Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star, 1 1/16 miles, Fair Grounds, Feb. 16, 2019 (50 Derby qualifying points for a win, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth) Winner: War of Will, by War Front Trainer: Mark Casse Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione Owner: Gary Barber Beyer Speed Figure: 92 WAR OF WILL is now 3 for 3 on dirt, and there is no one at Fair Grounds this season who can get close to him. He followed up his Lecomte victory with an equally emphatic win here, with similar trips in both. He had outside draws, settled just off the pace, advanced when needed, and never was in danger through the lane. This race was the first worth 50 points to the winner, making it essentially a Win and You’re In for the Derby. War of Will’s fig here was actually a couple of points below what he earned in the Lecomte. That’s the lone knock I can find. There’s plenty to like. War of Will has the kind of tactical speed that is essential in a bulky field like the Derby, as he can cruise along in a forward position and then move when needed, avoiding the chaos farther back. He gets good trips because he makes good trips. As noted in my Lecomte review, he has beautiful action, and he finishes off his races as though more distance will be just fine. In this race, War of Will had good speed leaving the gate and headed into the first turn between DUNPH and GUN IT, then sat second behind Gun It after turning into the backstretch. He was a bit keen initially on the backside – as I said in the Lecomte analysis, he runs like a horse who would settle better with cover – but was manageable and gave off the impression he would leap forward whenever asked. He advanced on Gun It on the far turn while still under a snug hold, took the lead five-sixteenths out, was under intermittent urging through the lane, but never was in danger and galloped out with his ears forward, as if he had plenty left. He also ran well in a race whose shape benefitted late runners. The second-, third-, and fourth-place finishers were 12th, 13th, and 14th in the 14-horse field early, and of the three early leaders, War of Will finished first while the other two wound up 11th and 12th. He’s rock solid. COUNTRY HOUSE, who finished second, didn’t break sharply and wound up toward the back of the field into the first turn while saving ground. He knifed between rivals while in the 3 path on the far turn while making progress, swung out about four wide into the lane, lugged in badly midway through the lane, had to be corrected again later in the stretch, and ran on well enough while never offering a real threat to the winner. ROILAND, who was third, continues to leave the gate with zero sense of urgency. As in the Lecomte, he found himself last into the first turn. He was well back early on and was in another area code heading into the far turn, rallied while saving ground on the turn, was gradually angled out through the lane to avoid struggling rivals, and continued his elongated run all the way to the wire. He’s got the late part of the race down. The early part needs work. HOG CREEK HUSTLE, who was fourth, broke decently but lacked speed, then was checked and got shuffled back heading into the first turn, the cumulative result being he was in front of only Roiland a furlong into the race. He was angled to the middle of the track heading up the backside, rallied about four to five paths wide on the far turn, got fanned about six wide into the lane, was under severe punishment for much of the stretch, then lost his punch in the final 100 yards. He might be reaching the outer limits of his comfort zone for race distances. LIMONITE, who was fifth, bobbled leaving the late, was toward the rear of the field while in the 2 path around the first turn, got to the rail early on the backstretch and remained there to the far turn. He was caught in traffic for much of the far turn, got through inside, started to advance but had to check in upper stretch, cut between rivals and went evenly the rest of the way. He did not have a perfectly clean trip, but the amount of ground he saved more than compensated. This was his first start in nearly three months. I’ll be interested to see if he takes a leap forward next time. MANNY WAH, who was sixth, saved ground while just behind the leaders around the first turn, had a rail-skimming trip all the way to the top of the stretch, angled out in upper stretch, had to check off the heels of the tiring Dunph a furlong out and knocked into CHASE THE GHOST, then couldn’t finish off the race. He’s another whose trouble was insignificant compared to the otherwise gorgeous trip he had. I also think he’s best as a one-run, one-turn horse. MR. MONEY, who finished seventh, was forwardly placed while between rivals around the first turn, was taken outside rivals and was three wide into the far turn, was on the hip of War of Will entering the far turn, but couldn’t go with the winner nearing the quarter pole. He tired through the lane and had to alter course slightly in midstretch to avoid clipping the heels of Country House, but he was a beaten horse by then. OWENDALE, who was eighth, was three wide while in midpack around the first turn, began to lose ground heading down the backside, was three to four paths wide on the far turn, checked slightly heading into the lane, and never got involved in a very disappointing effort for a colt who looked like he was starting to make progress. Chase the Ghost, who was ninth, hugged the rail while following Manny Wah around the first turn, angled just outside Manny Wah early on the backstretch, was in midpack while saving ground into the far turn, was shoved along midway on the turn but failed to make any progress. He came between rivals into the lane and was being outrun when he took a solid bump from Manny Wah inside the furlong grounds. HENLEY’S JOY, who was 10th, raced two to three paths wide on the first turn while in midpack, went into the far turn three to four paths wide while between rivals, made a mild gain midway on the turn, but was being shoved along without much response in upper stretch. He had raced exclusively on turf prior to this and rightly was given a chance to prove he could make the switch, but grass should be his future. Dunph, who was 11th, was hustled along to take the early lead, conceded it to Gun It toward the end of the first turn but could not keep up with the top pair nearing the far turn. He raced between rivals while following War of Will on that turn, then steadily faded through the lane while at midstretch avoiding Mr. Money, who was avoiding Country House. He was all done well before then and was allowed to coast home the final 150 yards. Gun It, who was 12th, broke from the outside stall and went into the first turn three paths wide before clearing both Dunph and War of Will to take the lead while setting a legitimate pace (:23.71, :47.36) for this track and distance. By the time War of Will engaged him on the turn, he had had enough. He put up little resistance and faded steadily through the lane while having to check at midstretch when stablemate Limonite needed to change lanes. PLUS QUE PARFAIT, who was 13th, raced in midpack while saving ground around the first turn, was just outside Chase the Ghost in the 2 path while between rivals on the far turn, retreated nearing the quarter pole, angled out slightly, but continued to go backward. FROLIC MORE, who finished last of 14, raced in midpack while four paths wide on the first turn, was wide nearing the far turn, began to fade before the three-eighths pole and was always outrun. He, Gun It, and Owendale all exited an allowance race that looked like it might be a springboard, but all three were no factor here.