War of Will Fires Off Bullet Work at Saratoga

Looking more like the horse that gave Canadian Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse his first American classic victory in the Preakness Stakes (G1) this spring, Gary Barber's War of Will sizzled through a half-mile breeze in :47.04 on Saratoga Race Course's main track the morning of Aug. 25.

With regular rider Tyler Gaffalione aboard, it was the second work for War of Will since finishing a well-beaten fifth in the July 27 Jim Dandy Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G2). The time was the fastest of 69 horses at the distance.

"He worked extremely good this morning," Casse said. "We were looking for :48 and he went in :47, but that was OK. Tyler was just amazed. The first thing Tyler said when he got back was, 'He's back.'"

Between the Preakness and Jim Dandy, War of Will finished ninth behind stablemate Sir Winston in the June 8 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1). War of Will returned from the Jim Dandy with a half-mile breeze in 50.54 Aug. 17.

"I had this conversation with Gary this morning. I think War of Will thrives in the cooler weather," Casse said. "Just when it cooled off the last few days, he was like a monster. He was trying to buck off the rider yesterday, and he's very quiet. Some horses thrive in the cold.

"We changed a little bit. We put a rubber figure eight (bit) on him to keep his mouth shut," he added. "He opens his mouth pretty good and today he had his mouth shut, which was better. The other thing we did was last week we went ahead and put glue-on shoes on him, because his feet have always been tender. I don't know if that helped. Maybe it was a combination of a few things."

War of Will is being pointed for the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) June 21 at Parx Racing.

"The one thing we know he likes, and I think it might have got him that day, he likes a tighter track. I know it ate him up in the Belmont," Casse said. "I could give him an excuse in the Belmont; I couldn't give him much of an excuse in the Jim Dandy. So, we're going to forget about it and move forward."

Barber and Southern Equine Stable's 4-year-old filly Got Stormy returned to the work tab Sunday for the first time since defeating males for her first grade 1 victory in the Aug. 10 Fourstardave Handicap. It was her second win in a week at Saratoga following the Aug. 3 Fasig-Tipton De La Rose. She will head to the $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1T) Sept. 14.

Got Stormy was joined on the Oklahoma training track turf course Sunday by Live Oak Plantation's homebred grade 2 winner March to the Arch, who is being pointed to the Sept. 2 Bernard Baruch Handicap (G2T) on closing day of the Saratoga meet.

Got Stormy was timed in :50.23 for a half-mile on the firm going, to rank 12th of 31 horses, while March to the Arch went the same distance in :50.55.

"They both went really nice. We weren't looking for anything special," Casse said. "(Got Stormy) worked super. We're still on schedule for the Woodbine Mile. She's been unbelievable. I could have run her the next week. She is just thriving right now. I don't know if it's Saratoga or what it is, but she's raring and ready to go."