Classy Casse pair duel on main turf

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Garden of War and Classy War, two Mark Casse-trained sons of classic winner War of Will, will lock horns on Woodbine’s main turf in an open seven-furlong allowance for 3-year-olds on Friday.

Garden of War will likely go favored under Patrick Husbands, who teamed with Casse to win last Saturday’s Grade 3 Seagram Cup on Swift Delivery. Garden of War earned black type when third on debut in the Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes in May 2024 at Gulfstream. He graduated in his second race following a long layoff in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on the Tapeta here May 24, when he put up an 82 Beyer Speed Figure in a 3 1/4-length score.

Garden of War transitioned to the main turf nicely on July 6 in a nonwinners-of-two allowance, coming from his usual stalking position to prevail in a quick 6 1/2-furlong clocking that got him an 81 Beyer.

Classy War’s first two career starts on the grass weren’t anything to write home about, and he eventually evolved into a Tapeta sprinter. The front-runner crushed Ontario-sired and $40,000 maidens in his penultimate start while earning an 84 Beyer and then doubled up in a nonwinners-of-two allowance with an 81 Beyer.

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Sahin Civaci retains the mount on Classy War, who is questionable on the stretch-out from 5 1/2 furlongs to a long sprint.

Last year’s Sovereign Award-winning owner, Gary Barber, pays the bills on both Garden of War and Classy War. He campaigned Preakness winner War of Will, who captured the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile on the grass at Keeneland for Casse.

Also entered in the Friday feature are Winnebago, Church and State, Here I Go, and Wagstaff.

Irish-bred Winnebago ships in from Saratoga off a close second in an allowance over about a mile and 70 yards at Delaware. In four starts in England, he won a seven-furlong allowance on synthetic and wound up second in two six-furlong allowances.

The hot Ryan Munger will ride Winnebago for trainer Miguel Clement, who is 2 for 7 at the Woodbine meet.

Church and State is making his first start on the grass off a wide fifth behind King’s Plate contender Mansetti in the Grade 3 Marine. He was previously victorious in the seven-furlong King Corrie Stakes under Rafael Hernandez, who has the mount on Friday for trainer Dale Desruisseaux.

Church and State is by Caravaggio, who has sired 17 percent grass winners. His dam produced two winners from four turf starters, including La Berma, who was a listed stakes winner in France.

Here I Go faded to third behind Garden of War last time out after graduating in a seven-furlong maiden special weight. Trainer Warren LeBlanc is removing blinkers from the son of Practical Joke.

Wagstaff graduated with a $40,000 claiming tag two back when going long on the inner turf. He beat two next-out winners most recently when winning a two-turn allowance on the Tapeta with an 83 Beyer.

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