Annapolis was back in the stakes winners circle on Saturday when the WAR FRONT son won the Saranac Stakes (G3) at Saratoga.
Going off as a heavy favorite in the 1 1/16 mile turf race, the 3-year-old was first out of the gate and easily took up pacemaking duties. He stayed in touch with the field for much of the run until they hit the far turn and he poured it on to show exactly what he was the favorite.
Going into the final furlong Annapolis had a five-length lead and extended it to 5 ½ lengths from there while geared down.
“He’s a nice horse,” jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. said. There wasn’t too much speed in the race, so he controlled the race. He was nice and relaxed out there the whole time and was there when I asked him to go. He was the best horse in the race. That’s a workout for him. He’s pretty nice.”
It was the third stakes win for the Bass Stables homebred, who has never been worse than second in six career starts. The Todd Pletcher trained Annapolis earned a Grade 1 placing last out when second in the Saratoga Derby (G1) also at Saratoga.
“We [think highly of him] and feel like a mile might suit him perfectly and so we’ll see where we fit, but he’s a big, strong colt physically. He seems like the type that would handle that step up in age,” trainer Todd Pletcher said, noting that his next start is likely the Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland in early October.
Annapolis is out of the Grade 2 winner and multiple Grade 1-placed My Miss Sophia, who also has a WAR FRONT yearling colt.
WAR FRONT registered three stakes winners in three different countries on Saturday with Annapolis one of two from his successful 2019 crop. That group is striking at 10.42% stakes winners and an astonishing 31.25% stakes performers.