Wesley Ward

Churchill Downs will be curtailing usage of its newly installed $10-million turf course for the remainder of the meet by capping grass races to a maximum of two per day and moving 19 races listed in condition books two and three to the main dirt track. The news arrived Sunday in the form of a note on the overnight for the June 10 races. On Monday, Churchill's senior director of communications, Darren Rogers, explained the reasoning to TDN via email. "We've decided it's best to limit turf racing to two...

The well-established team of Wesley Ward and Irad Ortiz Jr. will joins forces for the upcoming Royal meeting, which begins June 14. Ward, who became the first American-based trainer to saddle a winner at the Royal Ascot in 2009, confirmed that Ortiz will partner all five of his contenders next week. A three-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey in the U.S., the Puerto Rican native will be making is debut at the meet. "He's won all over in America and he's just a phenomenal rider who rides with extreme patience," explained Ward....

In winning her maiden by almost ten lengths on debut at Keeneland, Queen Mary favourite Love Reigns (Ire) (US Navy Flag) tore to shreds what many people thought possible for an unraced 2-year-old filly in the month of April. There would have been more competition had Real Madrid taken to the field against a bunch of schoolboys such was the authority of the display. Love Reigns burst into the lead from stall one, powered home to win unchallenged, and the clock backed up what filled the eye. Not even Golden...

A tough-to-separate baker's dozen of 3-year-old turf fillies will face off in Saturday's seven-furlong GIII Soaring Softly S. at Belmont, with many promising runners looking poised to jump into the division's upper echelon. Three horses, each from powerhouse barns, figure to vie for favoritism, and Chad Brown's Haughty (Empire Maker) was given the slight nod on the morning line at 5-2. Disqualified out of an impressive, 3 1/4-length first-out score debuting over a mile on the local turf Sept. 17, the $310,000 OBS April buy had no problem breaking her...

Legendary Australian trainer Gai Waterhouse recently spent five days touring Kentucky's horse country. Upon returning to her headquarters at Tulloch Lodge in Sydney this week, the Hall of Fame trainer of 149 Group 1 wins, including a record seven G1 Golden Slippers, is looking forward to taking her findings and putting them to use at her own exceedingly-successful stable. "You know the old expression--you can't see the forest for the trees if you're there all day," Waterhouse explained. "You have to go away to freshen up. I felt like I...

Wesley Ward worked five of his Royal Ascot contenders over the Keeneland turf Friday led by GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo). He covered five panels in a bullet 1:02.80 (1/8) (video). Winner of the GII Shakertown S. last out Apr. 9, the bay is being pointed at the G1 King's Stand S. at the Royal meeting June 14. "I thought he had an unbelievable breeze today," Ward said. "The turf was soggy, and I love to breeze on a deep, soft turf. They come in...

Gayla Rankin's Happy Soul (Runhappy), a well-beaten sixth last time out in Keeneland's 8 1/2-furlong GI Ashland S. Apr. 8, has already proven her talent sprinting and will attempt to get back on track in Friday's GIII Miss Preakness S. at Pimlico. A runaway winner in two of three starts at two, including Belmont's Astoria S. last June, she was shelved for the rest of the season before resurfacing with a three-length win in Oaklawn's six-panel Dixie Belle S. Feb. 19. In her latest work, she posted a bullet five...

Since he won his first ever race at Royal Ascot in 2009, trainer Wesley Ward has attacked the meeting with quantity and quality and the result has been 12 wins. But he says this year's group, which will consist of at least seven horses, is the best he has ever sent overseas for what is the U.K.'s premier race meeting. "I have never been as strong as this," he said. The surprise is that Ward's group of 2-year-olds, usually his strong suit, is not deep. He only has two, 'TDN...

Love Reigns (Ire) (f, 2, U S Navy Flag--Humble And Proud {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}), backed as the 2-1 favorite on debut for Stonestreet Stables and Wesley Ward going 5 1/2 panels over the Keeneland lawn, romped to 'TDN Rising Star' honors. Hustled to the front from her inside draw by Irad Ortiz, Jr, she raced under pressure while traveling nicely through a sharp opening quarter in :22.04. The bay began to let it out a notch rounding the far turn, kicked for home with a 6 1/2-length advantage and...

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...

1st-Keeneland, $54,416, Msw, 4-28, 2yo, 4 1/2f, :51.92, ft, 4 lengths. NO NAY HUDSON (IRE) (c, 2, No Nay Never--Raw Silk {GSW, $201,958}, by Malibu Moon), bet down to even money, broke straight to the lead from the outside gate to set the pace a path off the rail. He had slight pressure behind from both Top of My Game (Mark Valeski) and stable-mate Ashcroft (Munnings) on either flank turning for home but as the trio straightened, No Nay Hudson kicked on and only lengthened his advantage, puling clear to...

4th-Keeneland, $75,045, Msw, 4-27, 3yo/up, f/m, 5 1/2fT, 1:03.01, gd, 1/2 length. CHARDY PARTY (IRE) (f, 3, Dark Angel {Ire}--Spiritual Lady {GB} {SW-Eng}, by Pastoral Pursuits {GB}), off a step slow from the inside gate at 4-5, raced mid-pack in ninth along the rail behind early front-runner Peligroso (Honor Code). She remained stuck inside, marred by traffic trouble, into the far turn. Passing the eighth pole and still several lengths off the lead, she swung out off the rail into the four path and kicked on, catching the pace-setting Peligroso...