
War Story to Skip Belmont, Head to Ohio Derby
Ron Paolucci's War Story will bypass the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) in favor of the June 20 Ohio Derby (gr. III), the owner confirmed May 26.
Ron Paolucci's War Story will bypass the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) in favor of the June 20 Ohio Derby (gr. III), the owner confirmed May 26.
Louisiana Derby (gr. II) third-place finisher War Story put in his final workout for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) April 22 when the 3-year-old gelding breezed five furlongs in 1:02.
War Story, who placed in all three of Fair Grounds' top races for 3-year-olds, worked at Churchill Downs April 8 in preparation for a planned start in the 141st Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
WinStar Farm's Commissioner put away stubborn rival Sr. Quisqueyano March 28 at Gulfstream Park, winning the $150,000 Skip Away (gr. III) by a head after a prolonged battle.
Paolucci is Courageously Confident in Ria Antonia.
What makes a man take a longshot gamble, and how often can he expect to be on the winning end? In a restaurant on Bourbon Street, Ron Paolucci contemplated this question. "That's how you hit the home runs," he said.
The two leading candidates in the 2-year-old filly category -- Ria Antonia and She's a Tiger -- could only be separated by a photo finish themselves in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, and the order of finish was reversed.