Ward not the only player in baby races
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Two of the first three races of the spring meet are 2-year-old dashes in which trainer Wesley Ward surely will dominate pre-race speculation. Ward has become synonymous with success in Keeneland baby races, having won a whopping 35 of them since the 2007 spring meet, having unleashed such precocious talents as Judy the Beauty, Undrafted, Hootenanny, and Lady Aurelia.
“I don’t want to assume anything, but hopefully we’ll make a good showing again this spring,” said Ward.
Ward has an uncoupled entry in both Friday races: Strike Play and Onthewaytonevrland in race 1, and No Bang No Boom and Stage Left in race 3.
Meanwhile, trainer John Hancock will be hoping for anything close to his 2017 spring meet. Hancock, based at Ellis Park in western Kentucky, won three 2-year-old races among five wins and four seconds from 23 starts in his most productive meet since going 12 for 50 in 2009 at the old Beulah Park. Prior to saddling No Picture Charlie for race 3, Hancock will send out Elle Factor in race 1 with Jose Ortiz, the 2017 Eclipse Award-winning jockey, taking the mount.
:: KEENELAND CLOCKER REPORT: Get workout grades and comments for the spring meet
“They asked me,” said Hancock, referring to Ortiz and his agent, Jimmy Riccio. “Who would’ve ever thought it.”
Also, the third race Friday marks the Keeneland debut of trainer Todd Fincher, who will saddle Myhotrodlincoln. Fincher has a Kentucky Derby hopeful in Runaway Ghost, winner of the Sunland Derby on his home New Mexico circuit.
