BALTIMORE – Irish War Cry has been difficult to figure out, mixing strong performances with lackluster ones throughout his career. But after his last-place effort in the Gulfstream Park Mile, trainer Graham Motion thought he finally had diagnosed the problem. The 4-year-old son of Curlin came out of the Gulfstream Mile with an electrolyte imbalance, commonly called “the thumps.” Motion gave him plenty of time to recover, reduced the amount of Lasix Irish War Cry was treated with, crossed his fingers and hoped for cool weather on Pimlico Special Day. Motion was right. Irish War Cry went to the lead under Jose Ortiz, set an unpressured but realistic pace of 47.25 seconds and 1:11.58, and then widened in the stretch to win the $300,000 Special by 4 1/2 lengths. The victory was Irish War Cry’s first in seven starts dating to the 2017 Wood Memorial. “It was very gratifying, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the last time he won was in the Wood,” Motion said. “I think the cool weather helps him. I think we found out this winter in Florida he doesn’t do well in that hot, humid weather.” Irish War Cry is a horse of considerable class. Although he hadn’t won in a long time, he did finish second in the Belmont Stakes last year. In his comeback race in February, he finished a solid second in the one-mile Hal’s Hope, which made his Gulfstream Park Mile performance all the more confusing. His effort Friday was reminiscent of his front-running, breakout victory in the Grade 2 Holy Bull in February 2017. Irish War Cry paid $10 in the Grade 3 Special. He was timed over a sloppy track in 1:55.51 for 1 3/16 miles following a mile in 1:36.36. Luis Saez, aboard One Liner, and Jomar Torres, on Afleet Willy, decided to stalk Irish War Cry rather than challenge him early. On the far turn, when Ortiz let out a notch, Irish War Cry had plenty in reserve and was never seriously challenged. “I was expecting a little bit more pace,” Ortiz said. “When we passed the three-eighths pole, I was going easy enough, so I let him out little by little. When we got to the quarter pole, I asked him, and he gave me his run.” One Liner held on for a dead heat for second with Untrapped, who saved ground in fourth position early and then went outside horses on the turn. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to fourth-place finisher Discreet Lover, who broke slowly and then rallied from well back. Rated R Superstar was fifth and was followed by Afleet Willy, Hedge Fund, and 5-2 favorite Something Awesome, who made a mild wide bid on the far turn, gave way and was eased across the line in last. Motion said he did not have a next race in mind for Irish War Cry since he had focused all his attention on this race. “When he’s on his game, I think he can run with the best of them,” Motion said. :: Visit DRF's one-stop shop for Preakness PPs, guides, and more!