Keeneland Racing and Sales Represented at Royal Ascot

Five stakes winners at Keeneland’s recent Spring Meet – Campanelle (IRE), Golden Pal, Ruthin (GB), Slipstream and Spendarella – are among the horses with Keeneland racing and sales connections who are scheduled to compete Tuesday through Saturday during the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting in England.

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Wesley Ward, who has 12 wins at Royal Ascot, has sent five horses – two juveniles and three older horses – to England to compete. They include Stonestreet Stable’s Campanelle (IRE), who won the 2020 Queen Mary (G2) and 2021 Commonwealth Cup (G1), and two-time Breeders’ Cup winner Golden Pal, owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg.

Campanelle, who took Keeneland’s Giant’s Causeway (L) on April 16, is to race in Saturday’s Platinum Jubilee (G1). 

Stonestreet owns four of Ward’s trainees, including Ruthin, winner of the April 15 TVG Limestone (L). She is to race in Friday’s Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Also on Friday, Keeneland September Yearling Sale graduates Spendarella, who won the April 9 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association, and Slipstream, winner of the Palisades (L) on April 10, are scheduled to race in Group 1 events – Spendarella in the Coronation and Slipstream in the Commonwealth Cup.

The Coronation also is the target of another American raider, 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) winner Pizza Bianca.

Horses with Keeneland connections entered in Tuesday and Wednesday races at Royal Ascot include:

Tuesday, April 14:

Coventry (G2) (2-year-old, 6 furlongs) at 10:05 a.m.:

• Keeneland-based trainer Rusty Arnold will send out Dew Sweepers’ Late September, a colt by Munnings, in his turf debut. On April 20, Late September opened his career with a fourth-place finish at Keeneland and next won a 4½-furlong race at Churchill Downs on May 20. Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent for breeders Coteau Grove Farms, to the 2021 September Sale, he sold to the owners for $60,000. Colin Keane will ride.

King’s Stand (G1) (3-year-olds and up, 5 furlongs) at 10:40 a.m.:

• Ward’s first starter is Golden Pal, who captured Keeneland’s Shakertown (G2) on April 9. Bred by Randall E. Lowe, Golden Pal was offered by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, at the 2019 September Sale. Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride the 4-year-old by Uncle Mo and Ward’s other Royal Ascot starters.
• Godolphin purchased Group 3 winner Man of Promise for $170,000 at the 2018 September Sale from the consignment of Betz Thoroughbreds, agent. He was bred by Betz/Magers/CoCo Equine/Kidder/Lamantia/Davidson. William Buick rides the 5-year-old Into Mischief gelding for trainer Charlie Appleby.

The King’s Stand is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race that awards the winner an automatic starting position and fees paid into the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Keeneland.

Copper Horse (4-year-olds and up, 1¾ miles) at 1:10 p.m.

• The Hon. R. J. Arculli’s Red Verdon is a Group 2-winning, 9-year-old horse by Lemon Drop Kid who has raced in England, Ireland, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates. Bred by Liberty Road Stables, he was consigned by Gainesway, agent, to the 2014 September Sale and sold to Jim McCartan for $85,000. Red Verdon, who is trained by Ed Dunlop, will be ridden by Hollie Doyle.

Wednesday, June 15

Queen Mary (G2) (2-year-old fillies, 5 furlongs) at 9:30 a.m.:

• Ward will send out Love Reigns (IRE) for Stonestreet. On April 29 at Keeneland, the filly won her career debut by 9¾ lengths.
• Grand Oak (IRE) is the second Royal Ascot challenger for Dew Sweepers, Arnold and Keane. Second in her career debut April 21 at Keeneland, the Speightstown filly scored a 4½-length victory on May 20 at Churchill over 5 furlongs on turf. Dew Sweepers purchased Grand Oak for $105,000 from Hunter Valley Farm, agent, at the 2021 September Sale. 

Windsor Castle (L) (2-year-olds, 5 furlongs) at 12:35 p.m.:

• Stonestreet and Ward’s Seismic Spirit (IRE) was second by a head in his May 19 career debut at Churchill. That race was at 5 furlongs on turf.