Bound for Nowhere scores impressive victory in Shakertown Stakes

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Bound for Nowhere kept everyone waiting, except when the race was run. The colt’s stubborn behavior helped delay the Shakertown Stakes by some six minutes but certainly did not manifest itself once the gates were sprung, as he sped off to a four-length triumph in the 5 1/2-furlong turf race under Julio Garcia.

Owned and trained by Wesley Ward, Bound for Nowhere was victorious in a stakes for the first time, although the 4-year-old colt had only had two prior opportunities, both in rugged Group 1 events last summer in France.

Regrouped over the winter at Keeneland and Turfway Park, with one easy Turfway allowance win as his lone prep race, the son of The Factor ran a real corker in the 22nd edition of the Grade 2, $200,000 Shakertown, giving closest chase to the longshot front-runner, Latent Revenge, before drawing off unchallenged down the stretch.

“He’s usually more well behaved than that,” said Ward, referring to the colt’s refusal to load for several minutes. “I’m just glad he ran the way we knew he can. We kept him here all winter, and it paid off. This is the greatest place in the world.”

Bucchero, the winner of the Grade 2 Woodford here last fall, rallied to be second, 2 1/4 lengths before Disco Partner, the 7-5 favorite in a field of 12 older horses. Commute was another half-length back in fourth.

Bound for Nowhere returned $19 to win after finishing 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.77 over a course rated “soft.” Ward said he likely will point the colt to the Royal Ascot meet in England in June.

The $2 exacta (12-5) paid $138, the $1 trifecta (12-5-13) returned $243.60, and the 10-cent superfecta (12-5-13-2) was worth $128.

The Shakertown led off an all-graded-stakes pick four (races 7-10) that drew $1,065,003 in handle.