The regally-bred Masteroffoxhounds became WAR FRONT’s 53rd career graded stakes winner on Saturday with a victory in the San Marcos Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita.
Spending much of the 1 ¼ mile turf race galloping easily in second under Joel Rosario, Masteroffoxhounds wasn’t in a hurry to close the two length gap the leader had built on the field. That changed as they raced into the final turn and Masteroffoxhounds easily joined the leader. From there, he was confidently ridden in the stretch as he made easy work of the rest of the race.
The Rockingham Ranch-owned 4-year-old had plenty left as he crossed the wire 1 ¼ lengths in front for his first career stakes victory. Trained by Richard Baltas, the Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt-bred colt was winning his second straight race in the United States after starting his career in Ireland.
“He was moving pretty well for me,” said Rosario. “The whole time I was tracking the horse in front with a nice stride. I had a lot of confidence in my horse. I was keeping him focused a bit in the last part, but (he) was much the best in the end.”
Bred on the successful WAR FRONT x Galileo cross that has produced 11 stakes winners and 17 stakes performers overall, led by three Group 1 winners, the colt is out of a full sister to European champion and classic winner Magician and Grade 3 winner Apple Betty.
Masteroffoxhounds’ dam Outstanding was a successful racemare herself as a stakes winner and Grade 1-placed runner with Outstanding also having a 3-year-old WAR FRONT colt named Jeroboam.
Masteroffoxhounds wasn’t the only impressive winner for WAR FRONT on Saturday with Stop War putting on a show at the Fair Grounds.
Racing in an Allowance that was moved to a mile on the dirt, the 4-year-old filly was ready to run. She bolted out of the gate and easily outclassed the field. Building her lead at every call with James Graham aboard for Kelly Rubley, the Robert Evans homebred crossed the line nine lengths in front.
Out of a half-sister to Grade 1 winner and sire Forestry and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Cash Run, Stop War is a full sister to stakes winner and Grade 1-placed White Flag.