Fog of War gets his year started in Paradise Creek

ELMONT, N.Y. – The trio of long-distance turf races the New York Racing Association is offering this summer for 3-year-olds will suit some of the horses in trainer Chad Brown’s barn. Fog of War is not likely to be among them.

But with the Grade 1 Secretariat at Arlington Park being shortened to a mile this year, that $500,000 race is a likely major target for Fog of War, who kicks off his 3-year-old campaign Saturday in the $100,000 Paradise Creek Stakes going seven furlongs at Belmont Park.

Fog of War, a son of War Front, went 2 for 2 last year. He won a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race at Saratoga before stretching out to a mile and winning the Grade 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine. The runner-up from that race was War of Will, the winner of last Saturday’s Preakness Stakes.

A shin injury forced Fog of War to miss the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. He resumed training in February at Stonestreet Farm in Ocala, Fla., and has been on a steady work pattern since March leading up to his return.

“He’s had plenty of works. I think he should be good to go,” Brown said.

Javier Castellano will ride Fog of War from post 2.

Several runners in here are returning to turf or trying that surface for the first time.

Pole Setter, trained by Brad Cox, won his debut, which came on turf at Ellis Park, and finished sixth in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile in September. He has made his last six starts on dirt, including winning a first-level allowance in the slop at Keeneland on April 7.

“He’s a nice horse,” Cox said. “Honestly, I may have been chasing some dreams he wasn’t capable of reaching.”

Cox said he will likely have Luis Saez use Pole Setter’s early speed.

Mucho, the runner-up in the Grade 1 Hopeful last summer, will be trying turf for the first time. Since finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Bay Shore on dirt at Aqueduct, Mucho has worked twice on turf, including a solid half-mile in 48.25 seconds Sunday in company with Aunt Hattie.

Strike Silver will attempt to rebound from an 11th-place finish in the Palisades Turf Sprint at Keeneland on April 4.

“He never really got into it,” trainer Mark Casse said. “Since that race, we feel like he’s trained much better. I’m not promising victory, but I think he’ll give us a better performance.”

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KEY CONTENDERS

Fog of War, by War Front
Beyers:77-77

◗ Two horses he beat on debut last summer at Saratoga were Current and Seismic Jolt, who have gone on to become stakes winners.

◗ In addition to beating War of Will in the Summer Stakes, he defeated subsequent stakes winners Avie’s Flatter and Federal Law.

Pole Setter, by Take Charge Indy
Last 3 Beyers: 93-72-76

◗ Beat 11 rivals, including next-out allowance winner Borracho in an April 4 allowance at Keeneland in the slop.

Uncapped, by First Samurai
Last 3 Beyers: 80-80-69

◗ Was a fast-closing second at odds of 20-1 in the William Walker Stakes going 5 1/2 furlongs at Churchill Downs last out.

◗ Gets jockey John Velazquez.