War Dancer Back on Dirt in Skip Away

War Dancer will make a return to dirt for his next start in the $100,000 Skip Away (G3) at Gulfstream Park on March 29.            

The 1 3/16-mile Skip Away is one of seven graded stakes on the undercard of the $1 million Besilu Stables Florida Derby (G1), Gulfstream’s signature race.            

Ken McPeek, who trains War Dancer for Magdalena Racing, was considering a turf race at the Keeneland spring meet which opens April 4 for the 4-year-old son of War Front.            

“I was concerned that the spot at Keeneland wasn’t going to fill, and we’re also interested in trying him again on the dirt,” McPeek said. “And I think he’ll like the mile and three sixteenths.”            

War Dancer has made eight of his 10 career starts on grass with three wins, including the 1 ¼-mile Virginia Derby (G2) at Colonial Downs last July. He made his seasonal debut in an 8 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance at Gulfsteam on March 1, finishing sixth of 11, beaten 3 ¾ lengths.            

Jockey Joel Rosario, the fourth-leading rider at Gulfstream who was aboard for the last race, gets a return call in the Skip Away.            

War Dancer is 0-for-2 on dirt, running fourth in a 1 1/6-mile maiden race at Gulfstream last February, and sixth behind Will Take Charge, 3-year-old champion male of 2013, in the 1 ¼-mile Travers (G1) at Saratoga.            

“He’s doing good. He had a bad trip in his last race, but he deserves another chance on dirt,” McPeek said. “He only got beat six lengths for the Travers, and I think this is a much easier spot than that.”