By Christina Bossinakis
To say that trainer Wesley Ward knows his way around turf sprinters is an understatement. To underscore the point, Ward has annexed the last three editions of the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and will try to add a record fourth consecutive win in the race with Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), Arrest Me Red (Pioneerof the Nile) and Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}).
Adding even great importance to this year's renewal, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg Ltd.'s 4-year-old–already a two-time Breeders' Cup winner following victories in the 2020 GII Juvenile Turf Sprint and last year's GI Turf Sprint-will be retiring to Ashford Stud following this weekend's race. A total of 22 horses have won a pair of Breeders' Cup races, however, only two–Hall of Fame members, Goldikova and Beholder–have three victories.
As for Ward, he stands in a tie with several other trainers who have won on three occasions in the same race, a victory in the Turf Sprint would make him the first trainer in the 39-year history of the event to win the same race four years in a row.
“I think that says a lot for how I've been professing this horse to be so great from the onset,” said Ward. “The only thing that he hasn't done that I wish he could do would be to go back to Royal Ascot and win [G1] The King's Stand and he won't get a chance to do that. But, if he can win three Breeders' Cups, that really puts him in an elite company. That's for sure.”
Golden Pal kicked off 2022 with a win in the GII Shakertown S. on his home track at Keeneland before missing the break at Royal Ascot in June. In the Aug. 5 GIII Troy S. at Saratoga, Golden Pal got away to a slow start, but showed rallied to win by a head.
“Our plan going in was to take him back. So that kind of helped us a little bit,” recalled Ward. “We want to kind of use that as a prep to if something happened, if in here in the Breeders' Cup if the pace was hot that we could teach him something how to rate sit back off the pace. So it all worked out. He kind of didn't come out as quickly as he has and after the first 10 jumps Irad [Ortiz Jr] got him to relax. When he turned for home, off he went and won. It all worked out according to what I wanted to teach him.”
In his latest start, the bay led from gate to wire in the Oct. 8 GII Woodford S. to stay perfect in four races at Keeneland.
For his career finale, Golden Pal drew Post eight and is the 2-1 favorite on the morning line.
In contrast to Golden Pal's Breeders' Cup experience, Lael Stable' Arrest Me Red will debut in the Breeders' Cup. In his most recent start, he was third the GII Turf Sprint S. Sept. 10 at Kentucky Downs. He won the GII Turf Sprint S. at Churchill Downs in May and was runner-up in the GI Jaipur S. June 11.
“If I didn't have Golden Pal, I'd be singing his praises,” Ward said. “As you can see by his form, he's never runs a bad race. He's a hard-trier, and we're spacing him out. He's a big, heavy colt. Once we switched him back to the grass, he just took to it like a fish to water.”
He added, “This is one that we're going to be pointing for Ascot next year, as he'll sort of move up to the top. We'll be looking at The King's Stand with him next year. So, we're going to keep him here in Kentucky. In years past, we've taken him to Florida. He's really training very, very well. I'd be looking for him to run a big, big race.”
Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez returns to the saddle. The two, leaving from post 7, are 15-1 on the morning line.
Rounding out Ward's trio is Stonestreet Stables' Campanelle hit the board in all three starts this term, including wins in the Giant's Causeway S. and GIII Ladies' Sprint S. The winner of the G1 Prix Morny and G2 Queen Mary S. last year, she also finished third in the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. earlier in June.
Jockey Frankie Dettori, who rode her to her wins in Europe, will be aboard in the Turf Sprint. They will leave from post four and are 8-1 on the morning line.
“She is coming into the race phenomenal,” said Ward. “I am expecting a lot from her as well. The thing about her is that she is going to come from just slightly off the pace to where if it's a hot pace up front she's going to come running.”
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