Then Ward back for his own Delcap with Majestic Oops * The Racing Biz

Trainer Dan Ward is no stranger to the Delaware Handicap.

As an assistant to Jerry Hollendorfer, Ward had a huge hand in securing two of the three victories of the trainer in the race with Blind Luck in 2011 and Songbird in 2017. This Sunday he will be looking for his first Delcap -overinning as trainer of Record Racer Racer, Agave Oops Stallion Stallion, Agave Stallion Stallion, Agave Stallion Stallion Sheila Regan.

“She trains fantastic,” says Ward about the 5-year-old mare, who is mentioned as the 9/5 second choice on the morning line. ‘She is very professional and she saves [her energy] before the afternoon. “

Ward, who grew up in San Diego, went directly from high school to work with De Hoop for his favorite trainer, Bobby Frankel. He was able to manifest those dreams, starting as a hotwalker and the ranks, and eventually served as an assistant to Frankel by most of the 90s.

After taking a break from racing in 1998, he started back with Jerry Hollendorfer nine years later. Then, in 2009, a talented chestnut mareer with the name Blind Luck came into the picture and soon became the big star of the stable.

“She was really a great horse – traveled everywhere and won some large races on both synthetic and dirt [surfaces]”Says Ward.

Together they won some of the biggest races of the sport for mares and mares, including the Kentucky Oaks and Alabama Stakes in 2010. The victories alone were sweet, but Blind Luck’s rivalry with final Horse of the Year Havre de Grace was one for the history books. It culminated in a final meeting in the Delaware Handicap 2011.

Their first game had come to this track a year earlier, when Blind Luck ran the emerging Havre de Grace to win the Delaware Oaks with a nose. After four more rematches, from Saratoga to Churchill to Oaklawn, each had two victories, with the other second in both cases. They were also finished second and third, behind unparalleled Belle, in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic.

That was the score when they met, a last TME in the afternoon of July 16, 2011.

Ward was in Hollywood Park that day to saddle Killer Graces for the Landaluce Stakes (which she won) and finished watching the race on television. It was no less exciting thousands of kilometers away.

“That was one of the most exciting races you will ever see,” says Ward. The two joined the pole of three eighth for an unforgettable stretch struggle, nor marine tribe willing to give an inch to the other. Finally, with one late increase, Blind Luck pushed her white knotted face forward and won the race at the wire.

Then, a few years later – as if one champion Merrieveeulen was not enough – Songbird met.

“She was a special horse. She won nine class 1 [races] On seven different songs, “Ward remembers, with the last of those victories in the Delaware Handicap 2017. The champion Merrievefeulen and final Hall of Fame -Inductee led the whole way and, although it was not her most visually impressive performance, the job was still getting the job.

This time Rick Porter from Fox Hill Farm, whose Havre de Grace was on the wrong side of that photo in 2011, was able to make a long -awaited trip to the circle of the winner.

“It was really a big problem for him,” says Ward about the late Porter, a native and old lover of racing in Delaware.

In 2023, when Hollendorfer decided to concentrate exclusively on his operations in California, Ward was ready to take over the trainer in Monmouth Park. He had previously run horses in Record trainer, even second ending in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf with Vasilika in 2019, but this was a big next step for the old assistant.

Ward has done well for himself so far, with his statistics that improve every season, but the radiant star of his barn is clearly majestic oops. He has clearly been good for her.

Before they arrived at the trainer’s schedule, the California-Bred had earned decent money with bouncing around compensation and claiming events on the west coast and Canada. Since she went to Ward, she has been better than ever: in the money in seven of nine starts, including two victories in the strikes and a third place in the 1 Ballerina Stakes go out.

Majestic Oops was also introduced on Saturday in the Beldame Stakes (G2) on the Belmont at Aqueduct, where she would have again the talented randomized randomized randomized, who defeated her in this summer’s grade 3 Molly Pitcher. In the end Ward chose Delaware.

“I think this is a better place. It is not that difficult from a race, and it is still $ 400,000,” he says about Sunday’s most important event.

All in all, Ward is happy to be back with a chance to win another Delaware handicap. This time his own name will be on the program, and he will be personal to encourage majestic Oops and Jockey Sonny Leon through the Stanton piece.

“There have been so many great horses that have won here,” he says. “It’s a very important race.”