Lady Aurelia Leads Ward Workers at Keeneland

[Wandering Eyes]

Preparing for a defense of her title in the G1 King’s Stand S. at Royal Ascot June 19, Stonestreet Stable and Peter Leidel’s Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) breezed five furlongs over a Keeneland turf course listed as yielding in 1:03.40 in the company of the G3 Jersey S.-bound Hemp Hemp Hurray (Artie Schiller). Breaking off a few lengths ahead of her MSW & GSP stable companion, Lady Aurelia clicked off splits of :13.60, :26.20, :39 and :51.60 before covering her final furlong in :11.80 (see below).

“She did great today, she really did,” Ward said afterward. “She sat there, and just kind of cruised right off and did everything right with her ears pricking back and forth. Looked like she was very, very happy. Made me very happy.”

Lady Aurelia has one tightener under her belt this term, a runner-up effort to repeat winner Triple Chelsea (Hat Trick {Jpn}) in the Apr. 14 Giant’s Causeway S. at Keeneland.

Ward also sent out GIII Shakertown S. hero Bound for Nowhere (The Factor) to drill five panels in the company of Master Merion (Quality Road). The former, who is set to contest the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. June 23, was timed in 1:01 while Master Merion was clocked in 1:01.20 (video).

Other horses headed to Ascot include Undrafted (Purim), the 2016 Diamond Jubilee victor who went a half-mile in :50.80 for the June 23 Wokingham H.; the juvenile fillies Stillwater Cove (Quality Road) and Our Passion (Elusive Quality), who galloped four furlongs in :49.80 (video); and the trio of 2-year-old fillies Athens Queen (Majestic Warrior), Shang Shang Shang (Shanghai Bobby) and Chelsea Cloisters (First Samurai) also worked as a team (video). Athens Queen made up three lengths to stop the timer in :50 flat, while Shang Shang Shang [June 21 G2 Norfolk S.] and Chelsea Cloisters [G2 Queen Mary S. June 20] were given :50.60.

Ward added that his team would now leave for England a week later than previously planned on June 11 and that the horses would have their final preps at Keeneland late next week.

WATCH: Lady Aurelia works towards the King’s Stand S.

View the full article