Connections Hope 'Wow' Factors in Lecomte

They call him 'Wow.'

Sure it's an acronym for his name, but it's also the first thought that came to mind when the connections of Lecomte Stakes (G3) contender of War of Will watched him train early on.  

In his first start on dirt, War of Will drew off to a six-length score in a 1 1/16-mile maiden race Nov. 24 at Churchill Downs. He'll make his first start since that impressive effort—and his stakes debut—in the one-mile and 70-yard Lecomte Jan. 19 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, a Road to the Kentucky Derby race that has drawn an overflow field.

Owned by Gary Barber and trained by Mark Casse, the 3-year-old son of War Front  showed promise even prior to kicking off his career, which is why Casse ran him against graded stakes company three times as a maiden. However, it wasn't until his fifth career start—his dirt track debut—that he earned victory. 

"He's a horse that we loved as soon as my brother (Justin Casse) bought him," Casse said. "Our assistant Jamie Begg had him for about two weeks at Belmont and said that he was special. We kind of rushed him into his maiden race and I thought he would have a good chance to win the (grade 1) Summer Stakes (at Woodbine). Finally, in the Breeders' Cup (Juvenile Turf [G1]) he had a really wide trip so he ran an exceptionally well fifth considering the hand that was dealt to him. Early on, we felt like he needed to stay on grass, but he trains as good as a horse can train on the dirt."

It was after the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf that Casse decided War of Will needed some main track experience, so he ran him in a two-turn maiden special weight event over a sloppy track at Churchill, where he was guided by Tyler Gaffalione under a hand ride. 

"I personally don't think he could've won any more impressive and it was a solid field," Casse said. "He ran ten one hundredths of a second slower than (that day's) Kentucky Jockey Club (G2). Tyler geared him down in the last sixteenth so no doubt he could've run faster than the Kentucky Jockey Club. All that said, we like our chances."

As of Wednesday, the National Weather Service calls for a heavy chance of precipitation for Saturday. War of Will is scheduled to start from Post 8 in the expected field of 14, which saw 15 entered (one also-eligible).

"Weather could play a factor even though I think a little moisture in the track won't hurt our feelings," Casse said. "This is a heck of a race, it's going to be a trip. It's a mile and 70 yards with a big field and quick run to the first turn. You're going to need luck and it can't be bad."

Casse's brother Justin purchased Kentucky-bred War of Will at the Arqana Deauville May 2-Year-Old Breeze Up Sale in France last year. He is out of the Sadler's Wells broodmare Visions of Clarity who is a half sister to multiple group 1 winner Spinning World, who won the Grade I Breeders' Cup Mile in 1997. 

Casse also sends out Mo Speed in the Lecomte, but the son of Uncle Mo  is still not definite to start. 

"We're still contemplating it," Casse said. "He hasn't proven that he is that caliber, but I do see the race possibly setting up for him. We may run him just to see how he fits in the big picture. It's a discussion that I need to have with the owners and it probably won't be decided until the day of the race."