Hootenanny to race overseas in 2015

ARCADIA, Calif. – Hootenanny, the winner of the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Friday, probably will be pointed for a race in England – perhaps the English 2000 Guineas – next spring, trainer Wesley Ward said Saturday.

Ward, reached in Florida, won his first Breeders’ Cup race with Hootenanny, who outfinished another Ward-trained horse, Luck of the Kitten, to win the Juvenile Turf and give Ward an exacta sweep. Hootenanny already has been sent back to Ward’s barn at Keeneland and will be freshened up for his 2014 campaign, the exact shape of which has yet to be determined.

“We’re going to sit tight, rest up, and make a charge for him in the spring,” Ward said. “I’ll talk with the Coolmore boys as soon as tomorrow night and see if we’re going to go for the Guineas, or just see what we’re going to do.”[bc_video_id:340871:]

The Coolmore group from Ireland privately purchased Hootenanny earlier this year. The English 2000 Guineas is run on the first Saturday in May over one mile at Newmarket. Ward also mentioned a new race at the Royal Ascot meeting in June, a Group 1 event for 3-year-olds over six furlongs, as a possible target.

Hootenanny already has raced twice overseas, winning at Royal Ascot and finishing second in the Group 1 Prix Morny this past August.

Luck of the Kitten, who stayed on well for second Friday after setting the pace, could be aimed at the Asahi Hai Futurity, a 1,600-meter race Dec. 21 at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan, Ward said.
“Mr. Ramsey usually likes to keep going with them,” Ward said of Luck of the Kitten’s co-owner, Ken Ramsey.

Sunset Glow, who set a fast, contested pace and impressively held second behind Lady Eli in the Juvenile Fillies Turf on Friday, also could be destined for overseas travel early in her 3-year-old season. Ward said that Sunset Glow, who also shipped to Keeneland late Friday night, would not be pointed for dirt races next year.