Weekend Takeaways: War of Will has answered every question

With a win in the Risen Star (G2), Gary Barber’s War of Will has essentially stamped his ticket to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs May 4. The Mark Casse trainee has answered every question thrown at him to this point and has proven himself to be a top contender in the 3-year-old division.

After four races, including a Grade 1 placing on the turf, connections wondered if War of Will would take to the dirt. He ran off by five lengths over a sloppy track at Churchill Downs. Then question became, was it the off track or did War of Will really take to the dirt?

The War Front colt rattled off a four-length victory in the Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds, placing him on the Derby trail. When he drew post 14 in the Risen Star, the concern was the outside post for a horse that liked to sit close to the pace. Casse said beforehand War of Will had the speed to get into a good position, and the colt did just that before winning by 2 ¼ lengths.

“He has to prove a few more things,” Casse said, who has trained champions such as Tepin, Classic Empire and World Approval. “I’ve been fortunate. I’ve had some pretty incredible horses.”

War of Will’s final stop before the Kentucky Derby will be the Louisiana Derby (G2) back at Fair Grounds March 23. Though War of Will currently sits at the top of the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, Casse knows the major test for War of Will is back at Churchill Downs.

“It doesn’t matter how good you are in December or January,” he said. “It’s how good you are in May.”

Anothertwistafate has talent. Can he handle dirt?

Speaking of questions that need answered, Anothertwistafate showed his class when defeating Southern California shippers in the El Camino Real Derby. The local Golden Gates field runner went straight to the front and dusted Bob Baffert-trained Kingly by seven lengths. 

There’s another question left, though – Will Anothertwistafate take to dirt? He ran his first career start at Santa Anita Park, finishing ninth, and trainer Blaine Wright said that was the first time the Scat Daddy colt experienced kickback. He returned to Golden Gate’s all-weather surface and scored two open-length victories on the lead, making him 3-for-3 on the track.

Scat Daddy has produced horses successful on dirt, turf and synthetic, including the 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. Wright named the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on dirt and the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on the all-weather at Turfway Park as possible starts.

“If he shows up and runs a strong race, we’ll be taking a close look at the (Kentucky) Derby,” Wright said. “If he doesn’t run good, there’s a race here at Golden Gate (the California Derby on April 27) that would be a fantastic prep to get to the Preakness. All in all, I think we’re in a good position however it works out for us.”

The El Camino Real Derby offered a fees-paid automatic berth into the Preakness Stakes for the first time this year.

Serengeti Empress back in the game

Serengeti Empress turned in two jaw-dropping performances at 2 when she won the Ellis Park Debutante by 13 ½ lengths, then the Pocahontas (G2) by 19 ½. She faded to seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, but was back to her winning ways in Saturday’s Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds.

“There’s always that question with a precocious 2-year-old, which she certainly fit into that category, will they be able to come back at 3 and face more mature and, quite honestly, better route mares than what they faced, or route fillies than what they faced at 2,” trainer Tom Amoss said, “and I think that she’s certainly up to the task.”

Serengeti Empress certainly looked that way when shew drew away by 4 ½ lengths Saturday while eased up late by jockey James Graham. She’ll likely run in the Fair Grounds Oaks March 23 before heading back to her Churchill Downs base for the Kentucky Oaks on May 3, where she’ll receive her toughest test since the Breeders’ Cup and likely meet juvenile fillies champion Jaywalk again.

Marley’s Freedom leads the way

A fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint was likely the performance standing between Marley’s Freedom and an Eclipse Award for Champion Female Sprinter. The Bob Baffert trainee finished half a length behind the winner, Shamrock Rose, who received the champion honors. Marley's Freedom had four wins leading up to the World Championships, including the Desert Stormer (G3), the Great Lady M (G2) and the Ballerina (G1). Marley’s Freedom also capped off 2018 with a victory in the Go for Wand Handicap (G3).

The daughter of Blame opened up her 5-year-old season by taking down Selcourt in the Santa Monica (G2) at Santa Anita Park Saturday. Even without the Eclipse Award, Marley’s Freedom looks like a clear leader in her division, especially with Shamrock Rose’s connections eyeing longer races.

Shamrock Rose finished fourth in the Hurricane Bertie (G3) for her season debut, a race that took place in the slop at Gulfstream Park.