Dylan Ward gets fourth crack at first-level allowance
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Phil D’Amato has made quite a favorable impression on the Southern California racing circuit, where he has quickly become a perennial leading trainer after having inherited much of the clientele of his late boss, Mike Mitchell.
The D’Amato stable has grown so large – about 100 horses split between Santa Anita and Los Alamitos – that he shipped horses to Kentucky this spring. About a dozen are stabled at Churchill Downs with assistant Chris Davis, including the stakes horses Midnight Storm and Wild About Deb.
“We’re testing the waters to see how it works out,” D’Amato, 40, said by phone from California. “We’ve got a couple stakes horses there with some allowance horses and claimers. I’m seeing if it’s viable to have a Midwest hub to bounce around for races in that part of the country.”
D’Amato will be represented by a 5-year-old gelding named Dylan Ward in the lone allowance on Thursday at Churchill. The $52,000, first-level turf route drew an oversubscribed field for the seventh of eight races. First post is 5 p.m. Eastern, with the seventh set for 7:54 and the final race for 8:23.
Dylan Ward was sixth on opening day of the Keeneland spring meet in a similar spot that, like Thursday’s race, was at 1 1/8 miles.
“It looks like a good spot for him,” said D’Amato, whose stabled earned more than $5 million in 2015 and is on pace to easily surpass that figure in 2016. “He kind of likes a deeper turf course, and that’s hard to find over here. He ran okay at Keeneland, and I thought that came against some very tough company. Hopefully, this will prove to be a little softer spot.”
Jimmy Graham has the call on Dylan Ward, who drew the rail and is one of the logical favorites.
KEY CONTENDERS (race 7)
Dylan Ward, by Artie Schiller
Last 3 Beyers: 83-76-79
◗ Kentucky-bred won a maiden race at this 1 1/8-mile distance in January at Santa Anita and has failed to hit the board in three cracks at this condition.
King Ptolemy, by Pioneerof the Nile
Last 3 Beyers: 73-81-85
◗ This Mike Maker-trained 5-year-old has gone 2 for 3 over the Churchill turf and 1 for 14 at all other venues.
◗ He’ll be ridden by leading jockey Corey Lanerie after finishing third in an off-the-turf allowance on opening night of this spring meet.
Silver Dagger, by Badge of Silver
Last 3 Beyers: 86-79-78
◗ Dale Romans-trained colt had a productive winter in Florida, finishing in the money in all three starts, and now must transfer that good form to Kentucky.