Gary Barber's War Heroine, tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' after her debut win over the main track at Del Mar last November, held on to a fast-diminishing advantage to earn her first graded victory Saturday evening. The 5-1 shot set the pace through fractions of :22.85 and 46.85 with Ms Bad Behavior a tracking second. She grimly held off the stretch-long challenge of that foe and had just enough left to hold off the late-rallying Ollie's Candy to get the job done.
War Heroine, who opened her sophomore campaign with a sixth-place effort in the Jan. 7 GII Santa Ynez S., moved to the lawn to win the Feb. 11 Sweet Life S. down the hill at Santa Anita. Fifth as the favorite when shipped east and stretched to a mile for the Mar. 3 Busher S. at Aqueduct, she was making her first start since winning an optional claimer back turf sprinting in Arcadia Apr. 29.
“She's an extremely fast filly; extremely fast,” said winning rider Tyler Baze. “But it isn't so much about the speed, it's about how they're expending their energy. She was doing it well today. I knew she was good for a mile; she's all heart. She loves to stick her neck out and win. She's tough.”
Trainer Peter Miller echoed Baze's sentiments, comparing War Heroine to his MGSW trainee Belvoir Bay (GB) (Equiano {Fr}), who is also co-owned by War Heroine's owner Gary Barber.
“She reminds me a lot of Belvoir Bay–small but mighty. She's got a big heart and a lot of speed. I didn't think we'd be on the lead and I told Tyler she doesn't need to be, but if they give it to you, take it. He rode a super race, got reasonable fractions and she really kicked home strong. I see no reason not to try her in the [1 1/8-mile GI] Del Mar Oaks [Aug. 18]. I think that's the move and that's what we'll do.”
Saturday, Del Mar
SAN CLEMENTE S.-GII, $202,760, Del Mar, 7-21, 3yo, f, 1mT, 1:34.90, fm.
1–WAR HEROINE, 120, f, 3, by Lonhro (Aus)
1st Dam: War Tigress (SW, $171,293), by War Chant
2nd Dam: Tigresa, by Tejano
3rd Dam: Tiff's Decorated, by Well Decorated
'TDN Rising Star' 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($37,000 Ylg '16
KEESEP). O-Gary Barber; B-Waymore, LLC (KY); T-Peter Miller;
J-Tyler Baze. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 6-4-0-0, $240,945.
Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ollie's Candy, 123, f, 3, Candy Ride (Arg)&log=">Candy Ride (Arg)–Afternoon Stroll, by
Stroll. ($45,000 RNA Ylg '16 KEESEP). O/B-Paul & Karen Eggert
(KY); T-William E. Morey. $40,000.
3–Ms Bad Behavior, 120, f, 3, Blame–Cumulonimble, by Stormy
Atlantic. ($75,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP). O-Sayjay Racing LLC, Greg
Hall & Brooke Hubbard; B-Ron Clarkson (ON); T-Richard Baltas.
$24,000.
Margins: NK, NK, 3/4. Odds: 5.90, 5.00, 2.50.
Also Ran: Ahimsa, Flammetta, Animosity, West Palm Beach (Ire), Ms Peintour, Miss Sienna (GB), Lexington Grace (Ire), Dulce Ride, Rockin Ready, Pursuing The Dream (Ire). Scratched: Streak of Luck. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Pedigree Notes:
Tom Conway and Charlie Moore of Waymore LLC paid $80,000 for the San Clemente winner's stakes-winning dam–who raced almost exclusively on the turf–at the 2011 Keeneland November sale. War Tigress's now 2-year-old Curlin colt was a $550,000 KEESEP yearling. Unraced and in Japan, he is named Washington Tesoro. Conway and Moore bred another $550,000 KEESEP colt by Curlin the previous year in this season's GIII Matt Win S. romper King Zachary, who Conway bought Moore out of via the auction. War Tigress produced a Liam's Map colt Mar. 28.
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