War Emblem has final work
By BRAD FREE
ARCADIA, Calif. - In his last workout before the final start of his career, speedball War Emblem became a stretch-runner.
War Emblem went slow early and fast late in a seven-furlong work Saturday at Santa Anita, where the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner is preparing for the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday at Arlington International.
While the work by War Emblem was uneventful, a work scheduled for Saturday at Hollywood Park for Momentum was canceled because of an injury that will prevent him from running in the Breeders' Cup.
War Emblem worked Saturday at noon. Under exercise rider Dana Barnes, he broke off at the seven-furlong pole and got the first quarter in 25.24 seconds under a strong hold. He picked up the tempo on the backstretch, getting the next quarter in 24.64 (a half in 49.88).
Into the far turn, Barnes let out a notch, and War Emblem responded. He whistled the the next quarter-mile in 23.03 (six furlongs in 1:12.91). With Barnes urging him, War Emblem finished with a final eighth in 11.67 for a seven-furlong time of 1:24.58. He galloped out a mile in 1:36.80.
Trainer Bob Baffert was pleased, while offering an appropriate perspective on the work. Looking at his stopwatch as War Emblem galloped out, Baffert recognized the slow early pace contributed to War Emblem's finish.
"Hopefully, we'll get those fractions in the [Breeders' Cup]," he said, smiling.
It isn't likely. Along with War Emblem, front-runners E Dubai and Medaglia d'Oro insure a testing pace in the Classic.
"The three of us have the same style," Baffert said. "But you can't worry about that, you'll drive yourself crazy. All I know is he's doing great. How he draws and how he runs, you can't worry about it."
He added that War Emblem "is happy, he's put on some weight, he looks good."
Asked if War Emblem is as good now as he was going into the Kentucky Derby, Baffert said, "He is, and he's stronger, too."
War Emblem has won seven races and $3,491,000 from 12 starts, including front-running wins in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Haskell Invitational, and Illinois Derby. Owned by The Thoroughbred Corp., War Emblem is a leading candidate for Horse of the Year honors.
He will be ridden Saturday by Victor Espinoza
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