War of Will Works in Preparation for Louisiana Derby

In his most important work March 9 in preparation for the $1 million Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) March 23 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, War of Will—the No. 1 horse on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard—left assistant trainer David Carroll thrilled

Owned by Gary Barber, the 3-year-old son of War Front  went to the track at 5:45 a.m. local time under Declan Carroll and worked five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 over a fast main track in New Orleans. War of Will recorded eighth-mile fractions of :12 2/5, :24 3/5, :37 4/5, and :50 1/5 and galloped out in 1:13 4/5. The breeze was his second work since a victory in the Feb 16 Risen Star Stakes presented by Lamarque Ford (G2), where he earned 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Last Saturday, he went a half-mile in :50 1/5.

"We just wanted to keep him focused and have a target today," Carroll said. "Once he had his target and it was time to go, he just kept on going. I thought last time maybe he eased up a little bit but today he was totally focused and Declan was very, very happy with him. He's just a beautiful piece of work. Every time he works it's just that way with him. He's very push button and is in a great place mentally and physically. The horse is just a privilege to be around and has been this way from the word 'go' last year."

As the final Fair Grounds prep for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), the Louisiana Derby offers points to the top four finishers on a 100-40-20-10 scale and has a tendency to attract quality horses from across the country wishing to make the Run for the Roses.

"At the end of the day, we're all going to be respectful of the opposition, regardless of who comes," Carroll said. "Our focus is on him and him only, just making sure that he's happy and healthy. After that it's up to him. Hopefully we'll have a good couple of more weeks and get there safe and win his race."

Purchased from the Arqana Breeze Up Sale in Deauville, France, War of Will is out of the Sadler's Wells broodmare Visions of Clarity who is a half sister to 1997 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) winner Spinning World. Visions of Clarity also produced 2010 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) victor Pathfork. Other members of his family include North American grade 1 turf winners Good Journey and Denon.

Also making appearances on the Saturday morning work tab were Fair Grounds stakes winners Silver Dust and Needs Supervision, both slated for graded stakes action on Louisiana Derby Day.

Owned by Tom Durant, Silver Dust worked half-mile in :48 2/5 for trainer Bret Calhoun in preparation for the $400,000 New Orleans Handicap (G2) with regular rider Jack Gilligan up. The 5-year-old gelded son of Tapit  won the Mineshaft Handicap (G3) last time out and has won or placed in his last six starts.

"The most impressive thing about the work was the gallop out, he looked like a monster galloping out," Calhoun said. "We're very happy with the work and he's doing very well. I'm sure the water will be a little deeper in his next race but the good thing is that he's run here and hasn't had to ship around. Hopefully that will be an advantage for us."

Originally trained by Randy Morse, Silver Dust arrived in Calhoun's barn last winter and has developed a nice pattern of consistency since. However, Calhoun admits that there were some difficult times in training him.

"He's been a bit of a challenge to say the least," Calhoun said "Frustrating at times and rewarding at times, but we always knew that he had a lot of talent. He hasn't shown up in the afternoon as much as we thought he should but he finally broke through in the Mineshaft."

Bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation, Silver Dust was purchased for $510,000 from the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds In Training, where he was consigned by DeMeric Sales. He is out of the stakes-winning Hard Spun  broodmare Filare l'Oro and is from the same family as four-time graded stakes winner Gouldings Green and grade 1 winner Cross Traffic —last year's leading first crop sire.

Following the renovation break during Saturday morning training hours, trainer Jerry O'Dwyer breezed Silverbulletday Stakes winner Needs Supervision a half-mile in her first work back since a troubled fifth in the Feb. 16 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2).

With her trainer aboard for the work, the 3-year-old daughter of Paynter  completed her four-furlong journey in a time of :48 2/5 and will target the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks Presented by Twinspires.com (G2).

"We put her in behind a horse going a half-mile," O'Dwyer said. "That just gave us a guide and we just went up to the inside of that horse and stayed together for the last furlong home. I didn't let her gallop out too much today, it was her first work back since the Rachel. She seemed to move fine and do everything fine."

Owned by Howling Pigeon Farms, Madaket Stables, Gary Barber, and Wachtel Stables, Needs Supervision entered the Rachel Alexandra Stakes off of a three-race win streak. Prior to winning the Silverbulletday Stakes, she was a second-out maiden winner over the main track at Laurel Park over three next out winners, including stakes winner Fashion Faux Pas. She then defeated graded stakes-placed fillies Meadow Dance and Lightscameraaction at Churchill Downs by five lengths Nov. 24.