The Great War Has More in Store After Romp
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Prohibitive favorite The Great War appears to have bigger battles ahead after winning for fun in his 3-year-old debut Jan. 31 in the $75,000 96ROCK Stakes under the lights at Turfway Park .
Lapped on pacesetter Serious Talk into the turn of the 6 1/2-furlong Polytrack test, The Great War took command at the quarter pole and steadily pulled away under jockey Albin Jimenez. He won at 1-10 odds in a field of 11 sophomores while geared down by 7 1/4 lengths in a time of 1:18.69.
Formerly in the yard of Irish training great Aidan O'Brien, the promising bay colt was making his initial start for trainer Wesley Ward, who conditions the son of War Front for Joseph Allen, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.
A minor stakes winner at the Curragh last fall, The Great War got his first taste of American racing in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) in his prior start, finishing fourth, 8 1/4 lengths behind runaway winner Texas Red, Carpe Diem, and Upstart. He concentrated on racing in turf sprints in England and Ireland as a 2-year-old, winning three of seven starts before testing dirt in the BC Juvenile.
Bred in Kentucky by Claiborne Farm from the winning Pulpit mare Guide, The Great War was purchased for $1 million from Claiborne's consignment at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale by Michael V. Magnier. He is the seventh starter produced by his dam and her first black-type winner.
Serious Talk, ridden by Rodney Prescott, made the early pace with The Great War just off his outside, as they made their way down the backstretch in :23.04 for the opening quarter mile. The Great War always looked like a winner, however, taking the lead as they reached the half-mile point in :46.38 and pulling away as he pleased through the lane before being ridden out in the final sixteenth.
Two Step Temper was a clear second by seven lengths with John McKee aboard, and Serious Talk held third over Ekati Told Me.
The Great War upped his earnings to $248,873 with his fourth win from nine starts, paying $2.20, $2.10, and $2.10 as the 122-pound highweight. Two Step Temper returned $5 and $3.60, and Serious Talk was $2.60 to show.
The 96ROCK 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.