Bourbon War 'looking for more ground' on the Kentucky Derby trail
Based on Bourbon War’s runner-up performance in last weekend’s Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), trainer Mark Hennig suspects the Tapit colt will appreciate longer distances as he continues to move forward on the Kentucky Derby 2019 trail.
“He seemed like he was looking for more ground,” Hennig said.
The Fountain of Youth ran at 1 1/16 miles and used Gulfstream Park’s first finish line. Hennig said he is leaning toward the March 30 Florida Derby (G1) for Bourbon War’s next start, which means a possible rematch with Fountain of Youth winner Code of Honor going nine furlongs to the regular wire.
Under John Velazquez, Code of Honor broke from the rail, saved ground there in fifth and angled out while turning for home. Bourbon War, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., rallied from ninth and was closing the gap to Code of Honor. After turning about six wide, he missed by three-quarters of a length.
“I was impressed with the way he leveled off the last sixteenth,” Hennig said. “I wish he had come off the turn a little smoother and got through his lead change a little bit quicker, but I thought it was a good race to move forward off of, for sure.”
Hennig considers the Florida Derby a logical spot, as Bourbon War, owned by Bourbon Lane Stable and Lake Star Stable, would not have to ship and has already run two credible races over the track. Before the Fountain of Youth, Bourbon War rallied to a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming victory Jan. 18 at Gulfstream.
That effort followed a fourth-place finish in Aqueduct’s Remsen Stakes (G2) Dec. 1, but Hennig mentioned in a previous interview the prep race came back too quickly from Bourbon War's Nov. 14 debut win at a mile
As for the Fountain of Youth, “We weren’t getting any indications that he wouldn’t run well, but you’re stepping up against better horses and it was good to see him do it against that group,” Hennig said. “You certainly have a little apprehension, but he’s trained well.
"I figured if he had the ability to run with those horses, he was going to run a big race.”