2020 Eclipse Awards: Fire At Will
Fire At Will proved to be one of the more versatile 2-year-olds of 2020, winning races on multiple surfaces and in multiple styles to earn a spot as a finalist for the Eclipse Award in the 2-year-old male division.
His 30-1 upset in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf presented by Coolmore America was the catalyst for this honor, but Fire At Will had shown himself to be a solid runner even before that. After losing his first start on turf on Aug. 8 at Saratoga, Fire At Will was entered as a maiden in the With Anticipation Stakes on Sept. 2 at Saratoga. He rallied from last in a field of four to win over a sloppy main track when the race was rained off the turf.
A month later, over a firm Belmont turf course, and in a race with very little speed, Fire At Will went gate to wire under Kendrick Carmouche to win the Grade 2 Pilgrim Stakes by two lengths.
Owner Kirk Wycoff said he and trainer Mike Maker discussed the possibility of running Fire At Will on dirt in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, but Wycoff said the presence of the impressive Jackie’s Warrior – a dual Grade 1 winner – prompted him to run in the Juvenile Turf.
:: Full list of 2020 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories
Based on Fire At Will’s Pilgrim Stakes, where he defeated Public Sector handily, Wycoff felt he had the best American-based runner in the Juvenile Turf.
“But there were good Europeans in there, and a lot of them,” Wycoff said.
In the Juvenile Turf, Ricardo Santana Jr. had Fire At Will along the rail and a joint second tracking Outadore. Turning for home, Santana got Fire At Will off the rail and he overtook the pacesetting and previously unbeaten Outadore to win by three lengths.
“It was an outstanding ride by Santana. The horse got a great trip, but he performed,” Wycoff said. “He’s a talented horse.”
Fire At Will is a son of Declaration of War who was purchased by Wycoff’s Three Diamonds Farm for $97,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September auction.
“I don’t think a few years ago people thought Declaration of War was that versatile a sire,” Wycoff said.
After a 40-day break, Fire At Will was sent to Gulfstream Park, where he is in training and will likely run in a dirt race in either his first or second start of 2021, Wycoff said.
“Horses run on both surfaces because they’re very efficient movers,” Wycoff said.
Wycoff said the goal is to run at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May. It remains to be seen if that race is the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve on dirt or the American Turf.