Angel At War proving a savvy claim for Gorham

Angel At War turned in another brave performance at Laurel Park on Monday to remain perfect in six career starts. She has developed into a very nice claim for trainer Michael Gorham, who took her for $40,000 at Delaware Park in August.

Abel Castellano trained Angel At War for her first two races. She won a $20,000 maiden-claiming race in her debut by 11 lengths, then came back to win a $40,000 non-winners-of-two by five lengths.

“We took a little shot for $40,000 with her, but I liked her first race, even though I don’t think she really beat anything that day,” Gorham said.

Gorham has made good use of Angel At War’s eligibility conditions. In her first start for her new barn, Angel At War won a $40,000 starter race at Delaware by 3 3/4 lengths. Gorham brought her back in a $20,000 starter at Delaware and she won by four.

Angel At War has used her early speed to win a pair of six-furlong sprints at Laurel. She went wire to wire to score a nose victory in a first-level allowance in November, then on Monday dug in doggedly in the stretch to win a second-level optional claimer by three-quarters of a length.

:: Save on PPs, digital subscriptions, and more!

A 3-year-old daughter of Shackleford, Angel At War has faced older rivals in all of her races. She has earned $81,000 since being claimed.

“I told the guys after Monday’s race that the waters get deeper from now on,” said Gorham, who has moved his stable to Laurel for the winter. “She either has to go in a three-other-than or a stakes. The problem with the three-other-thans is it’s hard to get those races to go.”

Upcoming stakes at Laurel include the $100,000 Thirty Eight Go Go, a mile race for fillies and mares on Dec. 30, and the $100,000 What A Summer, run at six furlongs on Jan. 20.

Although Angel At War has faced softer company, her quick start brings to mind Gorham’s most successful horse, Mandy’s Gold, who earned more than $1 million from 2000 to 2003 and won the Grade 1 Ruffian at Belmont Park.

“Mandy’s Gold won four in a row, and then in her fifth start won the Comely at Aqueduct but was disqualified,” Gorham said. “So she won her first four in a row for me, too.”