Trainer Wesley Ward swung for the fences when bidding to $850,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale last year to acquire Outfielder (Speightstown) and was rewarded for his efforts Friday when the colt delivered a grand slam at Churchill to become the newest 'TDN Rising Star'.
No secret at the window off of two straight bullet works and thus heavily bet at 1-5, the outside draw endured a rush of early speed to his inside in the opening yards of this five-furlong contest but quickly cleared the crowd and led solo just ahead of Brea From Three (Classic Empire) who worked to keep pace to his outside. A trio of horses came off the turn together with Skipping Stars (Mitole) joining the fray at the quarter pole but Outfielder kicked away with another gear under a motionless John Velazquez to lead in the group in a seemingly effortless performance, completing the five furlongs in :55.93.
Outfielder is the 27th 'TDN Rising Star' for the late Speightstown. The same Speightstown over a Medaglia d'Oro mare cross has produced previous 'Rising Stars in GISW Prince of Monaco, GSW Strike Power and MGISW Rock Fall. Notte d'Oro, a stakes-winning half to MGSW/GISP Red Rifle (Giant's Causeway) and earner of nearly a quarter million, sold to SF Bloodstock for just $90,000 at KEENOV in 2020. Outfielder is her first winner though she has had three others to the track who have placed in their racing careers. After foaling a Quality Road colt this year, Notte d'Oro is back in foal to Quality Road for 2026.
Outfielder debuts the best for trainer Wesley Ward and @ljlmvel! ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/c656fyxzr3
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 23, 2025
4th-Churchill Downs, $107,625, Msw, 5-23, 2yo, 5fT, :55.93, fm, 6 1/4 lengths.
OUTFIELDER, c, 2, Speightstown
1st Dam: Notte d'Oro {SW-USA, SP-Can, $242,482},
by Medaglia d'Oro)
2nd Dam: May Night, by Gulch
3rd Dam: Riverjinsky, by Riverman
Sales History: $300,000 RNA Wlg '23 KEENOV; $850,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-Amo Racing USA, Two Eight Racing and Ward, Wesley A.; B-SF Bloodstock LLC (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward.
Outfielder looks like a star in the making – Stunning colt for a great ownership group including @twoeight_racing @amoracingltd agent @mcelroyequine #SFBred
His mum had a Quality Road colt this spring and is back in foal to Quality Road: https://t.co/KC6mu1iToD
— Tom Ryan (@TomRyanKY) May 23, 2025
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