Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

Randall Lowe took the long road, but he found redemption with his homebred Golden Pal in the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, the first of the Breeders' Cup World Championships' 14 races.

Lowe, the owner/breeder of 4-5 favorite Golden Pal, had previously finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint when the World Championships were first held at Keeneland in 2015 with graded stakes winner Lady Shipman, Golden Pal’s dam.

Golden Pal, by Uncle Mo, helped ease that disappointment with a powerful front-running victory for trainer Wesley Ward, who won the Juvenile Turf Sprint last year with Four Wheel Drive. Golden Pal finished three-quarters of a length ahead of a fast-closing Cowan, who was a length in front of longshot European challenger Ubettabelieveit. The final time over a turf course rated good was 1:02.82.

"Wesley has believed in this horse from day one," Lowe said from the winner's circle. "I've have been telling everyone about this horse. It has been a long haul, but we did it."

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. gave all the credit to Golden Pal for doing "the hard job."

"I just sat on him waiting for the time to go. He ran great. He really has a lot of potential," the rider said.

"When he accelerated past the quarter pole, I knew we were okay,” Ward said. “I got a little worried on the last part and was hugging onto my son, but we got there. He's a champion colt. Thank God (Lowe) gave him to me to train. I really appreciate it.”

Golden Pal improved his career record to two wins from four starts with earnings of $593,056. He had finished second in his career debut at Gulfstream Park and then second by a neck in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot before breaking his maiden in the Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 21.

“(Next year's Breeders' Cup) is where we're heading, but first we're going to Royal Ascot,” Ward said. “Here we come."