WAR FRONT’s Smokin’ T returned to his winning ways on Saturday with a determined victory in the Appleton Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
The 5-year-old horse broke from one of the widest gates in the one-mile race before racing in midpack. Tucked into a rail spot before the field even hit the first turn, Smokin’ T was keen but listened to John Velazquez as he rated down the backstretch.
Switched to a wider path in the turn, he was desperate for a hole to open in front of him as much of the field battled for the lead in the shadow of a wire. Smokin’ T got just what he needed in the final strides and slipped between two runners to win by a head at the line.
Trained by Shug McGaughey for owner-breeder Dattt Farm, Smokin’ T was registering his sixth victory and 13th top three finish in 20 career starts to take his earnings to $790,310.
He’s the latest successful runner for his family as a son of the multiple graded stakes winner Wine Princess. That mare was carrying another foal by WAR FRONT when selling for $3 million to Dattt Farm in 2014. That one is the seven-time winner War Chest.
Also Grade 1-placed, Wine Princess is one of four stakes performers out of Horse of the Year Azeri. That mare is the daughter of another stakes winner in the Group 3 winning Zodiac Miss. This page also includes dual Grade 1 winner Silic.
This is the third stakes winner and ninth stakes performer of the year for WAR FRONT, tying him with stallions such as Gun Runner and Munnings by stakes winners and putting him above both by stakes performers.