Ward ‘n Jerry hitting his best stride going long on turf

ARCADIA, Calif. – Ward ’n Jerry is on his way up, Ohio on his way down. They meet Thursday at Santa Anita as leading contenders in the featured seventh race at a mile on turf.

Trained by Mike Puype, Ward ’n Jerry has won four of his last six starts, including a second-level allowance last out. Ohio, trained by Paolo Lobo, has lost five in a row. But the losses were all in graded stakes. Ohio is in a better spot Thursday, a three-other-than allowance.

Six others entered the $63,000 allowance: Moonlight Drive, Sawyer’s Hill, Patentar, Fabozzi, Lieutenant Colonel, and Conquest Daddyo.

Ward ’n Jerry and Ohio have contrasting backgrounds. Ward ’n Jerry began his career in California with Puype and did not win a maiden race until the sixth start of his career. Ohio went 4 for 7 in South America before he was sent to Lobo.

Puype described Ward ’n Jerry as “mentally immature” early in his career. He got his act together around two turns.

“He found his calling – long on turf,” Puype said.

The challenge Thursday for Ward ’n Jerry is the one-mile distance after having won at 1 1/4 miles last out.

“Do I think he’s better at a mile than a mile and a quarter? Probably not,” Puype said. “He has won at a mile, he is razor sharp and at the peak of his fitness. But when the rails are out, you still have to have a little bit of racing luck.”

Ohio has had his fair share of bad luck. Comments in his past performances include: “off bit slow,” “steadied,” “pulled,” and “stumbled.”

Ohio has made seven starts in the U.S. His five starts in graded stakes include a distant third in a five-horse field. His two U.S. wins came in first- and second-level allowance races at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.

Ward ’n Jerry set the pace in his two-other-than win last out but is likely to rally from behind Thursday in a field with front-runners and pace pressers, including Moonlight Drive, Sawyer’s Hill, Fabozzi, and Lieutenant Colonel.

KEY CONTENDERS

Ward ’n Jerry, by Lucky Pulpit

Last 3 Beyers: 93-96-82

◗ Ward ’n Jerry was produced by Tamarack Bay, whose foals include stakes winners Tamarando, U’narack, and Luckarack and the stakes-placed Ward ’n Jerry, Pulmarack, and Tamarack Smarty.

◗ Ward ’n Jerry’s next target is the $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes for California-breds at one mile on turf May 20.

◗ Stewart Elliott is the colt’s rider.

Ohio, by Elusive Quality

Last 3 Beyers: 90-94-95

◗ Fifth last out in the Grade 2 Arcadia Stakes, Ohio will rally from behind under Tiago Pereira, who is 1 for 32 on turf this winter.

Moonlight Drive, by Red Rocks

Last 3 Beyers: 86-95-89

◗ He finished fifth last out in a turf-sprint stakes. Two starts back, he finished a close third in the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile here.