Saturday’s juvenile turf features at Gulfstream Park produced two performances with international implications, as Celtic Dispute and Liberty Rings earned automatic invitations to compete at this summer’s Royal Ascot meeting with determined victories in the Royal Palm stakes events.
Dew Sweepers’ Celtic Dispute caused a mild upset in the $125,000 Royal Palm Juvenile, edging out heavily fancied Skara Brae by a neck in her first attempt on turf and her first outing in open stakes company. The five-furlong contest for 2-year-olds carried more than domestic significance, with the winner securing entry into one of six races during the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting at Ascot Racecourse in June, along with a travel allowance.
Trainer Patrick Biancone elected to run Celtic Dispute against the colts largely because the ownership group already had a strong contender in the companion fillies’ event later on the card. Even so, it was another filly, the Wesley Ward-trained Skara Brae, who emerged as her main rival.
Breaking sharply under Luis Saez, Celtic Dispute tracked Skara Brae through swift fractions of 21.28 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.94 for the half before launching a sustained late challenge in the stretch. The daughter of turf influences responded gamely inside the final furlong to collar the favourite close home and stop the clock in 56.17 seconds.
“You don’t have to be a genius to know that Wesley is going to the front,” Biancone said afterward. “I said to Luis, ‘Don’t worry. If he wants to go, let him go, and we’ll catch him later.’”
Skara Brae, partnered by Joe Bravo, held second by 4¾ lengths from Braums Run after showing the way for much of the journey.
The result continued Biancone’s recent success in the Royal Palm series at Gulfstream Park. Last season, he captured the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies with Lennilu before that filly went on to finish third in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Later on the Gulfstream Park programme, Liberty Rings delivered a breakthrough moment for trainer Nicholas Palmer with a front-running victory in the $125,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies.
Making just her second career appearance and her first on grass, the daughter of Awesome Slew showed immediate speed under Miguel Vasquez and never surrendered control. She set fractions of 21.76 and 44.50 seconds before drawing clear to score by 1¼ lengths in 56.58 seconds.
“She looks like a turf horse, big and scopey and a large foot. We figured it was worth a shot,” Palmer said. “We really don’t get a chance to run in races like this very often.”
Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies at Gulfstream Park.
Palmer admitted he expected his filly to show more speed on debut when she finished third on dirt, beaten only half a length after a wide rally. That earlier experience appeared to sharpen her considerably for Saturday’s assignment.
“Not surprised she made the lead. Surprised in her first race she wasn’t loose on the lead,” Palmer added. “But I think that race really tightened the screws and got her focused.”
The victory provided Palmer with his first stakes triumph and an emotional milestone for the stable run alongside his parents, Teresa and David Palmer.
“It’s a career-defining moment. We’ve been trying really hard to win a stakes, so this is a big deal for us,” he said.
Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse saddled the second- and third-placed finishers, Pros and Cons and Sass Sass, while race favourite Pot’s Right never threatened and finished fourth.
Like Celtic Dispute earlier in the afternoon at Gulfstream Park, Liberty Rings also secured automatic entry into one of the juvenile races at Royal Ascot along with a $25,000 travel stipend.
“I want to go. Hopefully I talk them into going,” Palmer said with a smile, hopeful Liberty Rings will make the trip to England next month.
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