Campanelle holds off Bay Storm in Ladies Turf Sprint

The presence of a Grade 1 winner, Campanelle, in the Grade 3 Ladies Turf Sprint on Saturday at Kentucky Downs triggered a purse increase from $600,000 to $1 million, and so it was fitting that it was Campanelle who got the money.

But only barely.

When Irad Ortiz Jr. let loose his hold of Campanelle with about three-sixteenths of a mile to race in the Ladies Turf Sprint, it looked like Campanelle would whistle. But after gaining a clear lead at the furlong grounds, Campanelle faced a stern late challenge from a resurgent Bay Storm, whom Campanelle appeared already to have put away. Campanelle, a huge filly with a long stride, dwarfed her diminutive rival, but Bay Storm made it close, coming within a nose in a photo finish.

“She made the lead a little earlier today,” Ortiz said. “I hit her a couple times. She responded, so I put the stick away, keeping busy on her. Maybe she got confused a little. But she saw that filly and fought back.”

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While Campanelle’s participation in the Ladies Sprint boosted the purse, Campanelle, a daughter of Kodiac and the Nanid mare, Janina, was bred in Ireland and thus ineligible for the $300,000 in purse money allotted to Kentucky-breds. Total purse for the Ladies Sprint was $736,030 and Campanelle earned $317.130.

Ortiz gave Campanelle a perfect trip from post 10. Breaking alertly, Campanelle was taken in hand to sit fourth, a few lengths behind a strong, contested pace as Creative Credit led Elle Z through a quarter-mile in 21.55 seconds and a half in 44.73. Campanelle rated beautifully and leapt into the fray when given her cue – before finding herself in a dogfight.

“I love her. She’s the most kind, fun to ride. She’s crazy good,” Ortiz said.

Campanelle paid $3.56 as the heavy favorite and was timed in 1:14.57 for the 6 1/2 furlongs. It was three lengths from Bay Storm back to third-place She Can’t Sing, who had a length on Brooke Marie in fourth as the pace horses faded off the scene.

The internationally campaigned Campanelle, owned by Stonestreet Stables, now has a record of 6-0-2 from 10 starts. She won the Group 1 Prix Morny in France as a 2-year-old after capturing the Group 2 Queen Mary at Royal Ascot. At 3, she was placed first via disqualification in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, and this past June she was third, beaten less than one length, in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee at the Royal Ascot meeting.

Trainer Wesley Ward won his third Ladies Sprint, which came two races after Arrest Me Red finished third as the favorite in the Grade 2 Turf Sprint. Ward also trains Golden Pal, who won the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint and comes into the fall the early favorite to win the 2022 renewal. His stablemate, Campanelle, could pose a serious challenge.