War of Will Tunes Up for Derby With Keeneland Gate Work

Gary Barber's War of Will breezed five furlongs from the starting gate at Keeneland April 13, firing a :59 bullet over a fast track in preparation for the May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

The War Front colt's move was fastest of 44 at the distance. Trained by Mark Casse, War of Will has 60 points on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard and a guaranteed place in the 20-horse starting gate.

With regular rider Tyler Gaffalione aboard, War of Will clocked splits of :22 4/5, :34 3/5, and :46 1/5 and galloped out to six furlongs in 1:11 3/5.

"He broke sharp and had running on his mind," Gaffalione said. "He did everything very easy. Mark said he wanted a good five-eighths, so I just let him do his thing. He cruised along and pulled up great and came back happy. He is really proud of himself."

"Horses sometimes get more (conditioning) from working from the gate," said David Carroll, Casse's Keeneland assistant. "He broke very sharp, worked beautifully, and the gallop out was tremendous. He cooled out really well, and we are very happy."

At Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots this year, War of Will won the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) and the Lecomte Stakes (G3). On March 23, he was ninth in the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) after losing his footing at the start. He arrived at Keeneland four days later.

Carroll said War of Will likely will have another work next week at Keeneland and a final tuneup at Churchill Downs in the days leading to the Kentucky Derby.

He is encouraged by the extra energy War of Will has displayed at Keeneland.

"He is a kind horse to be around, and in the past week he has really been on his toes and is very sharp," Carroll said. "He told us coming into (today) that he is ready for a good workout. In the paddock on his way to the track, he was very playful."