War Chant (far left, red cap) blew by his rivals in the last eighth of the Breeders' Cup Mile.
Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) winner War Chant will not start in Sunday's Early Times Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park and will be retired to stand to stud beginning next year, owner-breeder Irving Cowan confirmed Wednesday."The trainer (Neil Drysdale) and I spoke recently," said Cowan. "The horse is not ready to run. He had not bounced back as quickly from the Breeders' Cup as we had hoped. My wife (Marjorie) and I really agonized what seemed like an eternity over whether to keep him in training or not. But there comes a time when economics come into play and dictate the decision. He has a beautiful pedigree, and the demand for him was great."War Chant (Danzig--Hollywood Wildcat, by Kris S.) won five of seven career races and earned over $1.1 million. Besides the Breeders' Cup Mile, War Chant earned victories in the San Rafael Stakes (gr. II) and the Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile Stakes (gr. IIT) and finished second in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I).War Chant will stand at Robert N. Clay's Three Chimneys Farm for a fee of $75,000."His stretch kick in winning the Breeders' Cup was as great a thrill as I have enjoyed in racing," Cowan continued. "Neil has a 2-year-old half-sister by Storm Cat named Double Cat out there. Hopefully she will give us some more thrills."
