War Campaign Captures Oaklawn's Tinsel Stakes
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Photo: Coady Photography
War Campaign wins the Tinsel Stakes at Oaklawn Park
Seizing upon an opening on the inside entering the second of two turns, jockey Manny Esquivel urged War Campaign to go after the leaders in the $200,000 Tinsel Stakes Dec. 16 at Oaklawn Park and the 4-year-old colt took advantage, defeating Speed Bias by a length and a half.
A Kentucky invader, War Campaign appeared to relish racing over a muddy track in Saturday's 1 1/8-mile race. He was never more than two lengths off the early pace of Strong Quality , who set fractions of :23.27 and :47.21 under mild pressure from Speed Bias. Then, midway through the race, War Campaign turned up the heat, advancing on Speed Bias, who still held a narrow lead through six furlongs in 1:11.54.
A ground-saving War Campaign opened up in early stretch, and under right- and left-handed urging from Esquivel maintained his advantage to the wire. He completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.80 and paid $14.60 to win.
Speed Bias showed.
War Campaign His Dam's Second Stakes Winner
- A 4-year-old son of Declaration of War out of the Political Force mare Flashy Campaign , War Campaign notched his first stakes win Saturday for owner/breeder Jerry Namy and trainer Phil Sims after three stakes placings. He is the second stakes winner for his dam, following multiple black-type winner and $781,246 earner Flash of Mischief .
- Declaration of War left Kentucky to stand at JBBA's Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan beginning in 2019.