War of Will Logs Final Breeze Ahead of Louisiana Derby

Wet track conditions were not what his connections were hoping for, but Gary Barber's War of Will marched on and exhibited excellent work ethic in his final breeze for the $1 million TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2), which will be run March 23 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Following the renovation break Friday morning, the two-time graded stakes-winning son of War Front  worked a half-mile in :47 3/5 over a sealed, wet main track and galloped out five-eighths in an authoritative 1:01 flat under exercise rider Eduardo Guerrero. Trainer Mark Casse's assistant David Carroll anticipated evening showers Friday, which is why he moved the work up a day. 

"We were hoping to breeze him over a fast track since we had rain in the forecast for tonight," Carroll said. "The weather even surprised the track crew. We were very happy with him, so we'll enter tomorrow and hopefully have a good week leading up to the race."

Carroll did not get the fast track he anticipated but was still satisfied with the work.

"We're dealing with the Fair Grounds, which has such a tremendous bottom on it," Carroll said. "It's just a very good surface. Obviously, you'd rather be on a fast track, but if it's an off track, we feel very comfortable with it. This winter we've had a lot of rain, so he's trained on an off track. Having said that, he trained beautifully. I'm tickled to death with him. It was just a maintenance work, and I think the track was playing a little fast (for) a sealed track, but I was very impressed with him today."

With all the heavy lifting behind them, the only thing on Carroll's mind is to keep War of Will sound and ready for the Louisiana Derby. 

"Our main concern with him, we just want to keep him happy and healthy," Carroll said. "As long as we can do that, then it's up to him after that. There are bigger races ahead, but, distance-wise, he shouldn't have any issues moving forward. He's out of a Sadler's Wells mare (Visions of Clarity), so he should be able to go all day."

War of Will is attempting a sweep of the trio of Fair Grounds preps on the Road to the Kentucky Derby series after winning the Jan. 19 Lecomte Stakes (G3) and the Feb. 16 Risen Star Stakes presented by Lamarque Ford (G2). The last horse to sweep the series of Kentucky Derby qualifiers at Fair Grounds was International Star in 2015.  

War of Will is No. 1 on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 60 points. A victory in the Louisiana Derby would give him an additional 100 points toward the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs. 

War of Will was bred in Kentucky but purchased from the Arqana Breeze Up Sale in Deauville, France, for US$298,550. His dam is a half sister to 1997 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) winner Spinning World. Visions of Clarity also produced 2010 Boylesports.com Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) victor Pathfork. Other members of his family include North American grade 1 turf winners Good Journey and Denon.