Prospect Watch: Are these juveniles bound for Royal Ascot?
The second week in May brings a bevy of high-profile maiden special weights and even a couple of stakes for precocious 2-year-olds. Trainer Wesley Ward, who is known for success in early-season juvenile sprints, is debuting at least a couple of runners with aspirations to compete at Royal Ascot next month.
Let’s check out the entries and highlight half a dozen promising first-time starters, including four trained by Ward.
Thursday
Belmont Park race 1: Maiden special weight (five furlongs on turf, 3:05 p.m. EDT)
No. 1 Sam’s Treasure
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Munnings–Malibu Treasure, by Malibu Moon
Purchase price: $700,000
Trainer: Wesley Ward
A daughter of speedy sprinter-miler Munnings, Sam’s Treasure sold for $700,000 as a yearling and has posted seven timed workouts in preparation for her debut, including a recent half-mile in 49.8 seconds at Keeneland. According to Brisnet stats, four-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. has gone 5-for-9 (56 percent) teaming up with trainer Wesley Ward over the last two months, stamping Sam’s Treasure as a logical threat to win on debut.
No. 5 Chitarra
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Advertise–Ardiente, by Australia
Purchase price: $360,780
Trainer: Wesley Ward
The second Ward trainee debuting in this field is Chitarra, who was purchased from overseas for $360,780 last year. Sire Advertise broke his maiden in May of his 2-year-old season before going on to win the Phoenix (G1), Commonwealth Cup (G1) and Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1) during a decorated career. If Chitarra has inherited any meaningful percentage of Advertise’s talent, sprinting speed and early maturity, she’ll factor for victory at Belmont.
Saturday
Gulfstream Park race 6: Royal Palm Juvenile (five furlongs on turf, 3:27 p.m.)
No. 7 No Nay Mets
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: No Nay Never–Etoile, by War Front
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: George Weaver
A son of Group 1 winner and Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint runner-up No Nay Never, No Nay Mets is the first starter produced by Etoile, winner of the Naas Juvenile Fillies Sprint (G3) and a competitor in the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. No Nay Mets enters off a pair of three-furlong workouts in Florida and has the pedigree to factor on debut. Don’t forget, No Nay Never was an early-maturing youngster who won his debut in April of his 2-year-old season.
No. 9 Holding the Line
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Soldier’s Call–Street Kitty, by Tiger Hill
Purchase price: $71,979
Trainer: Wesley Ward
An automatic entry into a Royal Ascot juvenile stakes is on the line in the Royal Palm Juvenile, and according to a Gulfstream Park news release, Holding the Line was purchased with Royal Ascot in mind by owner Steve Cauthen, famous for winning the 1978 Triple Crown aboard Affirmed. Holding the Line is bred to relish the Ascot grass, considering his sire Soldier Call won the Windsor Castle as a juvenile at Royal Ascot and his half-brother Sir Busker nabbed Royal Ascot’s Silver Royal Hunt Cup Handicap. Throw in the fact Wesley Ward has won a dozen races at Royal Ascot, and Holding the Line looms as an exciting prospect for the prestigious royal meeting.
Gulfstream Park race 9: Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies (five furlongs on turf, 5:01 p.m.)
No. 5 The Myth
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: The Factor–Honey Trap, by Medaglia d’Oro
Purchase price: $210,000
Trainer: Mark Casse
The Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies likewise awards an automatic entry to compete at Royal Ascot, a goal The Myth might prove keen to pursue. The daughter of speedy sprinter-miler The Factor is slated to become the second starter produced by Honey Trap, previously the dam of early-maturing Jessamine (G2) winner Delight. Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse won the 2016 Queen Anne (G1) at Royal Ascot with the remarkable mare Tepin, and The Myth’s encouraging work tab hints she may be capable of earning an international trip.
No. 6 Ocean Mermaid
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Kingman–Sparkling Surf, by Frankel
Purchase price: $252,546
Trainer: Wesley Ward
Acquired for just north of a quarter-million dollars as a yearling, Ocean Mermaid is a daughter of brilliant miler Kingman out of Sparkling Surf, in turn a daughter of the legendary Frankel. Ocean Mermaid has posted nine timed workouts at Payson Park and Keeneland and looks ready to vie for a Royal Ascot ticket under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.