Royal Approval was one of 16 2-year-old fillies entered in Friday’s $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Keeneland. A victory by the daughter of Tiznow would make her the third Breeders’ Cup winner for her sire, who is still the only horse to win two runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
Royal Approval, owned and bred by Three Chimneys Farm has won her latest two outings, a maiden turf race at Kentucky Downs and the Matron S. (G3) at Belmont Park, also on the grass.
Friday’s one mile race will be her first start around two turns. She drew post 11 and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. for trainer Wesley Ward.
Royal Approval is out of Touch the Moon and is from the immediate family of Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Summerly.
Tiznow, who was recently pensioned by WinStar, is one of the leading sires of the century, with winners of more than $90 million, 15 Grade 1 races, and 45 graded stakes to his credit. His previous Breeders’ Cup winners were Folklore in the 2005 Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Tourist in the 2016 Mile (G1).