Ward expects American Rascal to improve on stunning debut

The expectations for Stonestreet Stables’ American Rascal were sky high before his debut at Keeneland on Thursday.

Expectations met and exceeded.

The first foal from the brilliant Lady Aurelia romped by 10 1/4 lengths in 51.21 seconds for the 4 1/2 furlongs on the dirt under Joel Rosario. The time is the fastest of the meet for the distance.

“I think he can be better next time,” trainer Wesley Ward said Saturday morning of the son of Curlin.

The next time figures to be the Norfolk (G2) at Royal Ascot in England going five furlongs on June 22. Ward has won the Norfolk twice with No Nay Never in 2013 and Shang Shang Shang in 2018.

“We came up here, and he worked at Turfway and then here. His last work here (five days before his debut), the light bulb went on. Lady Aurelia was the same way. She got outworked in the mornings.”

In Lady Aurelia’s debut in April 2016 – also at Keeneland for Ward – she won by 7 1/2 lengths in a then track-record time of 50.85 seconds for 4 1/2 furlongs. Lady Aurelia went on to win the Queen Mary (G2) at Royal Ascot and the Darley Prix Morny (G1) at Deauville in France that season. She received the Cartier Award as Europe’s 2-year-old filly of the year.