Judy the Beauty gets her and Ward's first Grade 1 in Madison

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Judy the Beauty finally got that overdue Grade 1 for herself and her trainer when powering to victory Saturday under John Velazquez in the 13th running of the $300,000 Madison Stakes at Keeneland.

“She’s been unlucky not to get it before this,” said Wesley Ward, who owns and trains Judy the Beauty, a 5-year-old Ontario-bred mare by Ghostzapper. “She was 3-5 in here and thankfully she ran like it. She’s a millionaire now and I couldn’t be happier for her.”

Judy the Beauty returned $3.20 as the odds-on favorite in a field of eight fillies and mares after finishing the seven-furlong distance in 1:22.86 over Polytrack. After racing in mid-pack to the half-mile pole, she started to pick off rivals from the outside, and by the eighth pole was well on her way to a $180,000 payday, lifting her career earnings to $1,005,757.

Ward, despite all his success as a trainer – more than 1,200 career wins, including 25 in graded races – had never won a Grade 1. And as owner of the mare, this was a memorable score for him.

“I’m very humbled,” he said.

Better Lucky, a two-time Grade 1 winner on turf, was up for second, 2 1/2 lengths behind the winner and another 2 1/4 lengths before Apropos. Heir Kitty nipped Eden Prairie in a tight photo for fourth.

Judy the Beauty now has seven wins and seven seconds from 15 career starts. “She’s been incredibly consistent since she stepped onto the track,” said Ward.

The $2 exacta (4-6) paid $16.60, the $1 trifecta (4-6-2) returned $31.70, and the 10-cent superfecta (4-6-2-3) was worth $20.81.