Peace and War Aces U.S. Debut in Alcibiades
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Qatar Racing's Peace and War notched her United States debut at Keeneland in impressive fashion Oct. 3, taking the $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (gr. I) with a determined closing run to punch her ticket to the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) .
The 2-year-old daughter of War Front picked up the pieces at odds of 23-1 after a heated pace was set by 34-1 outsider Take Charge Brandi with 3-1 second choice Fashion Plate in pursuit.
Take Charge Brandi shifted over from post 12 and quickly galloped clear by 1 1/2 lengths to run an opening quarter in :22.54, while Fashion Plate gave chase from the rail. There was a gap of three lengths back to the rest of the field as a half went in :45.60, and Peace and War tracked along 11th in the group of 12.
Jockey Julien Leparoux began to pick up the pace aboard Peace and War through the second turn, moving up four wide to ninth as three-quarters went 1:10.93. The young filly responded after steadying when in tight quarters entering the stretch, and Leparoux shifted her out to find room with a furlong to run.
"She had a really tough trip, but she's always been a brave filly," trainer Olly Stevens said. "I was very comfortable to have her in the rear (early), and when I saw how fast they were going, I was delighted."
Although Fashion Plate took the lead from a fading Take Charge Brandi turning for home, she was tiring as well and her advantage was short-lived as Top Decile made a bold move while five wide to get the lead near the sixteenth pole. Peace and War, after following Top Decile into the stretch, overtook the new leader with a final surge to win by half a length, with Paige another half length back in third.
The final time for the 1 1/16-mile contest was 1:44.86 on a wet fast track.
"She broke slow, but they were going fast in front of us, and that helped," Leparoux said. "I had breezed her before this race, and she handled the dirt fine. She was always traveling on the bridle. I knew as soon as I got her some room, she would have a nice kick because that's what she had done in the morning.
"She's very nice, very relaxed, and nothing seems to bother her. They brought her here to give her a test on dirt. Now the big test will come at Santa Anita."
Gap Year, the 2-1 favorite in the field of 12, circled six wide around the turn to make a mild bid but dropped back in the stretch to finish seventh.
The Alcibiades is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" event, offering a guaranteed berth to the Juvenile Fillies along with paid entry and starter fees and a travel stipend.
"(Going on to the Breeders' Cup) is very much in the plans. We just don't have the details in place yet," Stevens said.
Peace and War raced with Lasix and on dirt for the first time while making her initial start stateside after three outings and one win in England for Stevens. The Newmarket native, now out on his own, did a five-year stint as an assistant to Kentucky-based trainer Kellyn Gorder.
Stevens, who began his own training operation back in the UK in 2013, collected his first grade I score. Prior to the race, he tweeted from his @RobinsFarmRacing account: "Peace and War is in great shape. We are making a very brave move in coming here but we couldn't be happier with her prep. Time to find out!"
Peace and War was well-rested for her Alcibiades start, coming off a good second Aug. 8 in a seven-furlong turf allowance at Haydock Park. Her pre-race breeze was a five-furlong move at Keeneland in 1:01 4/5 Sept. 28 under Leparoux.
The winner returned $48.20, $13.20, and $9.40 while Top Decile paid $6 and $4.80, and Paige brought $16.40.
Milehigh Butterfly, Naval Command, Fashion Alert, Gap Year, Take Charge Brandi, Calamity Kate, Taylor S, Innovative Idea, and Slava completed the order of finish. Pangburn scratched.
Bred in Florida by Sally J. Andersen out of the Smart Strike mare More Oats Please, Peace and War was a $300,000 purchase by David Redvers Bloodstock from the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale when consigned by Kaizen Sales, agent. The Darley Alcibiades purse of $240,000 improved her earnings to $250,017, with two wins and a second in four starts.
"We purchased her at Keeneland, then took her back to England," Stevens said. "She won her first out then we caught some bad ground at Ascot in England, which is one of the main reasons we came over here."