Wesley Ward looks forward to a Raven Run sweep with Gypsy Robin
Trainer, Wesley Ward, who was the leading trainer at Keeneland this spring, will be looking forward to his return to the same venue with his 3-year-old filly, Gypsy Robin, in the Grade 2, $250,000 Raven Run Stakes over seven furlongs on 20 October, 2012.
Gypsy Robin is partly owned by Wesley Ward in partnership with Gatewood Bell and Wes Welker, and the sophomore filly under Ward’s wing won at Keeneland over the same distance, and the same surface when she downed the Grade 2 Beaumont Stakes on 15 April, 2012.
It was against the same age group, and the filly that finished second that day, Sacristy will also look for revenge in the Raven Run Stakes over Keeneland’s synthetic surface.
Raven Run Stakes has reeled in a full gate of 14, 3-year-old fillies, and Gypsy Robin’s three length victory in the Beaumont Stakes has earned her the most favoured odds of 3 to 1 on the morning line. However, there are other fillies with single digit odds, and who can rule out a looming upset around the corner, which looks like a likely possibility as well.
Wesley Ward is hopeful of his filly justifying her favourite odds, and the optimism largely comes from resting the daughter of Daaher for eight weeks.
Out of Indian Charlie’s mare Fiesty Princess, Gypsy Robin last raced on 25 August, 2012, at Saratoga and finished second to winner, Contested in the Grade 1 Test Stakes over seven furlongs.
“I’ve worked her five times over this track, and she’s coming into it the right way,” said Ward. “We’re going to lead her over there with some confidence. The outside post is nice, since Johnny can take a look at what’s happening inside and do what he needs to do.”
On the other hand, the lone Grade 1 winner in a field of 14 is Killer Graces, but her form has deteriorated since winning the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes, and has gone to lose seven in a row.
“She’s got a good record on synthetics,” said Hollendorfer, referring to 3 wins and 2 seconds from 9 starts for Killer Graces on synthetic surfaces. “There wasn’t much out here for her, it’s a graded race, and there was a plane available, so I thought I’d send both fillies that way.”
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