Ward sending small group across the pond to refind Royal Ascot form

It’s that time of year for trainer Wesley Ward. An annual participant at Royal Ascot, Ward will be back this month with a relatively small group of 2-year-olds, three fillies and, perhaps one colt.

Ward said he plans to run Ultima Grace in the five-furlong Queen Mary Stakes on Wednesday, June 19. He’ll also have Saturday Flirt in the Norfolk the following day, and Burning Pine in the Albany on that Friday. John Velazquez is booked to ride Ultima Grace, Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount on Saturday Flirt, and Joel Rosario rides Burning Pine. All the races are run down a straight course, the Queen Mary and Norfolk over five furlongs, the Albany at six.

The colt Honorary American is possible for the Windsor Castle, also June 19, pending his work this weekend at Keeneland, Ward said Wednesday.

Ward has won 12 Royal Ascot races but none the last two years: Campanelle’s tally in the 2021 Commonwealth Cup was his last success.

Ultima Grace, by American Pharoah, was a 3 3/4-length winner of her lone start, a relatively slow April 18 Keeneland dirt maiden. Saturday Flirt, a Mendelssohn filly bred and owned by Ward, was a sharp winner of her April 25 debut in a Keeneland turf maiden, while Burning Pine, by Nyquist, was an easy dirt-maiden winner the following day.

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