War Front Gets 50th Black-Type Winner

Central Kentucky sire War Front  , currently the leading sire of juveniles in England and Ireland, and second on the U.S. list, got his 50th black-type winner Aug. 28 when 2-year-old Intelligence Cross captured the Round Tower Stakes (Ire-III) at the Curragh. 

A son of Danzig who stands at Claiborne Farm near Paris, Ky., War Front commanded a $200,000 fee in 2016. His 11 black-type winners this year also include group-winning juveniles in Qatar Vintage Stakes (Eng-II) victor War Decree, Duchess of Cambridge (Eng-II) victress Roly Poly, and Albany (Eng-III) winner Brave Anna. Older offspring with group or graded wins in 2016 are Kent Stakes (gr. IIIT) winner American Patriot, Rose of Lancaster (Eng-III) winner Royal Artillery, and Prix Chloe (Fr-III) winner War Flag. 

In addition to his 50 black-type winners, War Front has 28 other offspring who have placed in black-type events. With 483 foals in seven crops racing, his stakes winners-to-foals strike rate is 10.4%.

War Front's top progeny overall include 10 grade I or group I winners, including Declaration of War  , Air Force Blue, The Factor  , Jack Milton  , Data Link  , War Command, Hit It a Bomb, Summer Soiree, Peace and War, and Lines of Battle. The 14-year-old stallion was among the U.S. leading general sires by progeny earnings in 2013.

A homebred for Joseph Allen, produced from the Rubiano mare Starry Dreamer, War Front had a successful career on the track. He posted a 4-5-1 record from 13 starts, including his victory in the 2006 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II), and earned $424,205.

Coolmore and partners' Intelligence Cross appeared a cut above Sunday, when he trounced eight rivals in the Round Tower. He won easily by 4 1/4 lengths in 1:12.06 for six furlongs on turf rated as good. A close-up second behind the pacesetter, the colt struck the front a quarter-mile out and extended his advantage to the finish line. 

Trainer Aidan O'Brien indicated the Juddmonte Middle Park (Eng-I) Sept. 24 could be next for Kentucky-bred Intelligence Cross, a stablemate of unbeaten Caravaggio, who might miss that race after he tweaked a muscle in his ribcage about 10 days ago. 

A full brother to top Hong Kong performer Warning Flag, Intelligence Cross has placed in all five of his starts, winning twice and placing second in the Arqana July Stakes (Eng-II) at Newmarket and third in the Qatar Richmond Stakes (Eng-II) at Goodwood prior to Sunday's stakes breakthrough. He was bred by Good Vibes Syndicate from the Unbridled's Song mare Good Vibes, who also is the dam of 2014 Oklahoma Derby (gr. III) runner-up Bay of Biscay.