First World War Latest Stakes Horse for Trainer Walsh

Trainer Brendan Walsh revealed that all options are under consideration for Mucho Macho Man Stakes runner-up First World War  after his gallant half-length defeat when second to Otello  in the Jan. 1 race at Gulfstream Park.

"I thought he ran very well; we were happy with him. He was unlucky not to get it done," Walsh said. "He's a nice horse and has run some good races recently. We just need to figure out if we're better off going back to the turf with him or keeping him on the dirt. He's a good turf horse too."

Qatar Racing and Hunter Valley Farm's First World War, a newly turned 3-year-old son of War Front  , was making only his second start on the dirt in the Mucho Macho Man after beginning his career on the turf. The colt had broken his maiden at Kentucky Downs in September ahead of a fourth-place effort in the Bourbon Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland. He then made his dirt debut Nov. 9 in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming event at Churchill Downs, where he was second to the highly regarded Parchment Party .

In the Mucho Macho Man, First World War settled off a quick early pace under jockey Tyler Gaffalione before making a menacing move in upper stretch. Taking the lead at the sixteenth pole, he was nailed nearing the wire by a closing Otello.

"He came out of the (Mucho Macho Man) very well," Walsh said. "I'll talk to Sheikh Fahad (Al Thani of Qatar Racing) and his manager here in the next 10 days, and we'll come up with a plan for him but we have options."

Likely targets for First World War could be the Feb. 3 Holy Bull Stakes (G3), held over 1 1/16 miles and worth 20 Road to the Kentucky Derby points to the victor, or the Kitten's Joy Stakes (G3T) on the same day. The Kitten's Joy is contested over 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Nominations for both Gulfstream Park stakes close Jan. 21.

Walsh further offered updates on 2023 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Pretty Mischievous  and his promising current Kentucky Oaks contender Intricate . The trainer reported that Godolphin's Pretty Mischievous would join his string of horses at Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach, Fla., within the next week.

"We're looking forward to getting her back," Walsh said. "She's been on Godolphin's farm (near Lexington); we gave her a little break after the Breeders' Cup. She's freshened up now, so she's ready to come back into action."

Walsh was non-committal about where Pretty Mischievous' 4-year-old campaign would begin, though he said the Into Mischief   filly would remain at two turns and point for "the obvious spots."

Intricate, the dazzling 5 1/4-length winner of the Golden Rod Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs in November for owners Bradley Thoroughbreds, Laura Leigh Stable, Scott Estes, and Cambron Equine, has resumed training with Walsh's stable at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

"She just started back training; we gave her a bit of freshening after the Golden Rod," Walsh said. "There's no pressure to run her back too soon so we wanted to give her a freshening while we can. All being well, she'll probably go to the Rachel Alexandra."

The Feb. 17 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) offers Kentucky Oaks points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale. Its top finishers typically return in the March 23 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) at Fair Grounds or the April 5 Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland in advance of the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.

Pretty Mischievous won the Rachel Alexandra last year before a runner-up finish in the Fair Grounds Oaks.