War Story Wins Harlan's Holiday; Prince Lucky Injured
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Lauren King
War Story wins the Harlan's Holiday Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Making his first start for new trainer Elizabeth Dobles, War Story ran himself back into the winner's circle Dec. 14 in the $100,000 Harlan's Holiday Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park and, if he secures an invite, into the starting gate for the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at the Florida track.
Freshened since October when second in the Greenwood Cup Stakes (G3) at Parx Racing for trainer Jorge Navarro, War Story joined Dobles this winter in Florida, and the time off and change in setting brought out the best from him Saturday. He closed determinedly from sixth to defeat wide-rallying runner-up Phat Man by 1 1/2 lengths in a race marred by an injury to Prince Lucky on the backstretch.
War Story's owners—Glenn Ellis and John Guarnere of Imaginary Stables—left no doubt about what they were thinking next for the earner of nearly $3 million. Ellis wore a hat with the Pegasus logo and announced his eagerness to participate in the race for a third time with War Story.
Though War Story took Ellis and partners to the 2015 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) at Churchill Downs, where he was 16th behind eventual Triple Crown winner American Pharoah , Ellis said the 2020 Pegasus "is the day I've been waiting for." War Story ran fifth in the Pegasus in 2017 and was 10th last year.
Regardless of the next race, War Story's connections can savor the Harlan's Holiday, which set up favorably for their hard-knocker. The 1 1/16-mile dirt race unfolded with a quick opening quarter-mile in :22.82 as the two favorites, Prince Lucky and Bodexpress, raced heads apart around the first of two turns.
Soon after entering the backstretch, 6-5 Prince Lucky dropped out of contention—pulled up by jockey John Velazquez. Even with Prince Lucky out of the race, Bodexpress maintained a swift pace. Still keen after being rambunctious in the starting gate before the race, Bodexpress clocked a half-mile in :46.14 and three-quarters in 1:10.47.
Then the pack began to close in. Though Phat Man loomed a threat in midstretch, he ultimately could not match strides with War Story. Phat Man finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of a tiring Bodexpress in third.
War Story strides for home in the Harlan's Holiday
Prince Lucky left the racetrack in the equine ambulance with an injury to his right front leg, which was placed in a protective splint.
The winner, a 7-year-old gelding by Northern Afleet, finished in 1:42.45 under Luis Saez on a fast track, returning $27.20 for a $2 win wager.
The win provided Dobles with the first graded stakes victory of a training career that began in 2016, though she downplayed the accomplishment, saying she won a maiden claiming race Dec. 13 that brought her equal satisfaction.
"It's so exciting watching them run, watching all of our hard work go out on the track," she said.
The Harlan's Holiday was the third graded stakes victory for War Story, who won the Brooklyn Invitational Stakes (G2) in 2017 and the Monmouth Cup Stakes (G3) this year for Navarro.
War Story was bred in Kentucky by Jack Swain III out of the Pulpit mare Belle Watling, who also produced Land Over Sea, winner of the Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) in 2016. He was purchased for $51,000 by Harry Rosenblum from the consignment of de Meric Sales to the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale and changed ownership following a debut victory for Rosenblum in November 2014.
He was offered again at auction to the 2015 Fasig-Tipton Summer Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale by Darby Dan Farm but failed to meet his reserve on a final bid of $545,000.