Peace and War Arrives at Keeneland for Ashland

Qatar Racing’s Peace and War made quite the impression in her U.S. debut here last fall in sweeping from the back of the pack to win the Darley Alcibiades (G1) by a half-length.

The victory secured a spot in the 14 Hands Winery Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita, but after the Darley Alcibiades Peace and War sustained a slight tear of the tiny XYZ ligament at the base of a fetlock.

Peace and War, winner of last fall’s Darley Alcibiades (G1), returned to Keeneland Sunday morning to prepare for the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1).Trainer Olly Stevens was devastated by the injury and his hope at the time was that the War Front filly would fully recover and come back to Kentucky in the spring for the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) on April 4, the second day of Keeneland’s Spring Meet, and the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 1.

Consider the first part of the mission accomplished as Peace and War arrived from Europe Sunday morning and was housed in Keeneland’s Quarantine Barn on Rice Road after vanning to Lexington from Cincinnati. She arrived at Keeneland at 8:15 a.m.

“Now we wait a long 48 hours. She will be in quarantine for two days and come out for a jog late Tuesday morning,” Stevens said. “She will gallop Wednesday and then blow out an eighth of a mile Thursday.”

A graduate of Keeneland’s 2013 September Yearling Sale, Peace and War will attempt to become the fifth filly to sweep the Alcibiades and Ashland with the most recent being Take Charge Lady (2001-2002). The others are Silverbulletday (1998-1999), Optimistic Gal (1975-1976) and Doubledogdare (1955-1956).

One filly Peace and War defeated in the Darley Alcibiades was Take Charge Brandi, who finished eighth that day beaten 11 ½ lengths. Four weeks later, Take Charge Brandi wired the field in the Juvenile Fillies at 61-1 and began a late-season push that earned her the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old filly.

“I don’t think Take Charge Brandi ran her race here that day,” Stevens said. “In hindsight, her (Peace and War) form puts her right up there and suggests she would have been in the top three. The Breeders’ Cup was run over a speed-favoring track that is not her style, so we saved her for another day.”

Stevens said Peace and War was out of training for about 30 days while in quarantine and returned to the track in December to jog.

“She has been breezing with stakes horses and handling them pretty easily,” Stevens said. “We have done a lot more work with her this time than last fall and I am very happy with her.”

Julien Leparoux, who was aboard for the Darley Alcibiades victory, retains the mount for Saturday’s Central Bank Ashland. The race offers 170 points toward the Kentucky Oaks with 100 points going to the winner.

Peace and War picked up 10 points for winning the Darley Alcibiades but would need more than that to make the Oaks field that is limited to the top 14 point getters.

“Hopefully, we can get in the Oaks,” Stevens said. “We are 22nd in points now. Under the old graded stakes earnings system, we would be in. If we don’t get in the Oaks, we may run against the boys on Derby Day (in the Grade 2, $250,000 American Turf) or the ($200,000) Eight Belles (on May 1 for fillies on dirt). There are a lot of races for her and the plan is to put her on turf this summer at Ascot.”

$100,000 Transylvania (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select (Entries taken Monday, race Friday): A Lot, Another Lemon Drop, Danish Dynaformer, Divisidero, Palm Beach (G3) winner Eh Cumpari, Dania Beach (G3) winner Night Prowler, Saham and Tuba.

$1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) (Entries taken Tuesday, race Saturday): Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner Carpe Diem, Classy Class, Danzig Moon, Frammento, Gorgeous Bird, Delta Jackpot (G3) winner Ocho Ocho Ocho, Pepper Roani, Toasting Master and Unrivaled. Possible: Tiz Shea D.

$500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) (Entries taken Tuesday, race Saturday): Achiever’s Legacy, Chandelier (G1) winner Angela Renee, Lassofthemohicans, Lovely Maria, Darley Alcibiades (G1) winner Peace and War, Silverpocketsfull, Temper Mint Patty and Golden Rod (G2) winner West Coast Belle.

$350,000 Madison (G1) (Entries taken Tuesday, race Saturday): Clearly Confused, Barbara Fritchie (G2) winner Lady Sabelia, Princess Violet, La Brea (G1) and Santa Monica (G2) winner Sam’s Sister, Fantasy (G3) winner Sugar Shock, Dogwood (G3) winner Thank You Marylou and 2013 Comely (G3) winner Wedding Toast.

$300,000 Commonwealth (G3) (Entries taken Tuesday, race Saturday): 2012 Super Derby (G2) winner Bourbon Courage, Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3) winner C. Zee, Edge of Reality, Hip Four Sixtynine, Iowa Derby (G3) winner Jessica’s Star and San Vicente (G2) winner Kobe’s Back. Possible: Multiple graded stakes winner Valid, San Carlos (G2) winner Wild Dude.

$125,000 Shakertown (G3) (Entries taken Tuesday, race Saturday): Amelia’s Wild Ride, Channel Marker, Choctaw Chuck, Mellow Fellow, Mongolian Saturday, Power Alert (AUS), Speechify and Tightend Touchdown.