Royal Ascot Target For U S Navy Flag Filly

Love Reigns (3f U S Navy Flag - Humble And Proud, by Pivotal) will be aimed at Royal Ascot after making a smart three-year-old return in the $250,000 Limestone Stakes at Keeneland.

Ridden patiently by Joel Rosario, the Wesley Ward-trained bay was forced to bide her time until a gap appeared approaching the final furlong. Finishing with a flourish, she led close home to beat stablemate Lady Holywood by half a length.

“We were following a couple of horses and she really came with a nice move,” Rosario said after the race. “She put herself together and got back, and that was unbelievable.”

The winning trainer added, “I would say these are the toughest three-year-old fillies in our country sprinting on the turf.” Ward went on to reveal that Love Reigns will be targeted at the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes. The dual Stakes winner finished fourth in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at last year’s Royal meeting.

Owned by Stonestreet Stables and bred by Patrick Grogan, the €160,000 yearling buy hails from the first crop of U S Navy Flag.