War Story Looks to Turn Tables in LA Derby

When War Story first met International Star in the Jan. 17 Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, taking over the lead at the eighth pole only to be run down by Ken & Sarah Ramsey's runner, he was expected to improve the next time the two met in the Feb. 21 Risen Star Stakes (gr. II).

Although the Northern Afleet   gelding did make up ground, from a 2 1/2-length defeat to a one-length defeat, he was still beaten by the same horse, losing the lead both times.

It may appear as if International Star has War Story's number, but there is one important factor that cannot go overlooked. When the two hooked up for the first time, War Story had run only twice in his career, a maiden and an allowance/optional claimer, winning impressively both times. International Star, however, had already made six starts, five of them stakes, at five different racetracks, on dirt, grass, and Polytrack.

Also, War Story did not go into the Risen Star the way trainer Tom Amoss had hoped, considering he first had an aborted trip to Oaklawn Park for the Feb. 22 Southwest Stakes (gr. III) and had to ship back to Fair Grounds to prepare instead for the Risen Star.

"He actually breezed over the Oaklawn racetrack about seven or eight days before the race," Amoss said on a national teleconference March 24. "He then drew the extreme outside post, which statistically is death at Oaklawn going two turns, and there was a forecast of some really nasty weather coming in. So we aborted that plan and put him on a van a week before the Risen Star and went back to the Fair Grounds.

"With that trip up and back, a couple of things took place. We missed a work leading into the Risen Star and it took him a couple of days to get back into his feed tub and be the horse, personality-wise, that I know. So, there were certainly some concerns going into the Risen Star. In the race, he had a tough trip, having to go around everybody, while International Star got through on the rail, and he was a length better than us. But I think for trip handicappers a case can be made that War Story ran the best race that day."

Given all that and the experience factor, it was no surprise that International Star was able to take advantage of the situation. But that was then, and the March 28 Louisiana Derby (gr. II) is now, and that difference in experience has dwindled to the point where War Story could be in position to turn the tables on his rival—especially after putting in a sensational five-furlong breeze in :58 4/5 March 18, the fastest of 17 works at the distance.

Also, Amoss, who took over War Story's training after his first start for trainer Ron Moquett, is hoping to see a difference in the start of the race, as the chestnut runner has always had a tendency to break slowly, which also could have cost him his last two races.

"This is a problem we inherited," Amoss said. "War Story made his first start at Churchill Downs going seven-eighths of a mile, which is an unusual starting distance. But the reason for that was because they were having issues with him at the gate and they didn't think he could get up at the traditional six-furlong type of race, so they wanted that little bit of extra distance.

"He has not broken well in any of his starts, so going into the Risen Star, we used a technique where you tail the horse, in which someone on the gate crew stands behind the gate holding on to the horse's tail and releasing the pressure on the tail when gate opens.

"It didn't work, so coming into the Louisiana Derby we're going to do something different. We're going to put pads in the gate. You stick them on the sides and it confines the space in the gate. War Story is a horse who tends to rock back and forth in the gate, and this won't allow him to do that. He'll have to be more stationary in the gate. We're hoping that will help him leave the gate better. We've practiced with it and he left the gate well, but it's safe to say horses know the difference between practice and the real thing, so we're just hoping it will help."

Amoss also has attained the services of Joe Talamo, who like Amoss grew up in New Orleans and has dreamed of winning the Louisiana Derby since he was a kid. The one stipulation was that Talamo sign up for a two-race commitment, which, of course, would include the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

"Fair Grounds has always been a special place to me," Talamo said. "I've dreamed of winning the Louisiana Derby since I was 7 or 8 years old. What I love about War Story is that he's run only four times, but he improves every single time. Every race he gets better and better and he seems like a real nice Derby horse with a tremendous late run."

Talamo has already had his high and low moments on the Derby trail, winning the Wood Memorial with I Want Revenge   and then losing the Derby favorite to injury just days before the Run for the Roses. Before trying to erase his Kentucky Derby nightmare, he hopes to live his Louisiana Derby dream.

Winning the Louisiana Derby has also been on Amoss' bucket list since he was a kid.

"I've been favorite in the Louisiana Derby and I've been second in it with Mylute, but never won the race," he said. "War Story comes in with what I believe is my best chance. That's exciting for someone who grew up in New Orleans and attended this race from the time I was 10 or 11 years old. And I think it's safe to say that while other kids dreamed of throwing the winning touchdown pass in the Super Bowl, I dreamed about winning the Louisiana Derby. I always wanted to be a trainer and here it is. The stage is set and we'll see what happens.

"It would make for a wonderful story to have two New Orleans guys who grew up with the races, getting together and winning a big race like this. I've got all the confidence in the world in Joe, so there won't be a lot of conversation about what to do and what not to do with War Story. He does his homework and is the consummate pro. I know when we come into the paddock he's going to have studied not only the race but also War Story's races by watching some of his videos, which I know he's already done."

War Story, bred in Kentucky by Jack Swain III, is owned by Christopher T. Dunn and Looch Racing Stables, who purchased the gelding from Harry Rosenblum after his first start.

Amazingly, War Story's value has decreased every time he's stepped into the sales ring. He was sold as a yearling at the Keeneland September sale for $90,000. Pinhooked at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March 2-year-old sale, he was bought back for only $58,000. They tried again at the Fasig-Tipton 2-year-olds in training sale at Timonium and finally gave up, selling him to Rosenblum for $51,000.

Those days are long gone. War Story's value has ascended with every race, and he is one clean start and one victory away from becoming one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby. Then, Amoss and Talamo can really start dreaming.