U.S.-Based Undrafted Wins Diamond Jubilee
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U.S.-based Undrafted explosively accelerated down the far side of the course and narrowly won the Diamond Jubilee (Eng-I) June 20, stylishly bringing down the curtain on the five-day Royal Ascot meet.
Trainer Wesley Ward's Undrafted seized command in the closing stages of the six-furlong contest after being held up by Frankie Dettori early on. The 5-year-old Purim gelding struck for a half-length victory at 14-1 odds from Australian sprinter Brazen Beau, the 7-2 co-favorite, who had control over a furlong out, on the near side of the course, but could not keep pace in the final 75 yards.
In 2009, Southern California-based Ward became the first U.S. trainer to win at Royal Ascot and has enjoyed success there with 2-year-old stakes winners, but the older runner owned by NFL star Wes Welker, delivered the trainer his first group I win at the Royal meet.
Welker, a former wide receiver for the Denver Broncos and a free agent following his release at the end of the 2014-15 season, was elated with victory. He owns Undrafted with Sol Kumin.
"I can't believe I didn't make the trip over!" Welker said on Twitter. "Can't believe we won!"
Dettori tallied his third win at this week's meet, while Ward notched a second, following Acapulco's Queen Mary (Eng-II) triumph June 17. Overall, Ward runners have won six times at the Royal meeting, and Dettori has 52.
Brazen Beau, who was trying to follow the great Black Caviar in claiming the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, outfinished Astaire by 1 3/4 lengths for second.
The final time was 1:12.69 on firm turf.
Undrafted's victory was an emotional one for Ward, whose daughter Denae became ill and was hospitalized. He almost missed the race.
"It means so much... especially for this little girl," he said in the winner's enclosure. "She really wanted to come out here and we were in hospital all night. Derrick Smith (a co-owner of Acapulco, with Coolmore) sent over a brilliant doctor, but it didn't look like we were going to make (the race)."
Undrafted was making his second start in Great Britain. Last year, he was fourth behind winner Slade Power in the Darley July Cup (Eng-I) at Newmarket. He came into the Diamond Jubilee off a runner-up finish in Power Alert's course-record-setting performance in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes (gr. IIIT) May 1 at Churchill Downs, marking his fourth consecutive stakes-placing without a win, including his third in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT) last November at Santa Anita Park. With Saturday's win, his career line improves to 5-2-8 from 20 career starts that previously was topped by his win 2014 Jaipur Invitational Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Belmont Park.
Runnymede Farm bred Undrafted from the winning French Deputy mare French Jeannette. The Kentucky-bred was a $50,000 purchase by bloodstock agent Gatewood Bell's Hat Creek Racing via Cromwell Bloodstock at the 2011 Keeneland September yearling sale, where he was offered by his breeder. Welker's introduction to racing ownership came through Bell and Ward.