After knocking on the door in graded stakes company earlier this year with a third in the G1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, War Correspondent came through in a major way for his sire, War Front, with a confident score in the G3 Miami Mile at the Florida track April 29.
Ridden by jockey Tyler Gaffalione, War Correspondent is the second graded stakes winner and 10th stakes horse of 2017 for War Front. He completed the one-mile turf event in 1:34.19.
“It was a perfect trip,” said Thomas Brandebourger, assistant to trainer Christophe Clement. “He’s a very genuine horse. He’s going to give you everything. When he’s right he is a very good horse.”
Sent to post as the 3-5 favorite, War Correspondent stalked pacesetter Applicator throughout the majority of the race before closing ground on the far turn and edging his way to the lead into the homestretch. When asked to run, the 7-year-old bay horse drew off to a solid victory for owners Calumet Farm, Sagamore Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.
“My horse broke out there running and the other horse (Applicator) was intent on going, so we just sat off of him. He relaxed beautifully. When I asked him to run, he just exploded,” Gaffalione said. “He was just out there cruising; he was on cruise control; and when I pushed the button, he was gone.”
War Correspondent also ran third in the 2015 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap and scored his first graded stakes victory in that year’s G3 Appleton Stakes at Gulfstream. Bred by Joseph Allen, he holds an overall record of 5-2-4 from 14 starts, for earnings of $330,989.
War Front is the sire of 59 stakes winners, including other 2017 black-type victors American Patriot (G1), Cambodia, Secretary at War, War Secretary and Whitcliffsofdover. Ranked North America’s #1 sire by stakes winners in 2016, he stands for $250,000 at Claiborne.
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