Ward debut winners aiming for stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Wesley Ward is taking some of his talented 2-year-olds to Europe in the weeks ahead, but not all of them. He is leaving two behind to run at Saratoga, Roderick and Outadore, both impressive debut winners.

Roderick, a son of Into Mischief, ran to his 2-5 backing, drawing away to an 8 1/4-length victory going five furlongs on the main track at Belmont Park on June 21. Outadore prompted the early running before pulling away through the final furlong over the grass here on Sunday. Breeze Easy LLC owns both Roderick and Outadore.

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Ward said he’s looking at the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on Aug. 7 and the Grade 1 Runhappy Hopeful on Sept. 7 for Roderick. Ward said he thinks Outadore is as good on dirt as he is on turf.

“We were kind of late getting him started because of shins, and I thought the turf would be a lot easier on him the first time,” Ward said. “But he could also show up in the Hopeful.”