The Great War to Return in 96ROCK Stakes

A promising colt who finished fourth in last year's Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) is set to make his 2015 debut in the $75,000 96ROCK Stakes for 3-year-olds Jan. 31 at Turfway Park.

The 96ROCK, at 6 1/2 furlongs, is the first of two local steppingstones to the $550,000 Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes March 21. The other is the $125,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Feb. 28.

The Great War heads a field of 12 Saturday evening. The War Front   colt finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile behind Texas Red, Carpe Diem, and Upstart, who won his 2015 debut Jan. 24 in the grade II Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The Great War finished 8 1/4 lengths behind Texas Red in his first start on dirt and initial outing around two turns.

Trained by Wesley Ward for owners Joseph Allen, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, The Great War in seven starts prior to the Breeders' Cup competed in turf sprints in Ireland and England and picked up a stakes victory. He moved from the barn of Aidan O'Brien to Ward after the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and has been working very well on the Polytrack at Turfway.

A Kentucky-bred out of the Pulpit mare Glide, The Great War last worked Jan. 24, breezing five furlongs in an easy 1:03 4/5. That followed a bullet work of :59 3/5 for five furlongs Jan. 17.

Albin Jiminez, leading rider at the winter/spring meet, has the call aboard The Great War from post 6 as the 122-pound highweight in the 96ROCK.

The meet's leading trainer, Mike Maker, has entered Michael Hui's Serious Talk, a Forestry gelding who is undefeated in two starts at Gulfstream, where he registered a bullet five-furlong work in 1:00 2/5 Jan. 25. Serious Talk broke his maiden for a $32,000 tag in his career debut on Polytrack last summer at Woodbine, and on Jan. 8 won a $35,000 claiming race on the dirt at Gulfstream.

Rodney Prescott is named to ride Serious Talk at 118 pounds.