Owners just couldn't part with Preakness contender Bourbon War

Michael McMahon and Jamie Hill were destined to keep the Tapit colt who eventually became Preakness contender Bourbon War.

McMahon and Hill race under the banner Bourbon Lane and pinhook under the banner Spruce Lane. Bourbon War, the first foal out of the Grade 1 winner My Conquestadory, was purchased as a yearling for $410,000, with the idea of pinhooking him the following September.

At the Keeneland auction, he failed to meet his reserve of $550,000 as the bidding stopped at $525,000.

“There was an X-ray issue that stopped a couple of prominent buyers from buying him,” said McMahon, who said the colt did undergo surgery after the sale.

In March 2018, McMahon and Hill were set to put the Tapit colt through the Fasig-Tipton sale of 2-year-olds in training. Right before the auction, they were notified that the horse had been diagnosed with a chip by a veterinarian, and he was withdrawn from the sale. McMahon said reports of the chip were false.

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McMahon reached out to Greg Burns of Lake Star Stable, and a partnership was formed to race the horse.

Bourbon War has won two races from five starts and owns a second-place finish to Code of Honor in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth. He has earned $202,100.

“On one hand, you’re unlucky not to be profitable,” McMahon said. “On the other hand, you’re lucky to have a colt like him in the barn.”

Regardless of whether Bourbon War wins Saturday’s Preakness, McMahon said, “We expect to be in big races all year long.”