Barn Tour: Ward updates on Golden Pal, promising juveniles

Few, if any, have ever done it better than Wesley Ward when it comes to training precocious turf sprinters. He teaches them to break sharply and conditions them to sustain their speed, often making them extremely difficult to run down.

Ward, a former jockey and the son of trainer Dennis Ward, became the first U.S.-based trainer to win at Royal Ascot when 2-year-old gelding Strike the Tiger pulled a 33-1 surprise in the five-furlong Windsor Castle Stakes in June 2009. He won again the following day with Jealous Again, a 2-year-old filly, in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) at the same five-furlong distance.

The trailblazing Ward has gone on to 12 Royal Ascot triumphs and, of course, he is a force at home. He has swept the last three editions in the brief four-year history of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, prevailing with Four Wheel Drive, Golden Pal and Twilight Gleaming, a filly.

Ward reviewed some of his finest talent during a Barn Tour for Horse Racing Nation:

Arrest Me Red. The 4-year-old bay son of the late Pioneerof the Nile arrived at Saratoga on July 24, but he is not expected to run here on behalf of Lael Stables. Look for him instead early in the extraordinarily lucrative Kentucky Downs meet. This sprinter boasts six victories in 10 lifetime starts and has banked $718,500. He missed by a half-length against Casa Creed in the June 11 Jaipur (G1) at Belmont Park in his most recent effort.

Campanelle (IRE). This 4-year-old daughter of Kodiac (GB) also is being pointed toward Kentucky Downs. She is a two-time victor at Royal Ascot and has a record similar to Arrest Me Red with five wins in nine career starts and earnings of $743,287 for Stonestreet Stables. She dead-heated for third in the Platinum Jubilee (G1) at Royal Ascot in June. Ward: “She went to England and she just got beaten by half a length in what is regarded as the toughest sprint. She ran a really good race, jumped right out there at the start. They just got her the last little bit.”

Golden Pal. Ward eagerly awaits the Troy Stakes (G3) for this 4-year-old son of Uncle Mo. Although his trainer had described him as the best horse he ever brought to Royal Ascot, he was incredibly unlucky this year when he missed the break in the King’s Stand (G1) and finished 16th. Regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. apparently was looking back at a horse that was being scratched when the gate opened. Golden Pal has fared much better in the Breeders’ Cup, where he is a two-time winner, helping his earnings soar past $1.4 million. Ward: “I’m really excited to get him back on track. It was quite unfortunate what happened in England. That’s horse racing. Things happen.”

Half a Chance. There is much to like about this 2-year-old daughter of Flatter, owned by CJ Thoroughbreds. She won on opening day at Saratoga at 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt after placing second on the turf in her June 5 debut at Belmont. Said Ward, “She can go dual surface. We brought her back to Keeneland, her home base. We’ll decide as we get a little closer whether we go to Kentucky Downs on the grass again or we run back here at Saratoga. I think she can run equally well on both surfaces, so that’s great to have a filly like that.”

Rarify. Although this half-sister to 2015 sprint champion Runhappy placed second at Saratoga in her July 24 debut at six furlongs, Ward has high hopes for her. This $750,000 yearling certainly has pedigree on her side. She is from the first crop of 2018 Triple Crown champion Justify. Ward is especially pleased with her mental makeup. Unlike some of his other juvenile prospects, he expects her to welcome added ground.

Twilight Gleaming. Stonestreet Stables’ Twilight Gleaming finally will make her season debut after an unexpected setback when she competes in Friday's Daisycutter Handicap at five furlongs at Del Mar. The 3-year-old will face older company for the first time. The move was forced when she was scratched from the July 15 Coronation Cup at Saratoga. An exercise rider fastened the girth too tightly, resulting in inflammation. Ward: “We just erred on the side of caution and scratched. We were scrambling for a race because she was ready.”