From Ascot to Saratoga, Ward Juvy Turf Fillies Rule

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY–Everyone knows it's not worth trying to beat Wesley Ward 2-year-olds in the spring at Keeneland. Early in the season, his babies are simply head and shoulders above the rest of their crop. The challenge comes as their campaigns wear on, as some of them take their talents across the Atlantic Ocean and back. Well, challenge met, at least this week at Saratoga, as Ward saddled the one-two finishers in Wednesday's Bolton Landing S. and figures to send out the heavy favorite in Friday's Skidmore S.

All eyes were on Hat Creek Racing's 'TDN Rising Star' Chelsea Cloisters (First Samurai) Wednesday, as she returned home after running a good second against males in the G3 Prix du Bois July 3 at Deauville. Prior to that, she checked in 11th in the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot. Backed to 9-5, she set the early pace in the Bolton Landing before weakening some to finish second.

“She's a little different in that she missed the break over there at Ascot and got behind horses, and that had never happened,” Ward said of the Queen Mary. “That was like a work, which is why she ran [in Europe] again. She lacked that little sizzle [Wednesday] when the other filly came to her, but she still ran a good race. If my other filly hadn't been in there, she would've won.”

The “other” filly was treated that way by the Saratoga bettors, as Marcus Stables' Stillwater Cove (Quality Road) pulled the upset at over 10-1. Following a debut win Apr. 8 in Lexington, the bay set the pace before fading to finish 13th in the G3 Albany S. June 22 at Ascot, and though internal fractions generally aren't published for European tracks, Ward says it was a sizzling pace that took its toll on her.

“She's a big, rangy filly and for her to show that precociousness in her first couple of races, that usually means there's a lot of talent in there if you can get their mind right,” he said. “We worked very hard to get her to settle and make a run, and she would roll by her workmates at Keeneland. First jump out of the gate at Ascot, she got left a tad. Joel [Rosario] kind of punched her a couple of times to get her into the race, and that was it, she was gone. With the splits there, it was basically :43 and change [for the half-mile].”

Ward also noted the difference in the physical demand of the Ascot turf course compared to a faster American grass oval like Saratoga, effectively making the turnback in distance Wednesday far greater than the sixteenth of a mile it was listed as. That, plus a reset after her journey, is what he says led to Stillwater Cove's breakout performance.

“Those two [the Queen Mary and Albany] are six furlongs, but ultimately you need a miler to win it, because it's a very stiff six furlongs, for a 2-year-old especially,” he said. “We got her home and gave her time to mentally get over it and it all came together yesterday. She broke really sharp and we told Irad [Ortiz, Jr.] what we'd been trying to do with her, and he took it all in real quick and rode a beautiful race. He got her to get back there and settle and she really ran by them in the stretch.”

Far from finished this week, Ward will be represented by the filly who took him back to the Ascot winner's enclosure in the Skidmore, at least if the weather cooperates. Bought for $200,000 at OBS March, Breeze Easy's Shang Shang Shang (Shanghai Bobby) scored a sharp debut victory Apr. 26 at Keeneland and grimly held off all of her male rivals in the G2 Norfolk S. June 21. With yet more rain in the forecast for Friday, Ward is optimistic about running Shang Shang Shang on the dirt should the race get washed off, but said he'll likely scratch if it stays on over soft ground.

“She'll run if the race comes off the turf,” he confirmed. “She's maybe a little better on turf, but would prefer it firm and has no problem with the dirt. She's doing very, very well and has had some nice breezes. I think she has a future on dirt too, but will certainly have distance limitations.”