Outfielder hits a home run on debut; Royal Ascot on deck
?q=100)
Wesley Ward unveiled a serious 2-year-old for Royal Ascot on Friday at Churchill, where first-time starter Outfielder debuted in a five-furlong grass race and won by 6 1/4 lengths, barely asked for anything by jockey John Velazquez.
Outfielder, by Speightstown, contested a fast pace and still got his final furlong in a robust 11.45. Outfielder was sent off as the 1-5 favorite in a 10-horse field.
Ward also has an excellent turf filly for the Grade 1, $500,000 Just a Game on June 6 at Saratoga. Kehoe Beach didn’t race on grass until the fourth start of her career, finishing second last summer in her turf debut, then reeling off three strong wins, capped by a 1 1/4-length score in the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere, to end her 3-year-old season.
Ward raved about Kehoe Beach’s training into her 4-year-old debut and Kehoe Beach didn’t disappoint, setting a strong pace and holding on for a close third behind two good mares making their North American debut, Choisya and Excellent Truth, in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland.
Ward said he didn’t run Kehoe Beach back earlier this month in the Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill because he wanted more spacing into her next start.
“She’s something else,” Ward said. “Corey Lanerie worked her behind horses the other day and she just relaxed. He eased her out and, woof, away she went. Corey was like, ‘Wow.’ ”
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.