War of Will took scenic route to Kentucky Derby

Horsemen would go anywhere to find a Kentucky Derby horse, and this year’s prospective runners come from many avenues – homebreds born as close as Kentucky or as far away as Japan; runners purchased at major North American auction houses such as Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton; and even claiming races.

Among those, War of Will’s journey has been roundabout. The colt was born in Kentucky but took a side trip to France, where bloodstock agent Justin Casse, brother of trainer Mark Casse, purchased him on behalf of owner Gary Barber.

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War of Will, by popular international sire War Front, is out of the stakes-winning Sadler’s Wells mare Visions of Clarity, the dam of Irish champion juvenile Pathfork. War of Will failed to meet his reserve with a high bid of $175,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September yearling sale in the Lane’s End consignment. Irish consignor Norman Williamson recognized the appeal the colt’s pedigree would have in a European market and privately purchased him to offer at the 2018 Arqana May breeze-up sale of 2-year-olds. There, Justin Casse purchased him for $298,550.

“I always call Gary when I find something that I like,” Justin Casse told Fair Grounds staff this year. “I didn’t really run it by Mark because he trusts me, so I called Gary because one of the first horses I bought for him was Jack Milton, who also was by War Front. I bought him two other stakes horses by War Front, so he knew that the sire worked. I called him only 30 minutes before he went through the ring, told him he’d be reasonably priced. He breezed well at the sale, he was a good mover, had a good turn of foot and speed for his size. The rest is history.”

Jack Milton went on to win the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile. War of Will won the Lecomte and Risen Star stakes at Fair Grounds before finishing ninth when he lost his footing at the break of the Louisiana Derby there. He has come back to work solidly, firing three consecutive bullet works to put himself back in the Kentucky Derby conversation.

Meanwhile, Justin Casse stays busy. His recent purchases include a $1.3 million Into Mischief colt to top the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s spring sale of 2-year-olds in training. The colt recently joined Mark Casse’s string at Keeneland.

“Justin has been great for me and for our team,” Mark Casse said. “We have a large stable, and I concentrate on that. I was trying to do both [the racing and sales]. But Justin and I have spent a lot of time together, and I think we complement each other well.”

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