Ward looks to stay hot in juvenile race

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Younger and older maidens provide intriguing opportunities on Sunday’s card at Keeneland, with ideal spring conditions expected as the meet moves into its final days.

The day’s second race is an $80,000 tilt for 2-year-olds at the traditional 4 1/2-furlong early-season maiden distance. Wesley Ward, who is known with his prowess with this division, unveils the John Oxley homebred Dreamaway.

The daughter of versatile young sire Flameaway is out of Dream Dancing, a Grade 1 winner on turf. John Velazquez has the mount on the filly, whose pedigree would certainly suggest she is a candidate to join Ward’s raiding party for June’s Royal Ascot meeting on the English turf if she debuts in strong fashion.

Ward has another entrant in this field in Johnny Come Lately, with Walter Rodriguez named to ride. The gelded son of Ward’s Hootenanny offers rare value from the barn at 6-1 on the morning line.

Clever Again, a $500,000 yearling by American Pharoah, debuts for Steve Asmussen and the owner partnership of Winchell Thoroughbreds and Coolmore. The colt’s work tab is not as long as some others in the field, and he may need the race. Clever Again has four published breezes while, for example, Dreamaway, from a barn that actively seeks first-out wins, has eight. However, Clever Again has worked up to breezing four furlongs, while some of the other top choices have only breezed three furlongs, indicating maturity and developing stamina.

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The day’s sixth race is a $100,000 maiden special weight for 3-year-olds. Lake Superior hasn’t yet lived up to the big expectations of his $1.05 million purchase price, but he changes several things for Sunday’s outing. Lake Superior has one second from five starts to date, all in California for trainer Bob Baffert and all at a mile or longer. He has switched to Rick Dutrow’s barn and shortens up to seven furlongs here.

The day’s two most lucrative races, and thus the nominal co-features, are the seventh, a $130,000 turf allowance, and the eighth, a $120,000 allowance/optional-claiming race on the main track. That eighth race should feature a sizzling battle on the front end between Ludwig and Champlin, both coming off sharp wins.

Ludwig is coming off a layoff. Last year, he ran well fresh, as he got a break after being gelded and was improved on return to win a pair of races at Saratoga with Beyer Speed Figures of 86 and 90 for trainer Phil Bauer.

Champlin has won his two career starts for trainer Greg Foley by a combined eight lengths, earning Beyers of 95 and 89. Not only does he have a recency edge over Ludwig, he is well drawn outside his foe in post 9 versus the rail.

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