'Remarkable' War Story continues campaign in Belmont's Temperence Hill
Graded stakes winner War Story will face off again with You're to Blame in the fifth running of the $200,000 Temperence Hill Invitational for 3-year-olds and up going 1 5/8 miles.
War Story, a 6-year-old son of Northern Afleet, finished second to You're to Blame last out in the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup at Parx on September 3.
War Story won the Challenger in March at Tampa Bay Downs and was second in the Grade 2 Brooklyn Invitational this spring. He finished 10th in the Grade 2 Suburban on July 7 at Belmont before running at Parx. Set to make his seventh start of the year in the Temperance Hill, trainer Jorge Navarro said he is confident War Story is entering the race in good form.
"Initially, we were planning to give him a break after the Suburban, but it's been remarkable the way he's kept his fitness level through the year," Navarro said. "Off of his performance at Parx, we're certainly ready to take a shot in here with hopefully a bitter trip than last time, where he had to run wide most of the way."
War Story will depart from post 5 with Hall of Famer Javier Castellano aboard.
Securing a victory by a neck over War Story last time out, Bortolazzo Stable's 4-year-old You're to Blame, trained by Todd Pletcher, will look to win his third consecutive race.
"It was his first time going that far last time out at Parx and he seemed to handle the distance well, so it's opened up some new options for him and we're continuing to explore that in the Temperence Hill," said Pletcher.
You're to Blame will leave from post 2 with Velazquez in the irons.
Courtlandt Farm's Carlino is also entered for trainer Mark Hennig. The 4-year-old Lemon Drop Kid gelding is cross-entered in Saturday's Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup and most recently won an allowance race on August 26 at Saratoga Race Course.
Carlino drew post 3 with Flavien Pratt named to ride.
Also entered is Rocketry; G Zap for Cash is King Stable and trainer Robert Reid, Jr; and Archanova.