Royal Ascot roundup: U.S. runners are 0-for-2 Wednesday

Trainer Wesley Ward had two starters at Royal Ascot on Wednesday and came up empty.

In the Group 2 Queen Mary, Love Reigns finished fourth after a ride that resulted in jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. receiving a five-day suspension. (Read more here.)

As reported by Royal Ascot, Dramatised confirmed the promise of her stunning debut success by running away from a high-quality field under the in-form jockey Danny Tudhope to win the race.

Sent off the 5-2 favorite, Dramatised was never far away from the pace towards the stands’ side and, although her rider dropped his whip over a furlong out, the filly saw her race out strongly under hands and heels to finish a length-and-three-quarters clear of Maylandsea (28-1). Third-placed Maria Branwell (9-1) was a length and a quarter further back, with American raider Love Reigns in fourth.

It was a third consecutive Royal Ascot success for Tudhope, who won the final two races on Tuesday aboard Dubai Future and Get Shirty. His overall Royal Ascot record now stands at nine wins.

Ward's other starter Wednesday was Seismic Spirit in the Windsor Castle. With Ortiz aboard, the 2-year-old finished 23rd of 24 runners.

Aiden O'Brien won the race with Little Big Bear, the first win at Royal Ascot this year in 13 tries for the trainer, who has led the meet 10 times.

Sent off the 6-5 favorite under Ryan Moore, Little Big Bear was under pressure a fair way out in the five-furlong contest for juveniles. However, the son of No Nay Never kept responding on the far side of the pack and kicked in the afterburners in the closing stages to pick up Rocket Rodney (14-1) and win by a neck. There was 1 3/4 lengths back to third-placed Eddie’s Boy (40-1), with Chateau (15/2) filling fourth spot.

Little Big Bear’s victory means that O’Brien has now trained a Royal Ascot winner for 19 consecutive years. Moore, also enjoying his first success of the week, has ridden a winner at each of the last 15 Royal Ascots.

Here's a recap of other Wednesday graded stakes at Royal Ascot.

Prince of Wales's (G1). Bay Bridge appeared to have outstanding claims for this event, but supporters of the Sir Michael Stoute-trained favorite were undone by a masterful front-running ride from Shane Crosse aboard State Of Rest.

It was a fitting victory for State Of Rest, who provided trainer Joseph O’Brien with his first Royal Ascot victory as a trainer, a decade after he won the 10-furlong highlight as a jockey on So You Think.

Crosse, riding his first Royal Ascot winner, was allowed to dictate the five-runner showpiece and that proved fatal for his opponents because there was still plenty in State Of Rest’s tank when the 4-year-old kicked for home passing the two-furlong pole.

Bay Bridge, sent off the 10-11 favorite after a brilliant reappearance win in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3), loomed up approaching the final furlong, but Ryan Moore’s mount couldn’t land a telling blow in the closing stages and there was a length separating the pair at the line.

Japanese raider Shahryar sat on the heels of the leader, but his challenge petered out in the straight and he was passed for third by Grand Glory in the closing strides.

Queen's Vase (G2). Eldar Eldarov justified his strong home reputation by snatching victory in a thrilling finish.

The unbeaten colt joined Zechariah on the line and, after a considerable wait, the judge finally called David Egan’s mount the winner, much to the delight of favorite backers.

After breaking slowly, Egan was forced to hold the 5-2 market leader up toward the back of the field but the splits came early in the straight and the son of Dubawi made up ground hand over fist to reel in the leader in the final stride.

It was heartache for Zechariah (20-1) and jockey Colin Keane, with Hafit (9-1) just a neck off the front pair in third.

Duke of Cambridge (G2). Saffron Beach stormed to a 3 1/2-length victory in to give trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam her first Royal Ascot success since 2016.

Despite being penalized for her G1 Sun Chariot Stakes win last season, the 5-2 joint favorite was ideally placed to pounce off steady early fractions. William Buick took full advantage of that superior track position by kicking his mount for home entering the final three furlongs.

Saffron Beach responded brilliantly, stretching away and maintaining her lead throughout the final furlong. Thunder Beauty (40-1) came from off the pace to grab second, just in front of third-placed Primo Bacio (14-1). Bashkirova, sent off the other 5-2 joint-favorite, was in trouble a long way out and couldn’t get anywhere near to landing a blow.