter as they say.”
Ward has a history of success at Royal Ascot. He won the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes with Jealous Again in 2009 and the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes with No Nay Never in 2013, both at Royal Ascot. Later in 2013, he won the Group 1 Prix Morny in France with No Nay Never.
Ward also picked up a big win earlier in the 2015 Royal Ascot meet when Acapulco won the Queen Mary Stakes by 1 ½ lengths as the favorite, but the trip to England took a turn for the worse when his daughter Denae became sick and was hospitalized.
"We were in Frimley hospital all last night. I don’t know what happened but my daughter got a touch of the bell’s palsy,” Ward said. “It’s unbelievable and really special for this little girl, she really wanted to come out here and we were all night in the hospital. Fortunately enough, Derrick Smith sent over a wonderful doctor and we are here today to enjoy this special moment. It didn’t look like we were going to make it but we did.
“I am just elated. This is the biggest race I’ve won – I’ve won Breeders’ Cups and races here in the past, but to come here and be presented with a Group 1 trophy by the Queen was such a fantastic experience.”
Undrafted went off at 14-to-1 odds in England and paid $34.80 for a $2 win bet in the North American mutual wagering pool. The Diamond Jubilee Stakes is among the most presigous sprints in Europe and a vareer-defining victory for a horse's résumé
The 5-year-old gelding improved to five wins in 20 starts and the $472,852 winner’s share boosted his career earnings to $1,042,178.
Prior to the Diamond Jubilee, Welker privately sold an interest in Undrafted to Sol Kumin.
Undrafted is from the first crop of Grade 1 winner Purim out of the winning French Deputy mare French Jeannette.
Welker was undrafted out of Texas Tech but carved out a fantastic career, including leading the BFL in catches in 2007, 2009 and 2011 while playing for the New England Patriots. He played for the Denver Broncos in 2013 and 2014 and also has spent time with the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins. Welker is a five-time Pro-Bowl players and twice was named a first-team NFL All-Pro player.
WES WELKER WITH THE BRONCOS

Photo by Jeffrey Beall/WikMedia Commons