One might hardly blame coach Brendan Walsh for attempting First World War (War Front) on the primary monitor. After all, the colt had proven promise breaking his maiden on debut over the undulating Kentucky Downs turf course in September earlier than ending a slim fourth within the GII Bourbon S. Oct. 8 behind a trio of horses who’d all seen stakes success on both the filth or the Tapeta. He made present of himself by checking in second on each makes an attempt–first to ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Parchment Party (Constitution) after which to Otello (Curlin) by only a half-length within the Mucho Macho Man S. Jan. 1. But off a best-of-40 four-furlong drill Jan. 28, Walsh opted to place the Qatar Racing/Hunter Valley Farm entry again on the grass and was shortly rewarded with a win in Saturday’s GIII Kitten’s Joy S.
While he took a bit of early money, First World War wound up second alternative at 5-2 behind the Repole Stable/Todd Pletcher entry Noted (Cairo Prince). Away clearly from the center of a gate, Tyler Gaffalione positioned his runner in the direction of the entrance simply off the heels of longshot pacesetter Tocayo (Always Dreaming). Racing two broad across the first flip, First World War started to select up a transparent second because the half went in :47.97. Still beneath a maintain previous the quarter pole, Gaffalione lastly gave his mount a shake of the reins and First World War responded in earnest, charging up exterior of Tocayo to strike the entrance and holding off a charging Hammerstein (Oscar Performance) to earn the win.
“All the credit goes to Brendan and his team,” stated Gaffalione. “They brought the horse over ready and he fired big for us. Everything went to plan. The speed horse jumped out in front and my horse settled great behind him. He got into a great rhythm and he responded well for me down the lane.”
“He’s a tremendous talent,” Gaffalione continued. “He’s still learning, but the sky’s the limit for him. If he keeps developing the way he is, I think we’ll have a pretty nice horse down the road.”
Pedigree Note:
Claiborne stalwart War Front picked up his 116th stakes winner Saturday. Out of GIII Indiana Oaks S. runner up Sundaysatthebeach, First World War can be the a hundred and first stakes winner for Medaglia d’Oro as a broodmare sire. Sundaysatthebeach, herself a daughter of MGISW and $1.8m Stonestreet broodmare buy Ask the Moon (Malibu Moon), is a half to MSW/MGSP Belgrano (War Front). First World War is her first foal and she or he has a 2-year-old Candy Ride (Arg) colt in addition to a yearling Uncle Mo colt each within the wings. She visited Street Sense for 2024.
#6 FIRST WORLD WAR ($7) acquired a pleasant stalking journey beneath @Tyler_Gaff to win the $175,000 Kitten’s Joy Stakes (GIII) at Gulfstream Park. The son of War Front is educated by @brenpwalsh.
The $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes (GIII) is up subsequent! Kentucky Derby factors are on the road. pic.twitter.com/L2bTnQ2kEn
— TVG (@TVG) February 3, 2024
Saturday, Gulfstream
KITTEN’S JOY S.-GIII, $175,000, Gulfstream, 2-3, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:39.78, fm.
1–FIRST WORLD WAR, 118, c, 3, by War Front
1st Dam: Sundaysatthebeach (GSP, $129,280),
by Medaglia d’Oro
2nd Dam: Ask the Moon, by Malibu Moon
third Dam: Always Asking, by Valid Appeal
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($285,000
Wlg ’21 FTKNOV; $135,000 RNA Ylg ’22 KEESEP). O-Qatar
Racing LLC and Hunter Valley Farm; B-Skyfall Thoroughbreds
LLC (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $105,245.
Lifetime Record: 5-2-2-0, $266,313. Werk Nick Rating: A+++.
*Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Hammerstein, 118, c, 3, Oscar Performance–Memorial Wall,
by Chattahoochee War. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK
TYPE. O-Amerman Racing LLC; B-Mrs. Jerry Amerman (KY);
T-Brian A. Lynch. $33,950.
3–Tocayo, 122, c, 3, Always Dreaming–Spooky Tooth, by
Ghostzapper. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Lugamo Racing
Stable (MD); T-Steve Klesaris. $16,975.
Margins: HF, 1HF, 1HF. Odds: 2.50, 3.80, 13.30.
Also Ran: Freedom Principle, Edgartown, Quokka, Noted, Deadpan. Scratched: Agate Road.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
