Royal Ascot Likely Next for Campanelle, Royal Approval
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Stonestreet Stables LLC’s Campanelle stamped herself as a prime candidate for the 2020 Royal Ascot meeting Sunday at Gulfstream Park with an impressive front-running score over Three Chimneys Farm’s Royal Approval in the first turf race for 2-year-olds in the country.
Campanelle and Royal Approval, the only fillies in the five-furlong turf race for 2-year-olds, are both trained by Wesley Ward, who has saddled 10 winners at Royal Ascot since 2009.
Campanelle ($6.20) jumped right to the front of the eight-horse field under Nik Juarez and set fractions of 22.24 and 44.15 seconds for the first half mile, chased by Royal Approval, the 8-5 favorite ridden by Edgard Zayas, before crossing the finish line 3 ½ lengths clear in 55.66. Royal Approval finished 9 ½ lengths ahead of third-place finisher C.P.A. Genius.
“Both horses early on were meant for Royal Ascot, then all this [coronavirus pandemic] came about. For the most part, we’d have had a turf race or two at Belmont early on. This is the first turf race in the United States this year. To run 1-2 was a big go. The other filly who was second is also very talented. She’s a bigger filly,” Ward said. “We’ll sit down with the owners of both fillies to see what they want to do moving forward. Both of these fillies, I kept them both in Florida, because they’re much better on turf than dirt.”
Ward trainees, CJ Thoroughbreds’ Flying Aletha and Mrs. Fitriani Hay’s Lime, finished 1-2 in a 4 ½-furlong maiden special weight race for juvenile fillies that was taken off the turf May 21.
Flying Aletha and Ranlo Investments LLC’s Golden Pal, a son of Uncle Mo and Lady Shipman who finished second after encountering bumping at the start of his April 17 debut, have already been committed to running during the Royal Ascot meeting.
“We’re finally getting on track,” said Ward, who hadn’t experienced his customary dominating early-season success with juveniles due to the coronavirus pandemic, which forced the cancellation of the Keeneland spring meet and delayed the opening of the Belmont Park spring meet.
Gulfstream Park Press Release
Photo: Campanelle. Credit: Lauren King
