Dannhauser shocks War Envoy in optional claimer

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Trainer Kathleen O’Connell’s barn pulled off a 20-1 shocker here Sunday, when the venerable veteran Dannhauser outfought 6-5 favorite War Envoy to win by a head in a second-level optional $32,000 claimer on turf.

War Envoy had placed in three stakes at the Group 2 or Group 3 level last year in Europe for trainer Aidan O’Brien and won the Britannia Stakes at Ascot in June. He most recently was last in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland, his first start for trainer Wesley Ward.

On Sunday, War Envoy and Dannhauser surged from the rear half of the field of 12 and battled down the lane, with Dannhauser and jockey Ronnie Allen Jr. narrowly prevailing in 1:42.69 for 1 1/16 miles on firm turf. The win ended an eight-race losing streak for the 7-year-old Dannhauser. He entered the race off a last-place finish, beaten 24 lengths, in a third-level allowance at Keeneland on Oct. 24.

Brian Smeak, a longtime assistant trainer for O’Connell, said the horse disappointed at Keeneland because the race was rained off the turf and Dannhauser became agitated by the crowd noise since the starting gate was in front of the grandstand.

“I told the jockey, ‘Just throw that last race out because he’s ready today,’ ” Smeak said. “It was an excellent ride. He got a nice, inside trip, and it just worked out nice.”

Dannhauser is 3 for 6 on the Tampa turf and owns a pair of stakes wins against Virginia-breds at Colonial Downs. His biggest victory came in the $103,000 Laurel Cup Stakes in October 2012. Prior to making his 2015 debut in August, Dannhauser was off for 10 1/2 months after breaking a splint bone in a race at Laurel and having it removed. The horse spent time recovering at owner Chester Prince’s Farm in Ocala, Fla., Smeak said.

“He’s just been one of our favorites the whole time,” Smeak said. “He’s a big, good-looking, strapping colt. He’s a handful. Not just anyone can handle this horse. This looked like a tough race. You had to beat [War Envoy] for sure, but he’d never run [at this low a class level] in his life, and we’re just really excited that he got the money.”