Longshot Honor In War Surprises in Woodford Reserve

A longshot was due, and it came at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby Day undercard in the form of Honor in War, who won the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT) under David Flores at 24-1.

The win was popular for the locals. Honor in War is owned by Will Wolford, who lives in Louisville and is a former pro football player, along with partners under the 3rd Turn Stables name. He is trained by Louisvillian Paul McGee.

"It's great that his first stakes win could be a grade I," said McGee. "I'm not too surprised because he has been doing well, but I guess I'm pleasantly surprised."

The winner, a 4-year-old Lord at War colt, was coming off an allowance turf score at Keeneland. He was always prominent in the running of the Woodford Reserve, Flores sitting off Patrol and Even the Score early. The two favorites, Rouvres and With Anticipation, were never close.

Bobby Frankel, who had won three stakes on the card, sent out Requette to run second.

"He ran pretty strong," said jockey Edgar Prado. "The pace was not that fast early. We had a beautiful trip, saved ground. I like the way he finished. His last five-sixteenths, he was really running. We'll see a lot more from him in the future."

Patrol hung on for third, a half-length ahead of last year's Kentucky Derby third-place finisher, Perfect Drift. With Anticipation, Century City, Rouvres, and Even the Score completed the order of finish.

"We thought it was a pretty good effort," said With Anticipation's trainer, Jonathan Sheppard. "I think it was a good race to move forward from. He made a good run late for not having run for nine months and carrying 123. I am very happy with the performance."

Honor In War returned $50.60, $17 and $7.80. Requette paid $8.80 and $5.80 and Patrol was worth $6.40. The exacta paid $462.20.

The winner ran the nine furlongs on firm turf in 1:46.67.

Honor In War was bred in Kentucky by Mill Ridge Farm and W. Lazy T. (Chart, Equibase)