Six of trainer Wesley Ward's recent Keeneland Spring Meet winners–all bound for Royal Ascot–including 2016 European highweight Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy), turned in half-mile works over the firm Keeneland turf Tuesday. The Stonestreet Stables, George Bolton and Peter Leidel colourbearer saluted in the Listed Giant's Causeway S. at Keeneland versus elders Apr. 15 and the 'TDN Rising Star' clocked :49.40 (6/6) for the half-mile with Julio Garcia in the irons. A winner of the G2 Queen Mary S. and G1 Darley Prix Morny, she is slated to take on her elders in the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot June 20.
“Lady Aurelia worked fantastic,” Ward told the Keeneland notes team. “I warned Julio with his life that I did not want to go fast. He did a great job today. We broke her off 15 lengths or so behind the 2-year-olds [Fairyland (Scat Daddy) and Happy Like a Fool (Distorted Humor)]. For her first work back I wanted her to go as slow as she could possibly go.”
Both juveniles received marks of :48.40 (4/6), with Coolmore's Fairyland, who donned cap and gown at first asking over the Keeneland dirt Apr. 7, bound for the G3 Albany S. June 23. Ward homebred Happy Like a Fool is pointing toward the G2 Queen Mary S. two days prior on the back of a first out graduation at the Lexington oval Apr. 9.
Undrafted (Purim), victorious in the 2015 G1 Diamond Jubilee S., will be making his fourth trip to the Royal Meeting, with an eye to the Listed Wokingham S. there June 24. Working singly, the Wes Welker and Elizabeth Kumin-owned gelding drilled the half-mile in :47.20 (1/6), and was last seen scoring in a Keeneland grass allowance Apr. 21.
The sextet was rounded out by June 23 G1 Commonwealth Cup S. hopeful and Ward silkbearer Bound for Nowhere (The Factor), who parlayed a Turfway Park maiden victory Jan. 25 into a 4 1/4-length Keeneland allowance romp Apr. 20, and Hat Creek Racing's Nootka Sound (Lonhro {Aus}). The duo were timed in :48 (2/6) even for their half-mile breeze, with the latter, a 5 1/4-length victress at Keeneland Apr. 27, aiming toward the Listed Windsor Castle S. June 20.
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