Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint: Kimari to be pre-entered in both sprints
The connections of Kimari will keep their options open leading up to the Breeders’ Cup, with plans to pre-enter her in both the $2 million Sprint and the $1 million Filly and Mare Sprint, trainer Wesley Ward said Monday.
Kimari was initially probable for the Sprint because of its six-furlong distance, but she also is a Grade 1 winner at the Filly and Mare distance of seven furlongs at Keeneland, in last year’s Madison.
“I’m waiting on the [ownership], to see what they say,” Ward said of ongoing discussions. “She’ll be much shorter odds versus the girls.”
Kimari is riding a two-race win streak, having captured the Grade 2 Honorable Miss at six furlongs in July at Saratoga and the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom over 6 1/2 furlongs at Belmont at the Big A in September. The Beyer Speed Figure of 106 she earned in the Gallant Bloom is tied for the second-highest by a filly or mare on dirt in 2022.
“She’s extremely talented,” Ward said. “A big monster of a horse, too – and she’s quick. She loves Keeneland. That’s her home, and she will get seven-eighths here at her home track. She’s more effective other places at six and six and a half.”
Ward said Joel Rosario has the mount on Kimari if she runs in the Filly and Mare Sprint. Rosario, who has been aboard for her last three starts, is the regular rider of the Sprint-bound champion Jackie’s Warrior.
Ward has an outstanding cast of sprinters pointing to Breeders’ Cup races next month. He said Chi Town Lady, who won the Grade 1 Test over seven furlongs in her last start Aug. 7 at Saratoga, is on deck for the Filly and Mare Sprint.
“She’s doing great, training up to the race,” he said.
Ward trainees Arrest Me Red, Campanelle, and Golden Pal are pointing to the Turf Sprint, while Love Reigns is targeting the Juvenile Turf Sprint.
“We’re excited to have the Breeders’ Cup at our home track at Keeneland,” Ward said. “Usually, all of my horses kind of step it up a notch here at their home track.”
Ward has a career win rate of 21 percent, a number that jumps to 25 percent at Keeneland. He’s won 228 races from 908 starts at the Lexington, Ky., track, for stable earnings of $12.4 million, according to Daily Racing Form records .
Slammed to be BC nominated
Slammed emerged from her Saturday win in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America at Keeneland in good order and plans are to nominate her to the Breeders’ Cup, trainer Todd Fincher said Monday.
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Slammed is by the New Mexico-based Marking and because he was not a Breeders’ Cup-nominated stallion when she was conceived, the cost to make Slammed eligible for the Breeders’ Cup program is $200,000.
“She earned most of it in that one race,” Fincher said of the TCA.
Slammed picked up $179,025 for her victory.
Florent Geroux rode Slammed in the TCA.
“We’d love to have him back,” said Fincher, who also is a co-breeder of Slammed.
◗ Ward-trained Happy Soul was the runner-up in the TCA.
“We’ll center on next year,” he said of plans for the 3-year-old filly.
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