Ward takes aim at Oklahoma stakes

Trainer Wesley Ward will be attacking the most significant card of the Remington Park meet next weekend when he sends out Pleasant Prince in the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby, Aegean in the $50,000 Flashy Lady, and Class of Fifty Two in the $50,000 E.L. Gaylord.

The races will all be run Oct. 10 as part of a program of five stakes worth more than $850,000.

Ward’s starters flew in from Keeneland on Monday. He said he could send one additional horse to town, Grade 3 Sapling winner Madman Diaries. The horse is a candidate for the $50,000 Kip Deville for 2-year-olds at six furlongs Oct. 8.

“I’m sort of pondering it,” Ward said. “I just don’t know.”

Pleasant Prince, who won the Grade 3 Ohio Derby in July, worked five furlongs in 59.60 seconds at Remington on Tuesday. Ward said he will have his final drill for the Oklahoma Derby on Monday.

“He came out of the work bucking and kicking,” he said.

Pleasant Prince last raced Sept. 6 and was third in the $300,000 Smarty Jones at Parx Racing. Earlier this week, his half-brother topped the Breeders Sales Company of Louisiana auction. The unnamed colt, a Louisiana-bred by Run Production, brought $75,000.

◗ Coyote Legend, who had been a candidate for the Oklahoma Derby, will pass the race, trainer Bret Calhoun said.

“We went ahead and turned him out and freshened him up,” he said.

Coyote Legend last raced on Aug. 28 and was second to future Super Derby winner Apart in the $100,000 Prelude at Louisiana Downs. Coyote Legend has won five stakes in 2010.