Ward sends out formidable filly trio in Kentucky Juvenile

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Wesley Ward seems to stay ahead of the curve in much the same way that his horses often beat the gate.

From his 1984 Eclipse Award for top apprentice rider to his breakthrough success with training 2-year-olds to his pioneering sojourns to England, there can be little doubt that Ward is a leader, not a follower.

“I’m always humbled by the confidence the owners place in me and my staff,” said Ward. “We do the most we can with what we’re given.”

And with Stonestreet Stables recently joining his roster of deep-pocketed clients, Ward is doing his best to further his reputation as a master with 2-year-olds. Ward not only has three of the nine babies in the $100,000 Kentucky Juvenile, the Thursday feature at Churchill Downs, but all three are fillies in a five-furlong race open to both genders.

“They tend to come around quicker than the boys,” said Ward, 48. “It’s not that big a deal, really.”

Lady Aurelia, owned by her breeder, Stonestreet, and George Bolton, figures as the favorite in the Kentucky Juvenile after dominating her April 21 debut, setting a track record for 4 1/2 furlongs that was broken six days later. She will have Julio Garcia back aboard and breaks from post 4.

The other Ward fillies, Con Te Partiro (post 3, Albin Jimenez) and Silvertoni (post 7, Jose Valdivia Jr.), also won maiden races at Keeneland and will take their share of backing. There are no stable couplings for wagering purposes.

Three colts present the strongest opposition to the Ward trio: Thirstforlife (post 1, Florent Geroux), a first-time starter for Mark Casse; Hey Mike (post 9, Javier Castellano), another recent Keeneland winner; and Bluegrass Gem (post 8, Corey Lanerie), a solid second to a Ward winner in his Keeneland debut.

This is the 23rd running of the Kentucky Juvenile but the first since 2010. Eight of the 22 prior winners were fillies, the latest being Aegean (2009), trained by Ward.

The Kentucky Juvenile anchors the Thursday-before-the-Derby card, known to locals as “Thurby.” First post is 12:45 p.m. Eastern, with the feature set for 5:45 as the 10th of 11 races.

KEY CONTENDERS

Lady Aurelia, by Scat Daddy

◗ Bay filly was an international good thing when bet down to 3-10 for her debut, in which she led every single step and was never asked for her best.

Con Te Partiro, by Scat Daddy

◗ A $130,000 yearling purchase, she overcame a minor incident at the start of her April 13 unveiling to draw off by 5 1/2 lengths as an 8-5 favorite under Jimenez.

Thirstforlife, by Stay Thirsty

◗ Word on the street is that this colt can really roll, and Casse believes he might well be good enough to outrun those with a race behind them.

Bluegrass Gem, by Gemologist

◗ “I honestly think they have my colt to beat,” said trainer John Hancock. “He’s going to run better than he did first out.”