War Story rewards new owners with impressive win

NEW ORLEANS – With a decisive victory against first-level optional-claiming company last Sunday at Fair Grounds, War Story made a quick return on a private purchase by Ron Paolucci’s Loooch Racing Stable and Chris Dunn.

A Northern Afleet gelding racing for the first time for the new owners and trainer Tom Amoss, War Story was trying two turns for the first time. His trip wasn’t ideal; War Story was bumped at the start and slightly squeezed entering the backstretch. But with a strong late run, he pulled away to win by 2 3/4 lengths, completing the mile in 1:39.75.

The margin was the same when he won his debut in a seven-furlong maiden race Nov. 1 at Churchill Downs. In that race, War Story, trained at the time by Ron Moquett, hesitated at the start before rallying late and driving clear to win in 1:25.33.

“I was actually at the race he came out of,” Paolucci said. “I was looking to buy another horse because of the breeding. When he made that move going seven-eighths, my attention turned to him.”

The Grade 3 Lecomte on Jan. 17 is a possibility for War Story’s next race, Paolucci said, though he’s concerned about the spacing between races. “It’s back kind of quick,” Paolucci said. “I’m trying to turn over a new leaf when it comes to horses.”

But he also said, “One of the things about Tom is when he’s doing well, those horses don’t miss any time.”

Paolucci has shown that he’s willing to take shots. After Ria Antonia, owned by Loooch Racing Stable and Dunn, won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in 2013, Paolucci announced in the Santa Anita winner’s circle that he would aim her for the Kentucky Derby. She didn’t run in the Derby in 2014 but did race in the Preakness.

Paolucci said it’ll be up to Amoss when War Story will run next.

After War Story’s victory Sunday, Amoss said: “I’m driving the bus. Ron is my GPS.”

Whatever they decide, Paolucci is happy that War Story is in his stable. “Everything this horse has done has been exceptional,” Paolucci said. “He’s a nice animal.”

Ria Antonia no longer is in his stable. She was sold for $1.8 million to Katsumi Yoshida at the Fasig-Tipton November sale and is beginning a breeding career in Japan. “I’m happy I don’t have to watch her racing for someone else,” Paolucci said. “She gave me the greatest thrill of my life winning that Breeders’ Cup race.”