War of Will scratched from Sunshine Forever; will target Shoemaker Mile

War of Will’s return to the turf has been put on hold for a couple of weeks.

Trainer Mark Casse scratched War of Will, last year’s Preakness winner, from Saturday’s $75,000 Sunshine Forever Stakes and instead will point him to the Grade 1, $300,000 Shoemaker Mile, scheduled to be run at Santa Anita on May 25.

Though Santa Anita has not yet received final approval from Los Angeles County health officials to resume racing, officials with The Stronach Group seem confident they will, according to Casse. Santa Anita has not raced since March 22.

Casse said owner Gary Barber “wanted to take that shot” at the Shoemaker, a designated Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Mile in November at Keeneland. The paltry purse, contentious field, and the extreme outside draw in the 11-horse Sunshine Forever Stakes also contributed to the decision to scratch, Casse said.

:: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

“It’s not an easy spot for $75,000,” Casse said Saturday morning. “Terrible post. We probably have as good a shot at winning a Grade 1.”

Flavien Prat, a Southern California-based rider, would be aboard War of Will, Casse said.

War of Will went 0 for 4 on turf as a 2-year-old, but was second in the Grade 1 Summer Stakes. He has not raced since a ninth-place finish in last November’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita.

March to the Arch, third in the Grade 3 Appleton at Gulfstream on March 28, would also be pointed to the Shoemaker Mile, Casse said. He does not yet have a rider for that horse.

War of Will and March to the Arch are expected to ship to Southern California on May 21, Casse said.

Casse said had he not opted to send War of Will to the Shoemaker Mile, he would have sent the mare Got Stormy to Santa Anita for that race. Got Stormy, a finalist for the Eclipse Award in the female turf division last year, was beaten a neck by River Boyne in the Grade 1 Fred Kilroe Mile while facing males at Santa Anita on March 7. She will be pointed to next Saturday’s $75,000 Powder Break Stakes for fillies and mares going a mile on turf at Gulfstream, Casse said.