Florida-bred Filly Beats Boys for Royal Ascot Invite and $25,000 FSRI Bonus
BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Celtic Dispute took on odds-on favorite Skara Brae at the top of the stretch then put a neck in front at the finish to win the $125,000 Royal Palm Juvenile for 2-year-olds at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Celtic Dispute and Skara Brae were two of four fillies and four colts who went five furlongs on the turf in the Royal Palm Juvenile, which co-headlined the card with the $125,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies.
The winners of both stakes earned an automatic entry into one of six juvenile stakes during the Royal Ascot meeting in June at Ascot Racecourse. Each winner gets a $25,000 equine travel stipend.
Celtic Dispute also earned a $25,000 Florida Sire Racing Incentive paid directly by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association with $20,000 going to owner Dew Sweepers and $5,000 to breeders K. Sheehan, M. F. Nicholson, M. Gauchat & McN Thoroughbreds and Dr. J. Speis. FSRI-eligible runners are undefeated in the four races for 2-year-olds at Gulfstream Park this year. Florida-bred and FSRI-eligible Liberty Rings won the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies two races later.
Skara Brae, the 4-5 favorite after winning a Keeneland maiden race in her debut, jumped to the front from the outside post seven but was quickly joined by Celtic Dispute and Luis Saez on their inside. Skara Brae separated from Celtic Dispute and Braums Run around the turn to finish the first quarter mile in a rapid :21.28 before Celtic Dispute skipped out to the two path and pounced on the leader coming out of the turn. Skara Brae and Celtic Dispute went at each other while two lengths in front of Braums Run in the stretch with Celtic Dispute getting the edge under the wire to finish in :56.17 on the firm turf. Skara Brae was second with Braums Run four-and-a-half lengths farther back in third. Florida-bred Omaha Forty finished a good fourth after a very slow start followed by Automatic Press and Florida-breds Cillian, Jost a Chance Yadi and Iolana. Blackjack was scratched.
“You don’t have to be a genius to know that Wesley [Ward-trained Skara Brae] is going to the front. I said to Luis, ‘Don’t worry. If he wants to go, let him go, and we’ll catch him later,” trainer Patrick Biancone said.
Celtic Dispute paid $7.60 to win while giving Biancone his second trip to Royal Ascot in two years.
Last year Biancone won the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies with Florida-bred Lennilu. Lennilu was subsequently second in the Group 2 Queen Mary at Royal Ascot.
Celtic Dispute improved to one win in two starts after finishing second to Florida-bred Boots in a maiden special weight on the dirt at Gulfstream Park on April 16. With the $61,500 winning check, she has earned $79,300 in two races.
Celtic Dispute is by Leinster out of winner Bert’s Altarcation, by Bertrando. Bert’s Altarcation has four winners from seven starters and 10 foals including stakes-placed Vulcan, by Munnings. She has an unnamed yearling full brother to Celtic Dispute and was bred to Candy Ride (Arg) in 2025.
Celtic Dispute was a $90,000 purchase by Dewsweepers at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale in July of 2025 where she was consigned by VanMeter Sales.
Return to the May 9 issue of Wire to Wire
