Kimari to Prioress; Golden Pal straight to B.C. Juvenile Turf Sprint

Trainer Wesley Ward said he is considering running three-time stakes winner Kimari, winner of last year's Bolton Landing, in the Grade 2, $200,000 Prioress on Sept. 5 at Saratoga Race Course.

Owned by Ten Broeck Farm, the daughter of Munnings was a last out second in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup on June 19 at Royal Ascot overseas and has been breezing at Ward's primary base at Keeneland Race Course since her last effort.

A stakes winner over both dirt and turf, Kimari won the Indian Summer over the turf at Keeneland following the Bolton Landing. This year, she won the Purple Martin over the main track at Oaklawn Park in her 2020 debut.

"We'll breeze her Sunday and we'll see how she works and how she comes out of the work, but we're looking at the Prioress," Ward said.

Bred in Kentucky by China Horse Club, Kimari is out of the graded stakes-winning Cozzenne mare Cozzee Up Lady.

Ward also reported on impressive Skidmore winner Golden Pal, a well-bred son of Uncle Mo who is the first progeny out of 11-time stakes winner Lady Shipman.

Golden Pal has shipped back down to Keeneland where he will train up to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) at the Lexington oval.

"From day one, he's just shown immense talent, even before we started breezing him," Ward said. "You could just tell with his demeanor, his physique and everything that he was evolving, like a high school start quarterback going into college. He just keeps moving forward. I've always been singing his praises and he got beat the first two times, but I'm glad he vindicated himself last time."

Skidmore runner-up Fauci, who also is trained by Ward, is possible for stakes action at Keeneland or Kentucky Downs.

"We're looking at Kentucky Downs, or if this last race took something out of him, then we'll maybe look at the first week at Keeneland," Ward said.

Ward also stated that Stonestreet Farms' undefeated Campanelle, winner of the Prix Morny at Deauville (G1) on Aug. 23, is still training in France, and could train straight up to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

"She's coming back on [September] fifth, she's in Chantilly right now, galloping in the forest," Ward said. "She's thriving. She'll come back to Keeneland. We'll talk things over with the team at Stonestreet, but we'll probably go into the [Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf]. Frankie [Dettorri] got off her and said that the mile should be no issue at all."