War of Will joins War Front's multi-surface club

War of Will joined an elite club with his narrow victory in last Friday’s Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile on the Keeneland turf. The 2019 Preakness Stakes winner, War of Will is the third horse to win both an American classic and a Grade 1 race on the turf, joining the legendary Secretariat and the popular California Chrome.

War of Will also joined another, larger group of horses – those who showcase the versatility of their sire, War Front.

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Standing at Claiborne Farm, War Front has ascended to become the nation’s most expensive sire, with an advertised stud fee of $250,000, thanks to his international racetrack success and commercial popularity. While he is known as a standout turf sire at many distances, he broke through with his first Grade 1-winning males around two turns on dirt last year in Omaha Beach and War of Will, and is the sire of several millionaires who have excelled on multiple surfaces.

Declaration of War was a multiple Group 1 winner on turf in Europe before making his only start on dirt in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Classic, finishing a close third. He is joined by international competitors such as Lines of Battle, whose multiple wins on synthetic included the Group 2 U.A.E. Derby. He was later a Group 1 winner on turf in Hong Kong and earned more than $2.6 million.

Departing, who earned more than $1.9 million, won the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby, Grade 2 Super Derby, and Grade 3 Illinois Derby on dirt, and the Grade 2 Firecracker Handicap on turf. Just missing millionaire status was The Factor, a Grade 1-winning sprinter on both dirt and synthetic.