Warrior’s Charge punches ticket to Oaklawn Park stakes

While the 3-year-old colt Warrior’s Charge prevailed Wednesday in his Fair Grounds return after dawdling through an opening half mile in 50.47 seconds, Clay Sanders, a partner in owner Ten Strike Racing, sees the pace scenario as a positive moving forward.

“One thing we were worried about was him coming out a little headstrong after going 22 (seconds) and change in the Preakness,” Sanders said. “He relaxed really well. No one else really wanted the lead, so they went slow and he came home fast.”

Warrior’s Charge repelled the former $2.6 million yearling Gun It in the stretch of the $40,000 allowance optional claiming race — his first start since sidelined due to colic — and next figures to head back to the graded stakes level as an older horse.

Trained by Brad Cox, Warrior’s Charge will continue to stable at Fair Grounds, as Louisiana State University’s medical facilities aren’t far in case colic strikes again. But the son of Munnings has as a “first target” Oaklawn Park’s Feb. 17 Razorback Handicap (G3), with the April 18 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) a possibility after that.

“A lot of our owners are based around Oaklawn,” Sanders said, “so those are two races that would be fun for the group to win.”

Campaigned in partnership with Sol Kumin’s Madaket Stables, Warrior’s Charge emerged as one to watch last spring at Oaklawn, where he broke his maiden by six lengths going a route of ground, then returned to beat winners by 6 1/2 lengths. Once the first three four horses across the wire in the Kentucky Derby passed on the Preakness, connections paid a six-figure fee to supplement Warrior’s Charge to the second leg of the Triple Crown series.

Warrior’s Charge set the pace and hung around for fourth at Pimlico, giving his camp reason to believe he could contend in other signature races for 3-year-olds. But a colic diagnosis meant surgery and months off before Wednesday’s return.

“He wasn’t 100% cranked for the race,” Sanders said. “That was a bridge to get us to other races.”

After chasing the pace setter into the stretch, Gun It headed Warrior’s Charge, who then came under a ride from jockey Florent Geroux and spurted back in front to win by two lengths. Gun It, while running green throughout his career, entered off an easy allowance win at Churchill Downs, setting up a showdown between two horses who look eligible to move up the class ladder.

“I think that was Gun It’s best race,” Sanders said. “He made (Warrior’s Charge) check the tank a little bit. I talked to Brad earlier, and he said at that point he was worried. He was like, ‘Man, I hope I hope I have him fit enough.’ But he answered the question for us. We were really pleased.”