Ward 'n Jerry continues upward ascent with San Luis Rey win

Ward ‘n Jerry needed five races to beat maidens at the start of his career. He won a $40,000 claimer at Del Mar last summer.

Since then, Ward ‘n Jerry has run only in stakes and Saturday won at that level for the first time in the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita.

Given an ideal ride by jockey Flavien Prat, Ward ‘n Jerry ($5.60) won by 1 1/4 lengths over 6-1 Camino Del Paraiso, who was followed by even-money favorite Oscar Dominguez.

Ward ‘n Jerry, the second choice, was third on the backstretch, well-placed throughout. Prat guided Ward ‘n Jerry three-wide on the turn to take the lead in early stretch.

Ward ‘n Jerry ran 1 1/2 miles on turf in 2:28.67 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 96, which equals his career-best. The San Luis Rey Stakes was the first time Prat had ridden Ward ‘n Jerry since a fifth-place finish in a maiden race in 2016.

“He was a little keen early, but he settled down fine,” Prat said. “He had a good turn of food through the stretch.”

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Swamp Souffle finished fourth, followed by French Getaway, Ashleyluvssugar, and Go for a Ride, who set the early pace.

Oscar Dominguez did not have an ideal trip, racing in traffic with a quarter-mile remaining before finishing 1 1/4 lengths behind Camino Del Paraiso.

The $101,000 San Luis Rey Stakes was Ward ‘n Jerry’s sixth appearance in a stakes. A 7-year-old gelding by Lucky Pulpit, Ward ‘n Jerry races for Larry and Marianne Williams and trainer Mike Puype. A winner of six of 20 starts, Ward ‘n Jerry has earned $373,579.

After winning the $40,000 claimer last August, Ward ‘n Jerry was third by a neck to Oscar Dominguez in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Del Mar on Dec. 1 and second as the 2-1 favorite in the Unusual Heat Turf Classic for California-breds on Jan. 18.

Puype said Ward ‘n Jerry is best in turf marathons.

“He ran a good third last December,” he said. “This was a big effort.”