Maven to be Scratched From Norfolk Stakes
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Maven breaks his maiden at Aqueduct Racetrack
Maven, the first winner in the United States for Triple Crown victor American Pharoah , was scheduled to make his stakes debut June 20 against an an expected 14 other juveniles in the Norfolk Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot but trainer Wesley Ward told TVG June 19 that he would be scratched from the race.
Ascot saw heavy rains throughout its Wednesday card.
The challenges would have been many for Maven in the storied five-furlong affair. Not only would the race have marked his stakes debut, but he'd also tackled the challenges of traveling to Europe for his second start and racing on turf for the first time. Still, with trainer Wesley Ward—a Royal Ascot maestro—in his corner, Maven was the 5-1 second choice in bookmaker wagering in Europe, with King Power Racing's two-time winner Sunday Sovereign favored at 5-2.
Ward won the race last year with the filly Shang Shang Shang and secured his first win in the race in 2013 with No Nay Never.
The Norfolk is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win & You're In" race to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T).
Maven was offered at the June 17 Goffs London Sale but failed to reach his reserve at the auction that offers many runners already entered at Royal Ascot. A victory by the colt Thursday would give American Pharoah his first stakes winner.
Click for full field, from Racing Post.