Stonestreet, Ward Strike Again at Keeneland

[Wandering Eyes]

For the second consecutive day, a Stonestreet-owned and Wesley Ward-trained juvenile acquired overseas made light work of the Keeneland opener, as NAPA SPIRIT (IRE) (c, 2, Invincible Spirit {Ire}–Aimhigin Lass {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}) validated 2-5 favoritism. Not the fastest away, the bay raced in and among rivals early on as stablemate Magniloquent (American Pharoah) showed the way through an opening quarter in :21.78. Three wide and traveling well in hand on the turn, Napa Spirit came after Magniloquent with about a furlong and a half to race and idled some in the final 100 yards, but proved about two lengths too strong for the rallying Jack Blacked. Like 'TDN Rising Star' Ruthin (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}), Napa Spirit was acquired on behalf of Barbara Banke's operation by agent Ben McElroy, who gave £420,000 for the Irish National Stud-bred colt at last year's Goffs Orby Sale. Napa Spirit is out of a half-sister to multiple Group 3 winner Yellow Rosebud (Ire) (Jeremy) and a full-sister to SW & GSP Seeharn (Ire). The deeper female family includes Malhub (Kingmambo), winner of the G1 Golden Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot, a possible next stop for both Napa Spirit and Ruthin. O-Stonestreet Stables; B-Irish National Stud; T-Wesley Ward.

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