War Story, You're to Blame go at it again in Temperence Hill

ELMONT, N.Y. – You’re to Blame beat War Story by a neck in the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup four weeks ago, but there are a few tangibles that could help War Story turn the tables when the two meet in Sunday’s $200,000 Temperence Hill Invitational going 1 5/8 miles on dirt at Belmont Park.

In the Greenwood Cup, at 1 1/2 miles, War Story was kept several paths off the rail by Kendrick Carmouche and You’re to Blame, who tracked War Story from second, outfinished him along the rail.

Trainer Jorge Navarro said he told Carmouche – who was riding the horse for the first time – that War Story doesn’t like horses to his outside. Navarro said he felt Carmouche overcompensated.

“I think that’s what cost us the race,” Navarro said. “He thought he needed to be that wide. It was the first time he rode him – I can’t be mad at him. The horse ran a big race.”

With Carmouche sidelined with a broken leg, Javier Castellano is reunited with War Story. Castellano has ridden War Story five times and guided him to a victory in the Grade 2 Brooklyn Stakes going 1 1/2 miles at Belmont in 2017.

In the Greenwood Cup, War Story was giving You’re to Blame five pounds. Saturday, both horses carry 124 pounds. Earlier this year, at Tampa Bay Downs, War Story beat You’re to Blame by seven lengths in the Challenger Stakes. War Story was giving You’re to Blame eight pounds that day.

You’re to Blame has won his last two starts, both since trainer Todd Pletcher removed blinkers from his equipment.

“He’s always been consistent,” Pletcher said. “Just trying to find his niche. Hopefully, we’ve found it now.”

Six horses were entered in the Temperence Hill, but Carlino was also entered in Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup. He was expected to run in the Gold Cup, provided the main track was fast, trainer Mark Hennig said.

Rocketry is trying dirt for the first time after going 3 for 14 on turf. Archanova, third in last year’s Temperence Hill and fourth in the Greenwood Cup, and G Zap complete the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

War Story, by Northern Afleet
Last 3 Beyers: 97-92-95

◗ May have given up too much ground in the Greenwood Cup.

◗ Could be the primary speed breaking from post 5.

You’re to Blame, by Distorted Humor
Last 3 Beyers: 97-98-96

◗ Figures to be prominent early under John Velazquez. If War Story doesn’t take the lead, You’re to Blame likely will.

“We’ll let our horse find a rhythm, hopefully, and go from there,” Pletcher said.