Wesley Ward

TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack reveals his selections for the 'Future Stars Friday' Breeders' Cup card. Race 3: Alw--#11 Marsalis (6-5) Have been sky high on Marsalis since his debut second (Second Chances Series) and subsequent 'Rising Star' win earlier this year. The layoff was, of course, a cause for concern, but he ran a huge one off the bench racing on a hot pace and finishing second behind big-figure repeat winner Run Classic. Take what they give you and let's get 'Future Stars Friday' started with a winner. Race...

Trainer John Quinn is "happy" with three-time Group 1 winner Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) ahead of a start in the 5 1/2-furlong $1-million GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 5. The 5-year-old drew stall six in the field of 16, two to the inside of crack American sprinter Golden Pal (Uncle Mo). She also carries three pounds less than the colt, and Quinn is relishing a clash with the Wesley Ward trainee. Ward also has multiple Group 1 winner Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) (stall...

Wesley Ward would be the first to admit that he has a soft spot for his globe-trotting Breeders' Cup contender Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB} - Janina {GB}, by Namid {GB}). "It's hard not to like a filly that has accomplished what she has," he said with a smile. "Just from being around her, you know how special she is." For over two years, Campanelle has been a consistent presence in Ward's converted tobacco barn adjacent to the Keeneland grounds. The Stonestreet Stables representative has thrived on racing's biggest stages throughout...

LEXINGTON, KY - With some 75 horses still to go through the ring, the 2022 Fasig-Tipton October Yearlings Sale overtook its record gross set just last year and, by the close of business Thursday, 1,100 yearlings had grossed $55,426,500. The 2021 gross was $52,607,500 for 1,153 yearlings sold. Also surpassing records set last year were the average of $50,388 and the median of $25,000. The previous marks were $45,627 and $22,000, respectively. "Another remarkable sale concluded tonight," said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning. "You are always thrilled when you set records...

Dual Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo--Lady Shipman, by Midshipman) will retire to Coolmore America's Ashford Stud after attempting to win his third consecutive Breeders' Cup race next week. The Wesley Ward pupil won the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in 2021 and the GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in 2020. Owned by the partnership of Westerberg Limited, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, and Derrick Smith, Golden Pal will make his final career start in the Turf Sprint Nov. 5 at Keeneland before standing alongside his sire...

LEXINGTON, KY - The Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale, looking to build on a record-setting 2021 renewal, opened with a day of competitive bidding Monday. A pair of yearlings by Into Mischief topped the day's activity, with a filly going the way of Ben McElroy for $425,000 and a colt selling to the Green family's DJ Stable for $400,000. "It was a very good opening session to the 2022 Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale," said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning. "There was very good trade. The parking lot was jammed pack, we...

Trainer Steve Asmussen sent five Breeders' Cup contenders out to work Sunday at Keeneland. Grade I-winning fillies Clairiere (Curlin) and Society (Gun Runner), working in company, went five furlongs in a bullet :59.80 (1/34) in preparation for the Nov. 5 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. The duo worked through fractions of :11.80, :23.80, :35.60, :47.60, :59.80 and out six furlongs in 1:13.20. Epicenter (Not This Time), off since winning the GI Runhappy Travers S. Aug. 27, worked five furlongs in company in 1:00.20 (3/34) in preparation for the Nov. 5 GI...

It was another dazzling display by two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), who successfully defended his GII Woodford S. title while establishing a new stakes record at Keeneland Saturday. In contrast to his last start in the GIII Troy S. at Saratoga Aug. 5, where he was restrained off the pace after a slow dispatch before just scraping in, the 1-5 favorite blasted out to the front here. The Florida-bred led through an opening quarter in :21.25, cornered for home in the four path and wasn't for catching...

Kimari (Munnings) tuned up for the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint with an effortless victory in the GII Gallant Bloom S. at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet Sunday. The 3-5 favorite sat just off pacesetting Lady Rocket (Tale of the Cat) through an opening quarter in :23.55. The pacesetter looked to skip away into the stretch after a half in :46.98, but Joel Rosario was still motionless aboard Kimari. Rosario flicked his wrists at the favorite and she duly inhaled Lady Rocket and strode clear to the wire while under...

He stood by the elevator, at the base of the grandstand at Hollywood Park, and waited. Passing friends asked him what the hell he was doing, hanging around for hours in a suit, instead of the usual jeans and polo shirt. Next day, Sunday, he was back in position; and again the following weekend, and every weekend afterwards, until most people would have long abandoned the siege. Until, at last, the elevator opened and there he was: John C. Mabee. "Mr. Mabee, my name is Randy Lowe," he said. "You...

1st-Kentucky Downs, $156,000, Msw, 9-1, 2yo, f, 6 1/2fT, 1:16.89, fm, 4 1/2 lengths. CARNABY STREET (f, 2, American Pharoah--Sloane Square {GSP}, by Giant's Causeway), favored at 7-5 in the opening event of the meet, settled patiently and stalked from good position in third behind the leading pair of Master Som (Mastery) and Fabulosity (Exaggerator). With a ton of run but little room, she waited for a break to open between rivals down the stretch, split them into the final furlong, and easily cleared late to score by 4 1/2...

2nd-Saratoga, $101,850, Msw, 8-27, 2yo, 1m (off turf), 1:38.44, ft, 6 1/2 lengths. FUNTASTIC AGAIN (c, 2, Funtastic--Repeta, by Broken Vow), seventh on debut after chasing the pace and fading late over Belmont's turf course July 1, drew in as a main track only entry Saturday and got the 9-5 nod for his second career start. Despite being difficult through the loading process and breaking last of the field, Funtastic Again, wearing blinkers for the first time, rushed up in a three-wide move to assume command seven furlongs from home....