War of Will Puts in Final Breeze Ahead of Jim Dandy

Preakness Stakes (G1) winner War of Will put in his final breeze July 19 for the Jim Dandy Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2) at Saratoga Race Course.

Tyler Gaffalione, aboard War of Will for the easy half-mile in :49.33 on Saratoga's main track, said the move was the War Front  colt's best yet. 

"He went great. It was honestly one of his best works to date, really," Gaffalione said. "He seemed to love the track, handled it real well, and was full of energy. Every week he's just getting stronger and stronger. We're really looking forward to his next race. It's going to be a competitive field, but the way he's been training and how he looks, his whole demeanor, we've got a ton of confidence."

Trainer Mark Casse was equally pleased with War of Will's work.

"He went well. You couldn't ask him to do anything better," Casse said. "I told Tyler I didn't want him to go fast. The first quarter he was a little slow, so we radioed Tyler to pick it up a bit. He gets over the Saratoga surface really well. Tyler said it reminded him of the work before the (Kentucky) Derby (G1). He said last week was good and this week was even better.

"If you want to see poetry in motion for a horse, and what you would like to see out of a racehorse—he's what it is. He's the entire package."

Casse said War of Will, who was the only horse this year to contest all three Triple Crown races, has displayed physical development throughout the year. 

"I think he's a bigger, stronger horse. He's definitely carrying more weight now than he was for the Derby, Preakness, or Belmont, so he's probably at his highest weight level," Casse said. "I thought he put on a few pounds going into the Louisiana Derby (G1), and we tightened him up for the (Kentucky) Derby. His color is real good right now. He has a nice shine to his coat, and he's a happy horse."

The July 27 Jim Dandy will be War of Will's first start since the finishing off the board in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), 7 1/4 lengths behind winner and stablemate Sir Winston. 

Also on the Friday morning work tab at Saratoga was Ashbrook Farm and BBN Racing's Concrete Rose, who logged her first work since winning the first leg of the Turf Triple series for fillies—the July 6 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T). The daughter of Twirling Candy  finished a half-mile in :53 1/5 over the Oklahoma turf course for trainer Rusty Arnold and remains on target for the Aug. 2 Saratoga Oaks Invitational, the second leg of the Turf Tiara.

Centennial Farms' Preservationist went three furlongs in :36.86 for trainer Jimmy Jerkens, his first breeze since winning the Suburban Stakes (G2).

Also working Friday morning was St. Elias Stable and Repole Stable's Vino Rosso, who went five furlongs in 1:01.14 on the Oklahoma training track. Trainer Todd Pletcher is targeting the Aug. 3 Whitney Stakes (G1) for the Curlin  colt, who won the May 27 Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes (G1) last out.