By Christie DeBernardis
Trainer Graham Motion looks to capture his second consecutive renewal of the GIII Delaware Oaks, and third total, Saturday with Qatar Racing's Peace and War (War Front). Previously trained by Olly Stevens, the bay blew up the tote at odds of 23-1 in her American debut last year with a victory in Keeneland's GI Darley Alcibiades S.
Forced to miss the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies due to an injury, Peace and War failed to fire when seventh to subsequent GI Kentucky Oaks victress Lovely Maria (Majesticperfection) in the GI Ashland S. In Lexington Apr. 4. After finishing last of eight when facing males for the first time in Churchill's GIII Pat Day Mile May 2, she was transferred to Graham Motion and finished second to White Clover (Exchange Rate) in her debut for that barn in Delaware's Our Mims S. June 3.
“I thought that was a good effort,” Motion said of the filly's last start. “It's always important at Delaware, I think, to have experience on the track, either training or racing. I think this was kind of what she needed in order to take a shot in the Oaks. It's not an easy race, but the fact that she has had a race over the track, I'd like to think that will help her.”
The Florida-bred, who will be piloted by John Velazquez, will have to face the Larry Jones-trained duo of Lovely Maria and White Clover again Saturday. Motion believes Peace and War has a chance to turn the tables this time around.
“Between [White Clover] and Lovely Maria, it makes it a quite salty race,” Motion remarked. “This is a nice filly. She has won a Grade I, and if she can get back to the form she showed as a 2-year-old, she should be competitive.”
Motion was happy with Peace and War's latest work, in which she breezed five furlongs at Fair Hill in 1:02 1/5 June 27.
“I was pleased with her last work,” the conditioner commented. “She came to me from Olly Stevens and was in great shape. I think she has done well since her race and I was pleased with how she went last weekend.”
If Peace and War returns to the form she displayed as a juvenile, she could certainly make some noise in this return to graded company.
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