War Story Gearing Up to Take on 'Pharoah'
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War Story is gearing up for his first start for trainer Jeff Radosevich next month in the $1 million William Hill Haskell Invitational (gr. I), where he will bid for his first stakes win against Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.
"The horse has been doing well," said Radosevich, who conditions the former classic starter for Loooch Racing Stable. "I'll probably ship him (to Monmouth Park) a day or two before the race. We are only about six or seven hours away, but will also look at the weather to see how hot it will be. We may ship in a couple days prior depending on that."
War Story is coming off an unplaced finish in the Ohio Derby at ThistleDown, where he is currently stabled. A slow start in that race left him second to last going into the first turn before he finished fourth in the June 20 race. Prior to that start, the 3-year-old gelding by Northern Afleet finished second in both the Lecomte (gr. III) and Risen Star (gr. II), and third in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) for previous trainer Tom Amoss before finishing well-beaten behind American Pharoah in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands. (gr. I).
"I'll probably work him about 10 or 12 days out from the race," Radosevich said. "He will most likely go five furlongs."
War Story has worked once since his Ohio Derby start, where he went four furlongs over a muddy ThistleDown main track in :51 1/5 July 13.
"There appears to be so much speed that is going to be in the race," Radosevich said. "We are going to have to sit off the early pace and hope for one good run."
Along with War Story and American Pharoah, other probable entries for Monmouth's signature race Aug. 2 include Mr. Jordan, trained by Monmouth Park-based Eddie Plesa Jr., either Stanford or Competitive Edge out of Todd Pletcher's barn, and Anthony Dutrow trainee Tekton. Other possible entrants include Keen Ice, Bent on Bourbon, and Good Pick Nick.
Jockey Colby Hernandez will be aboard War Story for the Haskell.
The William Hill Haskell will be televised live on NBC from 5-6 p.m. EDT and is part of the Breeders' Cup "Win & You're In" series, with the victor getting an automatic berth to the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Keeneland Oct. 31.