For the second time this weekend, WAR OF WILL registered a winner when The Warden won an Oaklawn Park Maiden Special Weight against his elders.
The Ron Moquett trainee was first out of the gate in the one-mile dirt race and set an easy pace up front. Kept well in hand by Ricardo Santana Jr., he didn’t face much pressure until late in the far turn. He had to deal with that runner pushing him during the early part of the stretch and briefly lost the lead, but wasn’t deterred.
He gained the lead back from that foe with that one dropping back late, but Darrow made a late run at the lead as well to keep The Warden’s margin to three quarters of a length at the end.
Owned by Jeffrey Parthemore and Anthony Spinazzola, the Cove Springs-bred colt was a $170,000 2-year-old purchase last year.
The Warden is out of the three-time winning mare Full of Zip, who has a winner and a placer from three runners. Full Of Zip is a half-sister to the stakes winners Don Dulce, Sweet Relish and stakes performers Wherethewestbegins and Secret Passage among the 12 winners out of her own dam.
That stakes placed Sky Classic mare is out of dual Grade 1 winner Ms. Eloise, who produced six stakes performers overall.
This is the fourth winner of the year for WAR OF WILL, putting him 10th among all second crop sires.