Mangione adds to Wesley Ward’s hot streak in Keeneland’s baby races (Coady Photography)
Keeneland, Race 2 – 04/13/2023
By 2YO EdgeMan
KEE2:041323 – ‘The Maestro’ – Wesley Ward – made it three for three in baby races this year at Keeneland, this time with his ‘B horse’ in this race, #9 Mangione. Corrales settled in about three lengths back on the turn aboard the Hootenanny gelding and then made a sustained move through the lane, ultimately wearing down WW’s ‘A horse’ – #1 Hob Alwatan – scoring by a 1/2 length on the wire. Ward’s charge paid $18.86 for $2W tickets and posted a swift EBSF of 86 running the 4 1/2f in 52.78 seconds. Off at solid odds of 6/1, our pick – #7 Sonofaship – ran pretty much side by side with Mangione much of the race and even peaked his head in front for a second within the final 1/16th, but eventually had to settle as the runner up. Learnings – Although you’ll almost certainly get a short price on Sonofaship next time out, he’s gonna be tough to beat.
That’s it for the week at KEE with the juveniles, but hopefully the rain stops in south Florida so Gulfstream can get back to business on Friday. We are really anxious to see Vino Rosso’s (Spendthrift Farm) first performer – #6 Zaino – in GP’s 2nd race. Also, we expect that two more of ‘our races’ will be carded in Lexington next week. Keep the faith Edgies, we almost won a nice one today. Ward can’t win every 2YO MSW race of the meet – or…. maybe he can?
