War of Will will make the switch to dirt in the upcoming Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) on Nov. 7 at Keeneland, after being campaigned on turf in his three starts of 2020.
Last year at three, the son of WAR FRONT made a name for himself amongst his generation of dirt runners. He captured the Preakness Stakes (G1), the Lecomte Stakes (G3) and the Risen Star Stakes presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) earlier in the year.
This year, as a four-year-old, War of Will has run all three of his starts in Grade 1 company, highlighted by an emphatic victory in the Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes (G1T) on July 10 at Keeneland. Last out on September 19, the son of WAR FRONT ran a game third in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1T) behind 3-time champion and Horse of the Year Starship Jubilee.
“It would be nice—he’s already a grade 1 winner on the turf this year—to win another grade 1 on the dirt,” trainer Mark Casse told BloodHorse. “This will probably be his last start I would say before he retires to stud.”
The dual-surface Grade 1-winning American classic hero has earned over $1.8 million. War of Will will join his sire of sires WAR FRONT at Claiborne Farm for the 2021 breeding season.