George Weaver and Wesley Ward are targeting the Royal Ascot pathway on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, where the $125,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies headlines a card built around two five-furlong turf stakes for 2-year-olds.
The winners of the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies and the $125,000 Royal Palm Juvenile each earn an automatic entry into one of six juvenile stakes at Royal Ascot (June 16-20) at Ascot Racecourse, plus a $25,000 equine travel stipend.
Weaver will debut Easy Life, owned by R A Hill Stable, BlackRidge Stables LLC and SGV Thoroughbreds. “We don’t know if she is turf or dirt to be perfectly honest with you, but we’re going to ask her to turf to see if she can run at Royal Ascot,” Weaver said. Easy Life is a daughter of Life is Good and was purchased for $300,000 at the OBS March sale. J.G. Torrealba is named to ride, and the filly is 6-1 on the morning line. Weaver will also be represented by Automatic Press in the Royal Palm Juvenile.
Ward runs Joker’s Chic for Twin Oaks Bloodstock LLC after a fourth-place debut in a 4 ½-furlong maiden at Keeneland on dirt. “When she ran, I was pretty confident with her. She broke and Irad had her in a beautiful position, but she didn’t make that explosive move she made at Palm Meadows,” Ward said. “I told the owner, ‘This must be a grass filly.’ If she runs back to her work at Palm Meadows, she’s going to be double tough to beat.” Joao Moreira was originally named but is unavailable due to Hong Kong commitments; Joe Bravo takes over, with Joker’s Chic also listed at 6-1.
Dew Sweepers’ Pot’s Right is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in a nine-filly field after a debut win at Keeneland on dirt, and will switch to turf for trainer Phillip Antonacci with Luis Saez aboard. Other contenders include Arindel’s Boots, a 3 ½-length debut winner at Gulfstream now in the care of Carlos David, plus two Mark Casse first-timers: D.J. Stable LLC’s Pros and Cons and Gary Barber’s Sass Sass.
