Ward Readies Bound For Nowhere, Golden Pal For Saratoga

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Trainer Wesley Ward’s multiple Grade 2 winner Bound for Nowhere and champion juvenile turf sprinter Golden Pal are readying for stakes action at the 2021 Saratoga summer meet, which begins July 15.

Bound for Nowhere, who finished third last out in the Jaipur (G1) on June 5 at Belmont Park, will pursue another graded stake on the NYRA circuit for owner-trainer Ward when he runs in the $200,000 Troy (G3) Presented by Horse Racing Ireland on August 6.

The 7 time-winning millionaire broke sharply in the 6-furlong Jaipur with some company from fellow graded stakes winners Sombeyay and Gregorian Chant to his outside. Bound for Nowhere maintained command until just past the 1/16 pole when passed by Casa Creed, who notched a 2-length score over Chewing Gum.

While pleased with the effort, Ward said he would rather see Bound for Nowhere convey a late-closing running style, which he showed when conquering the Shakertown (G2) under Joel Rosario on April 3 at Keeneland.

“From behind I think he’s better, especially as he gets older,” Ward said. “As luck would have it, he broke decent. He was kind of smoking out there the first part of the race. I was happy with the way he ran, but I would have rather seen him come from behind. It wasn’t Joel’s fault, I don’t give riding instructions. I was just really happy with the way he rode him in the Shakertown, where he came from well out of it and showed one big punch. I loved that ride.”

Bound for Nowhere, a 7-year-old son of The Factor, breezed an easy 5/8 over the turf at Belmont Park on Thursday morning in his second work following the Jaipur.

“He worked at Churchill the day after closing day along with Golden Pal,” Ward said. “I like to keep them on the grass, so I shipped them to Belmont to work them on the grass at Belmont.”

Ward said Golden Pal will target the $120,000 Quick Call (G3) on July 15, Opening Day at the Spa. The son of Uncle Mo, out of 11-time stakes winner Lady Shipman, last raced when capturing the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) on November 6 at Keeneland.

Golden Pal also worked 5/8 over the Belmont turf on Thursday morning.

“From what I see with him in the mornings, he’s just extremely talented,” Ward said.

Golden Pal finished a close second as a maiden in the Norfolk (G2) at Ascot last June at second asking. On his return to North America, Golden Pal graduated in style with a front-running score in the Skidmore in August at Saratoga.