Trainer Wesley Ward is rarely afraid to test a promising youngster early, and the experienced conditioner will take an ambitious route at Gulfstream Park on Saturday when unbeaten filly Skara Brae lines up against male rivals in the $125,000 Royal Palm Juvenile.
Ward could easily have chosen the companion Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies for the daughter of Golden Pal, yet the Kentucky-based trainer believes talented fillies often hold a developmental edge at this stage of the season.
“I think its an advantage to run fillies against the colts,” Ward explained. “If you look at grade school, the girls come around quicker. You see it at 2-year-olds-in-training sales – the majority of the fastest horses will be fillies. It’s just that they come around quicker mentally. I personally like to run my better fillies against the colts.”
The five-furlong turf contest carries more than domestic importance. Winners of both the Royal Palm Juvenile and Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies will secure automatic entry into one of the juvenile races staged during the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting at Ascot Racecourse in June, along with a $25,000 travel allowance.
Skara Brae arrives at the Florida track with considerable momentum after an impressive debut success at Keeneland Racecourse, where she surged clear by four and a half lengths in a maiden special weight contest on dirt. Saturday’s assignment will mark her first outing on turf, though Ward indicated her preparation on the grass surface at Palm Meadows had gone smoothly.
“She’s been on the grass at Palm Meadows and she liked it. We’re taking her down there for this particular race, her being by Golden Pal and being on the grass,” Ward said. “Hopefully Golden Pal gets his first stakes winner if everything goes to plan. But you know how horse racing goes.”
Originally booked to ride Skara Brae and stablemate Joker’s Chic, Hong Kong-based jockey Joao Moreira was unable to travel due to overseas commitments. Veteran rider Joe Bravo will instead take the mount.
The Royal Palm Juvenile preview also features a strong challenge from trainer George Weaver, who enjoyed success in this race last season with Sandal’s Song. This year he relies on Automatic Press, a son of Vekoma who showed early speed before weakening on debut at Keeneland.
“He’s a very forward horse. He’s quick out of the gate. He was a little green in his race at Keeneland. He was one who always acted like he would benefit from a race,” Weaver said. “We’re looking forward to running him over there. He’s an athletic horse and we’re going to give it another try.”
Automatic Press will be partnered by jockey J. G. Torrealba.
Among the other notable runners is Celtic Dispute, trained by Patrick Biancone. The filly produced a promising debut effort when second behind Boots at Gulfstream Park and now takes on male opposition with Luis Saez aboard for the first time.
Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse saddles Braums Run, another offspring of Golden Pal, while Nicholas Palmer introduces first-time starter Iolana. Blackjack, prepared by Carlos David, enters the race after recording a pair of sharp workouts.
Omaha Forty and Cillian complete a varied and intriguing field for one of the weekend’s most closely watched juvenile turf races in North America.
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