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Prominent Americans among early Royal Ascot entries Trainer Kenny McPeek could have three runners at Royal Ascot this year, with Java's War and War Dancer possible starters in the St James's Palace Stakes and Pure Fun holding an early entry to the Coronation Stakes. Java's War announced himself as a serious contender for the Kentucky Derby when coming from an unfavorable position to land the Blue Grass at Keeneland by a neck on April 13. The son of War Pass, who made a winning debut on turf in September, had previously chased home Kentucky Derby favorite Verrazano in the Tampa Bay Derby in March. "Java's War has been good since his win in the Blue Grass Stakes and there have been no problems but whether or not he goes to Royal Ascot would depend on how he is running and doing over the next several weeks," McPeek said. "He ran an excellent race in the Blue Grass and he is a horse who certainly understands what he is supposed to do when he is out there. I would be a little bit concerned that the St James' Palace Stakes will be a little bit too short for him but the way the track is, it plays out a little further and brings stamina into play. "I think he likes the synthetics but he has run well on everything we have put him on and his pedigree suggests turf. Mr Fipke (the owner) will ultimately decide where we run but I think it is a good option for him. "He will definitely run in the Kentucky Derby next and his run behind Verrazano is obviously good form because he (Verrazano) is now favorite for the race. The Kentucky Derby is a different race though -- at a mile and a quarter -- anything can happen." War Dancer, a son of War Front, has won two of his three starts on turf and scored decisively 1 1/8 miles at Keeneland on April 10. "War Dancer was very impressive on his latest start. He got left at the gate but proceeded to win anyway and is a horse with a big future," McPeek said. "We really like this horse on the grass and I would love to think he could make the St James' Palace Stakes. "Although he hasn't had a lot of racing, I know he is very talented and we are going to run him in the American Turf at Churchill Downs on May 3. If he was to win that, I would be really interested to see how he would get on in a race like the St James's Palace." Pure Fun, who annexed the Hollywood Starlet Stakes at Hollywood Park in December, was third on her return in the Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park in March but found life tougher against the colts when only seventh in the Lexington at Keeneland last weekend. "I wanted to have the Coronation Stakes as an option for Pure Fun. She is owned by a nice group of people and it will depend on how she runs in the Kentucky Oaks," McPeek said. "She has been competitive on the grass and she has already won a Grade 1 so to even place in another one would be a big deal. "There have been excuses for her performances this season. I think she needed the run first time out and then she was in against the colts next time. The original plan was the run in the Honeybee Stakes and then the Fantasy Stakes but things didn't work out. "We have had a couple of misfires but we are regrouping and I think she is well prepared for the Kentucky Oaks. We feel like we have got her right and she traveled from Keeneland to Churchill (Tuesday) and will train here up until the Oaks." McPeek is no stranger to having runners at Ascot, having sent over Hard Buck to finish second in the 2004 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth, while his most recent runner at the Royal meeting, Casper's Touch, was third in the 2010 Chesham Stakes. Other American-based runners that hold Royal Ascot entries include champion Animal Kingdom, most recently the winner of the Dubai World Cup. Animal Kingdom has the Queen Anne as his primary option along with the 10-furlong Prince of Wales's Stakes. The five-year-old has arrived in Britain and is based at David Lanigan's yard in Lambourn. Owner Ken Ramsey has been a great supporter of Royal Ascot and he could be represented by Charming Kitten, who was third behind Java's War in the Blue Grass, in the St James's Palace. Holding entries in the six-furlong Diamond Jubilee are Handsome Mike and Havelock. Handsome Mike is a versatile performer, with his victories including the nine-furlong Pennsylvania Derby and the Commonwealth over seven furlongs at Keeneland. Haveklock has been campaigned mostly over six and seven furlongs and was last seen out taking the Shakertown over a 5 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland on April 13. Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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