A well-beaten effort in Saturday's GI Central Bank Ashland S. will likely preclude Qatar Racing's Peace and War (War Front) from the May 1 GI Kentucky Oaks, but trainer Olly Stevens still hopes the filly will start at Churchill that day.
“She will stay [at Keeneland] for now and probably have a work in about 10 days,” Stevens said. “We will discuss our
options with [Churchill racing secretary] Ben [Huffman] for Oaks Week. She showed a lot of speed [in the Ashland], so the [May 1 GIII] Eight Belles is an option and maybe the [GIII] Edgewood, which is the same day.”
The Eight Belles is at seven furlongs on the main track, while the Edgewood is run at 1 1/16 miles over the turf.
Of Peace and War's effort Saturday, Stevens said, “I knew she was in trouble at the three-eighths pole. I hate to admit it, but I probably should have done more with her and waited two weeks. That is why those guys that have been doing it for 50 years have got it down pretty good.”
Peace and War was making her first start Saturday since winning the GI Darley Alcibiades S. at Keeneland last fall.
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