Ward continues roll as Twilight Gleaming sets stakes record in Giant's Causeway
:quality(75))
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Wesley Ward continued his utter domination of sub-six-furlong races at the Keeneland spring meet when Twilight Gleaming got a flawless trip Saturday under Irad Ortiz Jr. in capturing the 26th running of the $214,650 Giant’s Causeway over a firm Keeneland turf.
Twilight Gleaming, winner of the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar, laid just off the pace set by 33-1 shot Miner’s Queen before pulling away down the stretch, finishing the 5 1/2-furlong distance in a stakes-record 1:01.74. She paid $7.54 as favorite in a full field of 12 older fillies and mares.
Querobin Dourada flew late at 87-1 to be second, 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner and just in front of Star Devine and Happy Soul in a three-way photo for second.
Twilight Gleaming, an Irish-bred filly owned by Stonestreet Stables, now has won six of 10 career starts. The daughter of National Defense was returning from a six-month layoff when posting her fifth career stakes victory.
“Some really nice fillies have won this race through the years, so for her to set the stakes record, that’s pretty good,” said Ward.
Ward also won the Giant’s Causeway last year with an Irish-bred owned by Stonestreet – Campanelle, who also was favored when setting the stakes record in 1:01.91. In all, this was his record fourth triumph in the race, with Holiday for Kitten (2011) and Lady Aurelia (2017) the earlier winners.
Through just six days of the 15-day spring meet, Ward already has swept all three 4 1/2-furlong maiden races for 2-year-olds, and he also sent out the 1-2 finishers, Love Reigns and Lady Hollywood, on Friday in the Limestone at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf.
With Querobin Dourada in the mix, the $2 exacta (10-8) paid $567.54, the $1 trifecta (10-8-12) returned $1,656.86, and the 10-cent superfecta (10-8-12-3) was worth $1,748.89.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.