Arrest Me Red scores as favorite in Churchill Turf Sprint

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Wesley Ward is taking no prisoners. The trainer continued to dominate the turf sprint ranks this season as Arrest Me Red captured the Grade 2, $500,000 Turf Sprint on Friday at Churchill Downs.

Ward also trains two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal, the undisputed leader of this division after a dominant victory in the Grade 2 Shakertown at Keeneland in his season debut. The trainer's string, which is based in Lexington, also includes two-time Royal Ascot winner Campanelle, who won the Giant's Causeway at Keeneland in her 2022 bow, and the ageless Bound for Nowhere, who won an allowance at Fair Grounds to start his 8-year-old season.

Arrest Me Red, a Pioneerof the Nile colt who is a homebred for Roy and Gretchen Jackson's Lael Stables, was initially trained by one of their main conditioners, Maryland-based Arnaud Delacour. After he was a stakes winner in 2020 for that barn, he was transferred to Ward in 2021, and put together a brief but unbeaten campaign, winning the Mahony in August at Saratoga, the Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational in October, and the Turf Sprint Championship in November at Aqueduct.

Ward unveiled Arrest Me Red for 2022 in the Silks Run Stakes on March 19 at Gulfstream and he was a rallying third, beaten just a length. Off that effort, he was primed for a return to graded stakes company.

Arrest Me Red ($7.40), who was sent away favored under Irad Ortiz, Jr., broke well but was slightly outfooted away from the gate as the field lined up across the turf course down the backstretch, with the top six separated by just a length as they fought for dominance through a sharp opening quarter in 22.86 seconds. By the midway point on the far turn, Just Might, who won seven stakes races in 2021, more than any other horse in America, had established the lead by a head. Meanwhile Arrest Me Red was stalking nicely in third, and Ward liked what he saw despite the early scramble.

"He ran great," Ward said. "As soon as he got to the quarter pole, I could see Irad had horse."

Just Might was set upon as the field swung into the stretch, and Arrest Me Red, in the five path, forged his way to a half-length lead over the leader, who was beginning to weaken. From there, Arrest Me Red edged away to his final winning margin of 1 3/4 lengths.

"I got a perfect trip today," Ortiz said. "I was just waiting for a time to roll, and he was there for me."

Arrest Me Red stopped the clock in 1:04.18 for the 5 1/2 furlongs on the new Churchill Downs turf course, which was officially rated firm at post time, despite rain overnight and showers throughout the day to that point. Arrest Me Red was assigned a Beyer Speed Figure of 99.

Behind the decisive winner, it was a blanket photo for the other placings. Bran, a 40-1 shot, was up for second by a nose over Gregorian Chant, who, in turn, was a head in front of Gear Jockey. The latter was 1 1/4 lengths clear of Diamond Oops and they were followed, in order, by Caravel, Just Might, Chasing Artie, Johnny Unleashed, Whatmakessammyrun, The Lir Jet, Cowan, and Pyron.

Immediately after the race, Ward said he would discuss future plans for Arrest Me Red with the Jacksons, but did not appear keen to add him to his contingent headed for Royal Ascot next month in England, as that would necessitate facing Golden Pal. Instead, he indicated that Arrest Me Red could return to Belmont Park for the Grade 1 Jaipur Invitational on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

"The Jaipur looks awful enticing," Ward said. "It's a Grade 1, he's a winner on the course."