Karak beats males in Tyro Stakes

Karak gave Wesley Ward, known for his prowess with juveniles, another stakes-winning one with a victory in the $75,000 Tyro Stakes, a turf sprint for 2-year-olds, on Saturday at Monmouth Park.

Ward, who also saddled fifth-place finisher Slap Happy, will go for a sweep of the weekend's juvenile stakes at Monmouth with Foolish Humor, who was entered in the Tyro, but scratched to await the $75,000 Colleen Stakes for fillies on Sunday. He also has Dixie Mo entered main-track-only for the Colleen, in which the fillies Karak and Slap Happy were also cross-entered before ultimately opting to face males Saturday.

Karak ($3.40), from the first crop of Karakontie, won her debut on May 25 at Belmont by three lengths for Ward and owner Breeze Easy LLC. She then traveled with Ward's contingent to the renowned Royal Ascot meeting in England, finishing 15th in the Windsor Castle Stakes.

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Karak, sent away favored under Nik Juarez, sat in second as Ryan's Cat took the field through a sharp opening quarter in 20.93 seconds. Karak inched up on the leader around the turn and was just a half-length behind at the quarter pole. She inhaled Ryan's Cat in the lane and pulled away to win by 2 1/2 lengths. The final time for the five-furlong dash on turf rated firm was 57.08 seconds.

“Even though this filly has a lot of speed, I was hoping for someone to follow and hook onto, just the way we were able to do,” Juarez said. “When Ryan’s Cat was out there flying and we were just off of that one, I had a nice hold on my filly. When I got to the turn she started making up ground willingly. Heading into the lane, as soon as I asked her, she proved herself to be much the best today.”

Now Is rallied three wide to be second, 1 3/4 lengths clear of Shield of Faith in a strung-out field. They were followed by Ryan's Cat, Slap Happy, and Gravel Road.