Judy the Beauty works for Humana Distaff

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Judy the Beauty, the champion female sprinter of 2014, moved another step closer to her 2015 debut by working six furlongs in 1:12.70 at Churchill Downs over a “good” track on Monday.

Trainer Wesley Ward was not on hand for the drill but said his assistant for the last 25 years, Blake Heap, informed him that the work was “awesome,” and that Judy the Beauty is on target to launch her campaign in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff here May 2, Kentucky Derby Day.

Ward got permission from racing secretary Ben Huffman to work Judy the Beauty during the tail end of the special Kentucky Derby-Oaks training session immediately after the renovation break at 8:30 a.m.

Ward had been hoping to kick off Judy the Beauty’s campaign in the Madison Stakes at Keeneland, which she won last year, but said he missed a little too much training time due to the inclement weather in Kentucky this winter to have her ready for the race. Last year, Judy the Beauty finished fourth in the Humana Distaff. She has not raced since winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint last fall.

“After looking at her breezes leading up to this morning, I feel she’s sounder right now than she’s ever been in her life,” said Ward. “And I like the way she seems to be handling the Churchill Downs track. The only time she was off the board in her career was at Churchill a year ago in the Humana, which was the main reason I’ve brought her over here twice now to work, although I think I might just have run her back a little too close last year off such a big effort three weeks earlier in the Madison.”

Ward said if all goes well in the Humana Distaff, races like the Grade 2 Princess Rooney at Gulfstream Park and the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga probably will be on his radar for Judy the Beauty.

Ward sent out his other 2014 Breeders’ Cup champion, Hootenanny, to win his 2015 debut in style Saturday at Keeneland. The winner of the BC Juvenile Turf, Hootenanny cruised to an eight-length allowance victory going 5 1/2 furlongs on grass.

“I was really impressed with his effort,” said Ward. “He’s not really a great work horse – watching him work, you’re really not sure where you stand – but he’s a different horse once you load him in the gate in the afternoon.”

Last year, Hootenanny won the Windsor Castle Stakes at Ascot and finished second in the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville. Ward said he will discuss upcoming options for Hootenanny with owner Coolmore but is leaning toward a return trip to Ascot in June.