Wesley Ward is known for his rapid sprinters, but American Rascal could be on a completely different planet.
Extremely well-related and sent off at 1-2 for his debut, his jockey Joel Rosario didn’t bother taking his whip, and it was easy to see why.
A spectacular debut!
Lady Aurelia's first foal American Rascal demolishes his rivals on debut at @keenelandracing for Wesley Ward and @JRosarioJockey! pic.twitter.com/tpp5MTGbgZ
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 20, 2023
Tracking the pacesetter into the straight, when Rosario gave him an inch of rein, American Rascal gobbled it up and waved goodbye.
He surged clear by ten-and-a-quarter lengths and even the Equibase in-running team were stunned by what they saw.
They read: “AMERICAN RASCAL broke prominently, stalked an outer clearing rival entering the turn, shifted to the three path and outside of him at the five sixteenths pole, saddled up alongside in upper stretch, exploded past with a quick turn of foot when let out a notch at the furlong grounds, and cruised away under a firm hold through the late stage.”
Speaking to TVG, Ward said: “I think he’s going to have limited distance ability, he’s a super fast horse.
“We’ll send him towards the Norfolk at Royal Ascot, of course we’ll speak it over with the owners but that’s what he was given to me for and his mother did so great there.
“I really look forward to this guy, he’s going to be something.”
When you dig into the breeding of American Rascal, it’s easy to see why people are getting so excited.
He’s the first foal of Lady Aurelia, who made her debut over the same course and distance almost seven year ago to the day.
She also won impressively and subsequently ran at Royal Ascot, where she smashed her rivals by seven lengths.
She came back the next year to win the King’s Stand in jaw-dropping fashion and nearly made it 3-3 on British soil when beaten a nose in the Nunthorpe two months later.
A special filly, all of her talent has clearly passed down to her son, and his Dad was no slouch either.
America’s horse of the year in 2007 and 2008, Curlin won ten Grade 1 races, including the Breeders Cup Classic and the Dubai World Cup.
His breeding is staggering, his track work has been frightening, could this be the next US superstar?