Motion 'leaning toward' Pimlico Special as Irish War Cry's next race

Isabelle de Tomaso’s multiple graded-stakes winner Irish War Cry breezed five furlongs Saturday morning in anticipation of his next expected start in the $300,000 Pimlico Special (G3) Friday, May 18 at legendary Pimlico Race Course.

Working on his own, Irish War Cry was timed in 1:02.48 over the main track at the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md., the second-fastest of eight horses at the distance. It was his second breeze since finishing sixth in the Gulfstream Park Hardacre Mile (G2) March 31.

“We had some rain overnight and it was kind of a heavy track. I was very happy with him,” Motion said. “He’s nominated to the Westchester in New York next weekend, but I’m probably going to run him in the Special. That’s what I’m leaning toward.”

Motion said Irish War Cry exited his last race with the thumps, an electrolyte imbalance that was also discovered following his off-the-board finish as the favorite in last year’s Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream.

“He came down with the thumps after the race which can be quite debilitating to them,” Motion said. “He’s done it twice in Florida when it’s been so hot and humid. I’m just hoping the weather kind of stays on the cool side through [Preakness] weekend. He’s been absolutely fine since we got him back to Fair Hill.”

The one-mile Westchester (G3) is May 5 at Belmont Park. In addition to giving Irish War Cry more time and distance waiting for the 1 3/16-mile Pimlico Special, Motion said the prestige of the race and venue also plays into the decision. Pimlico’s Preakness Meet runs May 10-28.

The Pimlico Special was created in 1937 by Alfred Vanderbilt, the master of Sagamore Farm, as the first major stakes in the United States and set up as an invitational. War Admiral, carrying 128 pounds as a 3-year-old, won the inaugural running, then was upset by Seabiscuit the following year in what was termed the “Race of the Century” by Sports Illustrated.

Revived in 1988, the Pimlico Special’s roster of winners include Triple Crown champions Whirlaway, Citation and Assault and modern-day Horses of the Year Criminal Type, Cigar, Skip Away, Mineshaft and Invasor.

“I like running in Maryland,” Motion said. “I try to run horses over those two weeks and I like running at Pimlico. Plus [jockey] Jose [Ortiz] would be able to ride him also, so there’s quite a lot of reasons.”