Arlington International Racecourse’s world-renowned turf course not only
lived up to its name in the middle of August with the International Festival of
Racing, but it played a pivotal role in preparing one of the best turf juveniles
in the world for French Group 1 glory earlier in the month.
On August 4, the Wesley Ward-trained globetrotting juvenile No Nay Never was
in need of a world-class course on which to have his last major preparatory move
before shipping over to Deauville, France, for the Prix Morny.
“Chris Polzin and Mr. Duchossois were kind enough to let me breeze on the
grass,” Ward explained. “We were really lucky the way we worked way out in the
course where the grass was perfect. It was like a European course and was very
similar to how Deauville felt when I had a chance to step out on that. He had a
nice work that day and came out of it well.”
Previous to the work, the son of Scat Daddy won a maiden at Keeneland on the
Polytrack and then took down the Norfolk Stakes at the Royal Ascot meeting in
England for owners Paul Shanahan and Ice Wine Stable. His victory in the latter
was so impressive that international powerhouse stable Coolmore acquired
controlling interest in the colt.
After the work at Arlington, the impressive colt shipped to France for a
second European invasion — this time in one of the most prestigious juvenile
races on the continent — and he did not disappoint in a facile Prix Morny
victory.
“He’s the best horse I’ve ever had,” Ward stated of his first Group 1
winner. “We are going to sit down and figure out what’s next this week.”
While No Nay Never did not subsequently run at Arlington after working over
its track, his stablemate — the promising Pablo Del Monte — who also worked on
the course that day for Ward is pointing toward the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington
Futurity on September 7.
“Pablo Del Monte, we’re looking at the Futurity with him. He worked great the
other day,” Ward stated of the well-bred son of Giant’s Causeway he co-owns with
Paul Shanahan.
While No Nay Never covered his grassy half in :48 2/5 on August 4, Pablo Del
Monte clocked :48 3/5. Both breezes came around the “dogs” on the good course.
Pablo Del Monte has won his only start over Keeneland’s Polytrack — where
his dam, Ward’s One Hot Wish, scorched 4 1/2 furlongs in a world-record :48.87
in 2007.
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