Ward stablemates Her World, Kaufymaker back from layoffs in Limestone Stakes
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Stablemates Her World and Kaufymaker, both considered standouts in their division last summer, have awaited the best spot to return from their long layoffs. That spot comes in Friday’s $200,000 Limestone Stakes for 3-year-old fillies sprinting on the Keeneland turf.
Her World, from the accomplished first crop of Caravaggio, ambitiously debuted in the Tyro Stakes against colts last August at Monmouth Park. She proved worthy of that vote of confidence, leading throughout and widening to win by six lengths.
“I really always thought just watching her she was the best of all my 2-year-olds last year,” trainer Wesley Ward told Daily Racing Form recently.
Her World, whose debut had been delayed by sore shins, was again sidelined in the fall and ruled out of Breeders’ Cup consideration. She returned to the work tab in March in Kentucky, and has recorded works on the Keeneland turf the past two weeks. Both works came at five furlongs, which should give her some foundation to combat the long layoff.
Although she is giving an experience edge to some others in this field, she is not giving much of a recency edge. Most of the logical contenders have not raced since November or earlier
Kaufymaker, after finishing eighth in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, recorded three stakes placings in the United States to end her 2-year-old season. She was third in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint at 6 1/2 furlongs, which likely played longer due to the unique undulating course at Kentucky Downs. She then was second in the Indian Summer at Keeneland, and was third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint to stablemate Twilight Gleaming, who was second to Slipstream in the Palisades Stakes last Sunday in her season debut. Kaufymaker was entered for the Palisades, but scratched to await this spot.
Ward also will saddle Ruthin, a front-running six-length debut winner at Keeneland before finishing seventh in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot.
Kaufymaker could be pressing the pace set by Her World and Ruthin, with Fast Corey and Gun Boat also looking like pace candidates.
A meltdown up front would suit Derrynane, who won the Woodbine Cares last fall before coming on to be a fine fourth in the Juvenile Turf Sprint after being checked early. The filly is trained by Christophe Clement, who sent out Slipstream to upset Twilight Gleaming last weekend.
The Limestone will go as the seventh race on Friday’s 10-race program, part of a compelling undercard for the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile.
The fifth race, a $110,000 turf allowance for fillies and mares, includes Ocean Road, making her second U.S. start and first for Brendan Walsh, who is off to a hot start at Keeneland. The Group 3-placed filly was sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, breaking slowly and coming on with a belated run. Her two most recent works at Palm Meadows in Florida have been sharp, indicating she is preparing to stay closer to the action.
One race later, Enforceable, Major Fed, and Concert Tour, familiar names from past Derby campaigns, meet in a $130,000 allowance-level event. Enforceable is moving back to his preferred dirt surface after returning from a long layoff to be third in a salty Turfway allowance behind graded stakes winner Mr Dumas and subsequent Kentucky Cup Classic winner King Cause.
Major Fed and Enforceable would both like some pace to run at and are likely to get some from Concert Tour, who is coming off a runner-up effort in his second start since moving to Brad Cox. Farmington Road will prevent him from getting loose on the lead.