Ward cranking up his Breeders' Cup winners

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Wesley Ward has been relatively quiet since winning two Breeders’ Cup races at Santa Anita and then serving a 30-day medication suspension. Ward is getting his large stable geared up for the Gulfstream winter meet while also finding time each afternoon to help break 50 yearlings at a nearby farm.

Ward won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf with Hootenanny and the Filly and Mare Sprint with Judy the Beauty. Both returned to Keeneland for a break after the Breeders’ Cup and are scheduled to arrive locally before the first of the year, Ward said. Also coming here is the Ward-trained Luck of the Kitten, who finished second behind Hootenanny after setting the pace in the Juvenile Turf. Ward has also taken over the training duties of The Great War, who finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile for Aidan O’Brien.

As for his returning Breeders’ Cup contingent, Ward said: “I want to get them galloping and on a work schedule before picking any races out, although they all should start here sometime during the meet. My only regret is No Nay Never won’t be back for another year. He’s been retired as a stallion.”

No Nay Never, a Group 1 winner in France at 2, finished second behind Bobby’s Kitten and a nose in front of the Ward-trained Undrafted in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Ward said he is excited to have the Grade 1-placed Amen Kitten back in training. Amen Kitten finished second behind Twilight Eclipse in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida here last winter and hasn’t raced since April.

“I really like Amen Kitten,” Ward said. “He came up with some minor issues, but I think he’s going to have a big year. He’s already had several works up at Palm Meadows.”

Ward’s suspension was for a clenbuterol positive from 2012. Unlike most trainers, who turn horses over to an assistant so they can run during a suspension, Ward said he didn’t work or run any of his horses during the ban.

“I talked it over with the owners, and they were all fine with me just jogging everybody for the month, and to be honest, I think the time off did all the horses a world of good,” he said.

Ward also confirmed that Frankie Dettori will be at Gulfstream to ride during the winter meet, although his arrival has been delayed due to personal commitments.

“Frankie should be here sometime in late January and ride through the month of February,” said Ward.

Dettori’s engagements will be handled locally by agent Cliff Collier, who also has the book of Rafael Hernandez. Ward watched Hernandez dominate the standings at Fairmount Park this summer, liked what he saw, and asked the rider to accompany him first to Kentucky and then Florida.

Hernandez finished the Churchill Downs fall meet with 7 wins from 72 mounts and was 3 for 14 at the Gulfstream Park meet at the start of the week.

“Rafael has what I call the ‘X factor,’ ” Ward said. “Horses just seem to run a little faster with him on their backs. He rides with so much confidence, and I think that’s a big key to his success.”