Coach Wesley Ward is quickly changing into the world’s skilled in coaching 2-year-olds to dash on the turf. In solely 4 years of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Dash (G2T), Ward has received the race thrice and completed second the one time he misplaced.
Twice the coach has received the race with colts, and this time at Del Mar Nov. 5, he did it with a filly within the $1 million race, although not the one most individuals had been anticipating. As an alternative of successful with favored Averly Jane , Ward took it at Del Mar with Twilight Gleaming , the 5-1 second choice. Twilight Gleaming became the first filly to win the Juvenile Turf Sprint.
Possibly the precise mixture should additionally embody jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., who was aboard Ward-trained winner Four Wheel Drive in 2019, Golden Pal in 2020, and now, Twilight Gleaming.
But credit the filly as well, who got the jump on the rest of the large field, giving her an advantage that ultimately no one could overcome. Not that they didn’t try. One Timer challenged outside of Twilight Gleaming, who completed the first quarter-mile in :21.61, while Averly Jane and Twilight Jet raced in tandem in third and fourth.
Averly Jane, undefeated in all four of her starts, has won her races almost completely on the front end, so it was surprising when her stablemate got the jump on her.
“You attempt to analyze all of those races on paper, and when the gate opens it is a completely different story,” mentioned Ward. “I believed she’d be within the second tier as a result of Averly Jane and One Timer are so quick.”
Coach Wesley Ward smiles after Twilight Gleaming’s victory within the Juvenile Turf Dash at Del Mar
Twilight Gleaming sped a half-mile in :44.03, and One Timer could have briefly poked his nostril forward of Twilight Gleaming’s across the flip. But when he did it was for less than a nano-second, because the filly instantly wrested again the benefit after they turned for dwelling.
A number of horses took a run at her through the stretch run, however Twilight Gleaming had stored one thing in reserve. She held all of them off to win by a half-length, stopping the timer in :56.24.
Go Bears Go , who sat in ninth early, closed ground, but could not catch the winner. Go Bears Go had another half-length on third-place Kaufymaker , still another filly trained by Ward. Derrynane was a head back of Kaufymaker and a nose in front of Averly Jane.
“She really broke running today,” said Ortiz. “I was a little surprised because she has been breaking a step or two slow. I wanted to save her a little bit, but when we straightened out, I couldn’t wait any longer. I wasn’t sure if I saved enough. Everyone was running at us. She really gave me everything she had.”
Barbara Banke, who races in the name of Stonestreet Stables, owns Twilight Gleaming. This year Banke was named chair of the Breeders’ Cup Board of Directors, the first woman elected. To win the very first Breeders’ Cup race of the 2021 edition was especially gratifying, though Banke first spoke of the filly’s talent.
Barbara Banks (center) celebrates a victory from Twilight Gleaming in the Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar
“She’s been training really, really well,” said Banke. “She just looked terrific, and she’s really smart. You could tell she was just figuring it out. She wasn’t hot or bothered. She was ready to rumble, and she did.”
Ben McElroy bought Twilight Gleaming for Banke for £75,000 (US$96,931) at the Goffs’ Orby Sale in 2020. Pier House Stud bred the daughter of National Defense —Thames Pageant , by Dansili , and consigned her.
Ward excels with training horses in the U.S., taking them to Europe, and bringing them back, often winning on both continents. He did exactly that with Twilight Gleaming.
“We started early,” said Ward. “This filly went to Barbara’s farm in Ocala. They did a great job, and when they sent her to me she was well prepared. I told Barbara that this filly was very fast and precocious.”
Twilight Gleaming made her first start at the Keeneland spring assembly, completed second in a 4 1/2-furlong race on the grime. Ward then took her to Belmont Park and switched her to 5 furlongs on grass. Twilight Gleaming responded with a 7 1/2-length maiden victory. At that time, Ward mentioned he began desirous about the Juvenile Turf Dash.
Most trainers would not put together for the Breeders’ Cup by heading to Ascot and Deauville. However Ward has demonstrated simply how comfy he’s with that program. Consequently, Twilight Gleaming completed an excellent second within the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) behind Quick Suzy .
Ward then sent Twilight Gleaming to France to accompany Commonwealth Cup (G1) winner Campanelle , a 3-year-old, because Twilight Gleaming “is real docile, has got a great mind to her, and takes everything in stride.”
At Deauville, Twilight Gleaming won the Prix de la Vallee d’Auge by a neck.
Twilight Gleaming has a truly international pedigree. Unraced Thames Pageant is a full sister to Mainstream, who was stakes-placed in Australia. The second dam, Phantom Gold , a two-time group 2 winner in England, was bred by Queen Elizabeth II and is reportedly one of the queen’s favorite racehorses. Phantom Gold’s granddaughter will certainly be one of Banke’s favorites.
Video: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T)
