War Story rallies for upset in Harlan's Holiday Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The old man did it again.

The 7-year-old War Story added to his already impressive resume and substantial bankroll while likely earning himself a start in the rich Pegasus World Cup Invitational after rallying to a 1 1/2-length victory over 28-1 Phat Man in Saturday’s $100,000 Harlan’s Holiday at Gulfstream Park.

The race was marred when Prince Lucky was pulled up and subsequently vanned off after suffering an undisclosed injury exiting the clubhouse turn.

War Story entered the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday with career earnings of more than $2.9 million. His lone victory this season came in the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup on July 20. Luis Saez guided War Story to that win, the seventh of his career, and he was back aboard in the Harlan’s Holiday. War Story also was making his first start since being transferred to trainer Elizabeth Dobles a month earlier.

The early pace of the Harlan’s Holiday was fast, with Bodexpress and Prince Lucky battling for command through a 22.62-second opening quarter-mile. Prince Lucky went wrong and was pulled up shortly thereafter, leaving Bodexpress on a clear lead in the run down the backstretch.

War Story broke slow and raced in midpack for six furlongs, commenced his rally three wide into the stretch, and finished full of run to win going away. Phat Man came four wide turning for home, rallied willingly, but could not reach the winner. Bodexpress, bet down in the final seconds to be the slight even-money favorite over Prince Lucky, weakened in the final furlong, finishing another 1 1/2 lengths further back in third.

Prince Lucky was fitted with a brace and vanned off for further evaluation, according to Dr. Patrice Marquis, senior association veterinarian for Gulfstream Park. She reported the injury did appear to be a serious one.

War Story paid $27.20 after covering nine furlongs in 1:42.45.

“This horse fires almost every time out. He’s named correctly. He’s a warrior,” said Imaginary Stables’s John Guarnere. “We may get an invite for the Pegasus. He doesn’t traditionally run well at this track, but after that . . . If we get an invite, we’ll go.”

The Pegasus World Cup Invitational will be run Jan. 25.

War Story also gave Dobles the first graded stakes win of her training career.

“It’s exciting. Like every other race I win, it’s a pleasure,” Dobles said. “He’s a hard-knocking horse. I wasn’t planning on this race. I was planning on a race at Tampa and the Charles Town Classic. This race just happened to come up.”