Lull made her 2018 debut a winning one, as she led throughout the majority of the Honey Fox Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park. Racing as a homebred for Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, the War Front filly held off a late charge by Res Ipsa to get the victory. On Leave, another daughter of War Front, was a close third.
Ridden by Jose Ortiz, Lull went to the front and set swift fractions of :22.44, :45.06 and 1:08.56. The winning time was 1:33.14 over a firm 1 1/16 mile course.
“We were expecting softer fractions than that, but she was going fast but very relaxed,” said Ortiz. “That was important in getting home.”
Christophe Clement trains Lull, whose first graded stakes score came in last year’s Autumn Miss Stakes (G3).
“Jose is a great rider, that’s why he rides so much for us,” said Clement. “We were a touch worried because it was her first time back, but we knew she was big enough to win. She’s top class, six, seven furlongs, a mile is probably her best. She’s a wonderful filly to be around. Belmont day is definitely on our radar for her.”
Lull is out of the winning Tiznow mare Quiet Now, who is a half-sister to 2005 Horse of the Year Saint Liam as well as Quiet Giant, the dam of 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner. Claiborne bought Quiet Now for $1.85 million at the 2011 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.
A leading international sire, War Front was the sire of 34 stakes horses in 2017, including Grade/Group 1 winners American Patriot, Avenge, Roly Poly, US Navy Flag, and War Flag. War Front stands for $250,000 at Claiborne.
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