Bourbon War opens up options with nice turf showing

Connections had Bourbon War entered to debut last fall for a turf race taken off the grass, and his dam, My Conquestadory, won a graded stakes over the lawn during her career.

Trainer Mark Hennig knew Bourbon War would eventually try the turf as well. And after a runner-up in Sunday’s Better Talk Now Stakes at Saratoga, Bourbon War figures to go over it again.

“He’s looked very comfortable ever since we put him on it,” Hennig said. “Even in training, it fits him well. It certainly opens up more doors for him.”

Bourbon War, making his first start since finishes of eighth in the Preakness Stakes and 10th in the Belmont Stakes, finished a length back of Chad Brown-trained Front Run the Fed in the one-mile Better Talk Now.

Connections of the Bourbon Lane Stable and Lake Star Stable runner will look next at Belmont Park’s Oct. 5 Hill Prince (G2) at 1 1/8 miles, but Hennig said there are “other options” given Bourbon War’s success over a number of surfaces and distances.

The son of Tapit won that first out race last November at Aqueduct, which put him on course for a quick turnaround when fourth in the Remsen Stakes (G2). Bourbon War regrouped with a flashy allowance victory Jan. 18 after moved to Gulfstream Park, then ran second to Code of Honor in the Fountain of Youth (G2) and fourth to Maximum Security in the Florida Derby (G1).

That, simply, is good company to keep.

“We ended up seeing the dirt thing through a little bit more,” Hennig said. “Certainly, most everybody gets excited about the Triple Crown if you have a horse that fits the bill.”

In the Better Talk Now, Bourbon War settled fifth of sixth early, with only the eventual winner behind him. The colt steadily moved up, driving wide off the turn before tipping his head to the stand side of the course and brushing against a couple of rivals.

“I thought he was very green down the stretch still, but it was his first start on turf,” Hennig said. “We may have to tinker with some ideas to see if we can get him to focus a little better. He was looking at horses and lugging in on top of a horse.

“When they’re running on the grass, it’s a different experience. Certainly, I believe we can improve on that effort.”