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Pegasus World Cup Odds, Contender Profile: War Story

Pegasus World Cup Odds and Post Positions

By Jenny Kellner

War Story – Photo Courtesy of NYRA

The peripatetic gelding, now 8, will be making his third appearance in the Pegasus World Cup (G1), having finished fifth in 2017 and 10th in 2018, two years in which his earnings topped $1 million. Indeed, as he enters his seventh racing season, War Story has bankrolled more than $2.9 million, an impressive number considering he has never won more than two races a year, nor does he have a Grade 1 win on his resume.

What he does have is tenacity and a willingness to roll with the punches. He had eight different trainers for his first 18 races, and finally got some continuity when Jorge Navarro took over in 2017. War Story won but three races under Navarro’s tutelage but earned $2.3 million, beginning with his first appearance in the PWC and concluding with a second in the Greenwood Cup (G3) in October at Parx Racing.

Following that, his owners, Imaginary Stables and Glenn Ellis, sent to horse to rising young trainer Elizabeth Dobles, for whom he won the Harlan’s Holiday (G3) on Dec. 14. Although he has raced on Lasix for his whole career, his connections opted to accept an invitation to the Pegasus World Cup.

War Story

Odds: 30-1

Post position: No. 7

Jockey: Joel Rosario

Trainer: Elizabeth Dobles

Owner: Imaginary Stables and Glenn Ellis

Career record: 38-8-7-5

Career earnings: $2,984,996

Pedigree: Northern Afleet-Belle Watling, by Pulpit

Age: 8

Running style: Closer

Handicapping insights:

“8-year-old grinder an in-and-outer who needs a much easier spot.’’ – Ed McNamara

“Usually good for a stakes win or two every year, but never up at this level of competition with no in-the-money finishes in eight prior forays against Grade 1 competition.” – Noel Michaels

Notes: His win percentage may not be that impressive, but the veteran gelding has hit the board in 66 percent of his starts …War Story has had three recorded workouts since his victory in the Harlan’s Holiday, all at Palm Meadows and all at a half-mile: 50.70 on Dec. 28, 50.40 on Jan. 4 and 50.45 on Jan. 14 … Of his 38 starts, 29 have come in graded stakes, with three victories: the 2017 Brooklyn (G2), the Monmouth Cup (G3) and the Harlan’s Holiday (G3) … Harlan’s Holiday was the first graded stakes win for trainer Dobles, who went out on her own in 2016 … War Story has enjoyed the services of 19 different jockeys, including Hall of Famers Javier Castellano and Kent Desormeaux.

Pegasus World Cup Post Positions
PP Horse Jockey Trainer ML
1 True Timber Joe Bravo Kiaran McLaughlin 15-1
2 Tax Jose Ortiz Danny Gargan 8-1
3 Diamond Oops Julien Leparoux Patrick Biancone 15-1
4 Seeking the Soul John Velazquez Dallas Stewart 30-1
5 Omaha Beach (SCR) Mike Smith Richard Mandella SCR
6 Higher Power Flavien Prat John Sadler 6-1
7 War Story Joel Rosario Elizabeth Dobles 30-1
8 Mr Freeze Luis Saez Dale Romans 20-1
5 Spun to Run (SCR) Javier Castellano Juan Carlos Guerrero SCR
10 Mucho Gusto Irad Ortiz, Jr. Bob Baffert 9-2
11 Tenfold Tyler Gaffalione Steve Asmussen 30-1
12 Bodexpress Emisael Jaramillo Gustavo Delgado 30-1

Find more Pegasus World Cup Picks and Pegasus World Cup Turf Entries Profile here:

Mr Freeze

Next Shares

Diamond Oops

Spun to Run

Math Wizard

Channel Cat

Higher Power

Seeking the Soul

Mo Forza

Arklow

Tax

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