War Story will get shot in Dubai World Cup

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The well-traveled 8-year-old War Story will be adding to those frequent flyer miles and in a big way later this month when he journeys halfway around the world for his next start in the $12 million Dubai World Cup.

Owners John Guarnere and Glenn Ellis accepted an invitation Monday to take War Story, a fast-closing third in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup here earlier in the meet, to Dubai. They said the fact neither Maximum Security nor Midnight Bisou would run in the race following their respective first- and second-place finishes last weekend in the Saudi Cup was the primary reason behind their decision.

“The field is kind of watered down a bit now, and it makes him more of a player,” Guarnere said.

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The original plan for War Story following his big effort in the Pegasus was to run in Saturday’s Challenger at Tampa Bay Downs as a prep for the Charles Town Classic, a race he’s run in each of the last three years, finishing second in 2018 and third in 2017 and 2019.

“I’m very excited about going to Dubai for the first time,” said trainer Elizabeth Dobles, who has won eight races during the 2019-20 Championship meet and took over training duties for War Story prior to his victory in the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday on Dec. 14. “Since the Pegasus, we trained him easily at first, and once we figured out what our race plans were, that’s when we let him get more serious.”

War Story will work at Palm Meadows on Saturday and ship to Dubai on March 17, with Dobles planning to leave the day before to be on site when he arrives.

“He’ll have an easy work tomorrow, weather permitting, we don’t want him doing too much before he travels,” said Dobles who confirmed that Luis Saez, who rode War Story to victory in the Harlan’s Holiday and won the Saudi Cup aboard Maximum Security last weekend, would have the mount again in the World Cup.