By Stefanie Grimm
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency
2nd-KEE, $80K, MSW, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 1:01 p.m.
Trainer Wesley Ward brings 2-year-old LOVE REIGNS (IRE) to Keeneland on Friday for owners Stonestreet Stables LLC. The daughter of U S Navy Flag is out of the unraced Pivotal (GB) mare Humble And Proud (Ire) making her a half-sister to GISW & near-millionaire Glorious Empire (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Humble And Proud is herself a half-sister to several graded stakes performers including Delsarte (Theatrical {Ire}) who was second in the G2 King Edward VII S. and Veenwouden (GB) (Desert Prince {Ire}) who finished third in the G3 Jockey Club Cup. Love Reigns has posted four works including three furlongs from the gate on the dirt at Keeneland Apr. 13 in :35 2/5 (4/20). Trainer Wesley Ward, already having an outstanding meet, has tabbed veteran jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. for the ride.
Also starting Friday for trainer Jonathan Thomas and owner Augustin Stable is Delight, a chestnut daughter of Mendelssohn who made $400,000 when purchased from the 2022 OBS March Sale (:10.1) after previously bringing $90,000 at the OBS October Yearling Sale and being a $105,000 RNA at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. TJCIS PPs
5th-KEE, $100K, MSW, 3yo, 6 1/2f, 2:34 p.m.
DOMINICAN PIONEER (Pioneerof the Nile), also making his first start Friday for trainer Wesley Ward, is a dark bay son of Heatherdoesntbluff (Old Trieste), making him a half-brother to Killer Graces (Congaree), who won the GI Hollywood Starlet S. and was second in the GII Santa Ysabel S. as well as Chocolate Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}), winner of the GII Mervin H. Muniz Jr. H. Purchased for $325,000 from the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Dominican Pioneer recently worked five furlongs from the gate Apr. 13 in :59 1/5 (2/16). He gets jockey John Velazquez aboard for his debut. TJCIS PPs
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