Horse-by-horse guide: Royal Palm Juvenile

By Peter Fornatale

One of the more intriguing races on Saturday is the fourth running of the Royal Palm Juvenile, an automatic qualifier for Royal Ascot — the winner earns a guaranteed berth in one of six juvenile races at the Royal meeting in June, plus a $25,000 travel stipend. 

This qualifier has produced genuine Ascot contenders: five of the first six Royal Palm winners have traveled, and four of those five hit the board, highlighted by Crimson Advocate's Queen Mary victory in 2023. George Weaver has won three of the six Royal Palm stakes across both divisions, including last year's Juvenile with Sandal's Song, who went on to finish third in the Norfolk. Freshman sire Golden Pal — Wesley Ward's dual Breeders' Cup-winning sprinter, by Uncle Mo out of Lady Shipman — has three representatives entered: Braums Run, Skara Brae, and Iolana.

#1 JOST A CHANCE YADI

J: Yovanny Torres | T: Frank Regalbuto

Local hope was third on debut on dirt in behind today’s rival Celtic Dispute. One of a few fillies entered here rather than taking on their own sex. She was a longshot on debut and her modest Florida-bred pedigree doesn’t give me a lot of reasons to think she will find the needed improvement.

#2 BLACKJACK

J: D A Herrera | T: Carlos David

Arindel runner must hae impressed connections at their training center to show up in a spot like this for a debut effort. The barn and owners win lots of races around here so could be respected on that basis but I am not seeing enough in the bloodlines to suggest the kind of precocity or affinity for turf I’d want to see against this bunch. Look to the markets for potential clues but at most I’d use him as a “saver” type, not a key.

#3 CELTIC DISPUTE

J: Luis Saez | T: Patrick Biancone

Another filly taking on the boys, this one for the same ownership group who sent out Sandal’s Song to win Royal Palm last year. Her debut effort was a solid second to Boots, who goes in the Fillies’ race later. Trainer has had success with his Leinster babies in these races and the figure – as best as I can approximate it – appears to fit with these beyond the top one.

#4 BRAUMS RUN

J: Samy Camacho | T: Mark Casse

One of three Golden Pal offspring in this field and it will be interesting to see how they got on. It’s been so far so good for the new sire, with four of five to run as of this writing hitting the board. Bottom side of the pedigree doesn’t suggest much in the way of brilliance or precocity. Another for whom the market and an inspection in the paddock will provide better clues than anything I can discern from the written page.

#5 OMAHA FORTY

J: Edwin Gonzalez | T: Daniel Zanelli

First-timer is by Omaha Beach, who is a slightly above average sire with debut runners (12% to an industry average of 10%). The dam herself was precocious enough to be entered in a race in May of her two-year-old year but she didn’t win until her eleventh start that October. I can see why she makes appeal as a broodmare but I wouldn’t think her babies would want a test this sharp. Passing.

#6 CILLIAN

J: Hector Figueroa | T: Heather Smullen

Florida-bred is an unraced son of 9% debut sire Awesome Slew with obscure breeding on the dam side but the real story is the breeder of record - North Marion High School in Ocala, Florida – the heart of horse country. Yes, he is the product of a student breeding program making it to a race where hhe could qualify for Royal Ascot. He’s not the most likely winner, but he is the one they are most likely to make a movie about should he pull it off.

#7 AUTOMATIC PRESS

J: Jairo Torrealba | T: George Weaver

The second Dew Sweepers’ owned runner in the field along with Celtic Dispute. As noted, George Weaver has a great record in these races and he deserves some respect off that along. The figure earned on debut would not be competitive against this group but it should be noted that he briefly attended a fast pace before tiring. This $200k purchase could be seen to better effect with that experience under his girth and a different type of ride. A little interesting if a longshot.

#8 SKARA BRAE

J: Joao Moreira | T: Wesley Ward

Golden Pal's very first winner will face the boys with international star Joao Moreira in the saddle. She was a buzz horse before her debut and she justified that hype by winning easily –she was geared down in a time that suggests she’s the best of these. War Front blood on the dam side suggests turf might be a feature, not a bug. A deserving favourite who will be tough to down.

#9 IOLANA

J: Marcos Meneses | T: Nicholas Palmer

The third Golden Pal baby in this field is the one we know the least about. She comes here with very average looking works from Palm Meadows. What I can tell you is this is a funny instance – maybe the only I have ever seen – where both horse and trainer are homebreds. Teresa and David Palmer are Nicholas’ parents. His record so far as a trainer is solid but he’s yet find his footing with first-time starters – he’s just 1 for 30 with 5 in the money in the category. I prefer to just watch this one this time around.