Trainer Wesley Ward is considering stakes winning turf sprinters Bound for Nowhere and Undrafted for the Grade 1, $400,000 Jaipur Invitational on Belmont Stakes Day, June 8.

Owned by Ward, Bound for Nowhere was a two-time stakes winner last season with victories in the Grade 2 Shakertown at Keeneland and the Tourist Mile at Kentucky Downs. The bay son of The Factor was a close second in this year's Shakertown last time out, where he set a swift pace and was a neck behind Imprimis.

“He ran really big at Keeneland coming off a layoff,” Ward said. “He was a bit compromised; he was in front with fast early fractions, which isn't really his style.”
Ward entered Bound for Nowhere against stakes company on both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness undercards but scratched both times.

 

“The race at Pimlico [Jim McKay Turf Sprint] looked ideal but he worked in :58 five days out from the race which was a little quick of a workout,” Ward said.

 

Bound for Nowhere was purchased by Gatewood Bell's Cromwell Bloodstock at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2015 for $310,000. He is out of the Alydeed broodmare Fancy Deed who is a half to 2007 Champion Sprinter Midnight Lute.

Wes Welker and Elizabeth Kumin's seasoned veteran Undrafted will look for a repeat victory in the Jaipur after winning the 2014 edition of the race when it was a Grade 3. At age 9, the gelded son of Purim has shown capability of being competitive at a high level having finished fourth, beaten four lengths, in the Grade 2 Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs in his only start this season. The nine-time winning millionaire's biggest career highlight came in 2015 when he took the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot.

“He's an ageless horse and has had success in the Japiur a few years back,” Ward said.

Other possible contenders for the Jaipur include World of Trouble and Dirty.