WAR FRONT’s multiple Grade 1-placed son Ancient Rome shipped to the United States from Europe to make a first career start in the country on Saturday to score a win in the Mint Millions Stakes (G3).
The $2 million one-mile Kentucky Downs turf race saw Ancient Rome break well before racing a few lengths off the leader around the unique track. Racing four paths wide around the turn, Ancient Rome was five wide as they turned in the stretch and he started to make a serious challenge for the win.
It took Ancient Rome much of the stretch to get to the longtime pacesetter, but he made it just in time to win by half a length. It was nearly an exacta for WAR FRONT when Smokin’ T just missed the second position by a head.
Bred by Coolmore and trained by Charlie Hills for Fitriani Hay, Ancient Rome has won six of his 16 starts with five other top three finishes including wins in France and England.
Ancient Rome is one of two stakes winners and three stakes performers out of the multiple graded stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Gagnoa. That mare also produced WAR FRONT’s Grade 3 winner Etoile, who is the dam of multiple stakes winner No Nay Mets, and the stakes placed Galateia.
Gagnoa is a three-quarter sister to Epsom Derby (G1) winner Pour Moi, Grade 3 winner and Grade 1-placed Dawn Patrol, stakes winner Kissed – who is also the dam of WAR FRONT’s stakes performer Leo Minor, and White Hot – who produced Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) winner Pizza Bianca.
WAR FRONT leads all active North American stallions in every stakes category by percentage with 12% stakes winners and 20% stakes performers led by 24 Grade 1 winners.