Ward Notches Second Stakes Double in Two Days

Two stakes victories in a day makes for a pretty good afternoon, so that means trainer Wesley Ward had a very enjoyable Friday and Saturday to open the 15-day Keeneland Spring Meet.

On the heels of Friday victories by Three Chimneys Farm’s Twenty Carat in the Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select and Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Chasing Artie in the Palisades Turf Sprint, Ward doubled up again Saturday with Ten Broeck Farm’s Kimari in the Madison (G1) and his Bound for Nowhere in the Shakertown (G2).

“They are both fine this morning,” Ward said about his Saturday stakes winners, adding that neither would run in a stakes at Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby Week in four weeks. “That is too quick.”

With his second victory in the Shakertown, Bound for Nowhere boosted his career earnings to $999,857. “But, when you add in his pounds and Euros from his races at Ascot, he’s a millionaire,” Ward said.

In notching her first graded stakes victory, Kimari turned back the likes of Grade 1 winner Bell’s the One, who finished in a dead heat for second in her 2021 debut.

“She’s got a few nicks, but nothing we can’t manage,” trainer Neil Pessin said of Bell’s the One. “I still wouldn’t trade horses with anyone.”

Next for Bell’s the One figures to be a chance to repeat in the $500,000 Derby City Distaff (G1) Presented by Kendall-Jackson Winey to be run May 1 at Churchill.