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Wednesday’s Royal Ascot Card:
The Jersey Stakes 2:30 PM (8:30 AM EST)
Class 1 (Group 3), Seven Furlongs
21-Horse Field
American-Bred Runners:
Ajraam (Daaher (CAN) out of Abby Road (IRE) by Danehill)
Ridden by Paul Hanagan, Trained by Charles Hills
Odds: 20-1
Ian’s Dream (Speightstown out of She’s Loaded by Deputy Minister (CAN))
Ridden by Kieren Fallon, Trained by Jeremy Noseda
Odds: 40-1
The Brothers War (War Front out of Moon Queen (IRE) by Sadlers Wells)
Ridden by Olivier Peslier, Trained by Jean Claude Rouget
Odds: 14-1
Who To Root For: Ian’s Dream is out of Breeders Cup Sprint Champion Speightstown and should have the flashing speed in this one. He’s coming off a great turf win his last time out, but is stepping up a furlong from his comfortable sprinting distance. He’s got a great bloodline and could show up here.
The Duke of Cambridge Stakes 3:05 PM (10:05 AM EST)
Class 1 (Group 2), One Mile
11-Horse Field
American-Bred Runners:
None
Who To Root For: While there are no American-breds featured in this race, there’s a surprising amount of American influence. Seven of the eleven entrants are out of mares by American sires. Thistle Bird is the red-white-and-bluest of the bunch being a daughter of Pennsylvania-bred Selkirk and out of a french mare by American-bred sire Marchand De Sable. She’s coming off a nice Group 3 win at this distance.
The Prince of Wales’s Stakes 3:45 PM (10:45 AM EST)
Class 1 (Group 1), One Mile & About Two Furlongs
11-Horse Field
American-Bred Runners:
None
Who To Root For: Again, no American babies here but a solid U.S. bloodline influence. Two of the top choices in Camelot (11-4) and Maxios(5-1) boast American blood through both their mares and broodmare sires. Perhaps most interesting, however, is Saint Baudolino (12-1) out of a mare by American favorite and near Triple Crown winner Sunday Silence.
The Royal Hunt Cup 4:25 PM (11:25 AM EST)
Class 2, One Mile
30-Horse Field (3 Reserves)
American-Bred Runners:
Premio Loco (Prized out of Crazee Mental (GB) by Magic Ring (IRE))
Ridden by George Baker, Trained by Chris Wall
Odds: 33-1
Moran Gra (Rahy out of Super Supreme (IND) by Zafonic)
Ridden by Pat Smullen, Trained by Ms. Joanna Morgan
Odds: 25-1
Who To Root For: Both the American-bred runners here are pretty unattractive bets, but there’s a British-born who Americans can root for here. Navajo Chief (25-1) is a gelded grandson of Kingmambo (through King’s Best) and out of a mare by American sire Rainbow Quest. He’s coming off a nice win at this distance in a Class 3 listed race.
The Queen Mary Stakes 5:00 PM (12:00 PM EST)
Class 1 (Group 2), Five Furlongs
24-Horse Field
American-Bred Runners:
Sweet Emma Rose (City Zip out of Miss Moneypenny by Deputy Minister (CAN))
Ridden by Joel Rosario, Trained by Wesley A. Ward
Odds: 14-1
Who To Root For: A longshot she may be, but Sweet Emma Rose is putting America on her back for this Group 2 sprint. She’s lightly raced, most recently in a 4.5 furlong dash at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard. But trainer Wesley Ward went through the trouble to ship her on over to Ascot, so he must see something in her.
The Sandringham Handicap Stakes 5:35 PM (12:35 PM EST)
Class 1 (Listed), One Mile
26-Horse Field
American-Bred Runners:
Waterway Run (Arch out of Princess Consort by Dixieland Band)
Ridden by Jim Crowley, Trained by Ralph Beckett
Odds: 20-1
Fleeting Smile (Distorted Humor out of Fleet Indian by Indian Charlie)
Ridden by Paul Hannagan, Trained by Richard Hannon
Odds: 14-1
Typhoon Lily (Unbridled’s Song out of River Drive by Belong To Me)
Ridden by Stephane Pasquier, Trained by M.D. OCallaghan
20-1
Who To Root For: Fleeting Smile has some great America blood in her and could be a contender here. She’s a daughter of the great Distorted Humor out of an American mare by Kentucky Derby third place finisher, Indian Charlie. She hit a bump in her career last fall, but after a long break looks to be back in form, scoring a win in her three year old debut last month.