War Front (horse)

War Front
War Front in 2016
Sire	Danzig
Grandsire	Northern Dancer
Dam	Starry Dreamer
Damsire
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	(2002-02-11) February 11, 2002 (age 20) Paris, Kentucky, U.S.
Country	United States
Color	Bay
Breeder	Joseph Allen
Owner	Joseph Allen
Trainer	H. Allen Jerkens
Jockey	Richard Migliore José Santos John Velazquez
Record	13: 4–5–1
Earnings	$424,205
Major wins
Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (2006)

War Front (foaled February 11, 2002) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. In 2006 he won the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap and finished second in the Forego Handicap and Vosburgh Stakes. Since retiring from racing he has become one of the most expensive sires in the world. His offspring include Declaration of War, , Roly Poly, U S Navy Flag, Omaha Beach and War of Will.

Background[]

War Front is a bay horse bred by Joseph Allen and was foaled on February 11, 2002 at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky.^[1][2] He was sired by Danzig, who won three minor races, but was then retired to stud undefeated as a result of knee problems. He went on to become a successful stallion and was champion sire of North America in 1991, 1992 and 1993. Amongst his other progeny are Chief's Crown, Dance Smartly, Danehill, Dayjur, Green Desert, Hard Spun and Lure.^[3] War Front's dam is Starry Dreamer, a daughter of who won six races and was placed in a number of graded races.^[4] War Front was trained by H. Allen Jerkens.^[5] At maturity he reached 15.3 hands (63 inches, 160 cm) high.^[6]

Racing career[]

2004: Two-year-old season[]

War Front made his racecourse debut on December 18, 2004 in a six-furlong maiden race at Aqueduct. He never challenged the leaders and finished in seventh place behind winner Diamond Wildcat.^[7] This was War Front's only race as a two-year-old.^[5]

Racing silks of Joseph Allen.

2005: Three-year-old season[]

War Front's second race came on January 16, 2005 in a one-mile maiden at Aqueduct. After stumbling at the start he recovered to be up with the leaders. He raced three horses wide around the bend, before fading slightly in the final furlong, finishing in third place behind winner Tashdeed.^[8] War Front did not race again until August 31, when he was one of six horses to run in a six-furlong maiden at Saratoga. Jockey José Santos sent War Front into a clear lead and he drew away in the closing stages to win by over ten lengths from runner-up Master Command.^[9] War Front followed this up by winning an allowance race at Belmont Park on September 18. After being bumped by another horse at the start, he contested the lead for most of the race, before pulling clear in the home straight to win by six lengths from Stars Above.^[10] On October 10, War Front stepped up in class for the Princelet Stakes, which is run of one mile and half a furlong at Belmont Park. After racing near the front on the inside, he drew clear when José Santos got him to quicken, and won the race by eight lengths from Skagway.^[11] War Front's final race of 2005 was the Discovery Handicap, where he finished in sixth place behind winner Magna Graduate.^[12]

2006: Four-year-old season[]

On January 7, 2006, War Front finished second in the Mr. Prospector Handicap at Gulfstream Park, a neck behind winner Gaff.^[13] The following month, War Front started as favorite for the Deputy Minister Handicap. After racing near the front in the early stages, War Front drew clear inside the final furlong, but was caught near the line by winner Universal Form, finishing a length behind him in second place.^[14] War Front then had a break from racing, returning on July 16 for the Tom Fool Handicap, where he again finished as the runner-up, beaten a neck by Silver Train.^[15] On his next start, the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap on August 12, War Front started as the favorite and was ridden by regular jockey José Santos. He was up near the front as the six-runner field as the field went into the turn, before accelerating to take the lead while racing four horses wide. In the finishing straight he pulled steadily away to win by two and a half lengths from Judiths Wild Rush, who was a further one and a half lengths clear of third-placed Mass Media.^[16] Three weeks later, War Front raced at Grade I level for the first time when he contested the Forego Handicap. He bumped with Silver Wagon at the start and then raced up with the pace. He challenged in the finishing stretch, but could not get past winner Pomeroy and faded in the final stages to finish in second place, two and a quarter lengths behind Pomeroy, and a neck ahead of third-placed Friendly Island.^[17] Later in the year, War Front finished second in the Vosburgh Stakes. In his final race he finished seventh behind winner Thor's Echo in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.^[5]

Stud career[]

War Front's son Declaration of War

War Front was retired to stud at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky. Expectations were initially moderate, and his stud fee dipped to a low of $10,000 in 2011. That same year though, his first crop turned age three and several of them became stakes winners, both in America on dirt and then in Europe on turf. "He started out with more of a reputation as a dirt sire", said Walker Hancock, president of Claiborne. "It wasn't until he had two winners at Royal Ascot (Declaration of War and War Command) on the same day that he got dubbed a turf sire."^[18]

Thanks in part to the support of Coolmore Stud, he started attracting better quality mares and his stud fee steadily increased. His stud fee for 2018 and 2019 was $250,000 (increased from $200,000 for 2016 and $150,000 for 2015 and 2014). This was tied for the highest fees in North America for 2019 and is among the highest in the world.^{[18][19][20][21]}

His most notable progeny so far are:

• Data Link – a bay horse foaled in 2008 who won the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes,^[22] and now also stands as a stallion at Claiborne Farm.^[23]
• Summer Soiree – a bay mare foaled in 2008 who won the Del Mar Oaks.^[24]
• – a gray horse foaled in 2008 who won the Grade 1 Pat O'Brien Handicap and Malibu Stakes as a three-year-old.^[25] He now stands as a stallion in Kentucky for a fee of $15,000.^[26]
• Declaration of War – a bay horse foaled in 2009 who won the Queen Anne Stakes and International Stakes in 2013, before finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Classic that year.^[27] He now stands as a stallion for Coolmore Stud in Ireland for a stud fee of €40,000 and shuttles to Australia for the southern hemisphere breeding season, where his fee is $22,000.^[28]
• Helene Super Star- foaled in 2010, won the 2013 UAE Derby and ran in the Kentucky Derby for Aidan O'Brien named Lines of Battle. He was sold to Hong Kong, renamed and put into training with Anthony S. Cruz.
• War Command – a bay colt foaled in 2011, who won the Coventry Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes as a two-year-old.^[29]
• Due Diligence – Foaled in 2011, finished second to Slade Power in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
• Air Force Blue – bay colt, 2013, won Phoenix Stakes, National Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes in 2015.^[30]
• – bay colt, 2013, won Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (Grade 1) and won 3 races from 3 starts as a two-year-old.
• Brave Anna – bay filly, foaled 2014, won Cheveley Park Stakes.
• Homesman – brown gelding, foaled 2014, won Underwood Stakes and John F. Feehan Stakes.
• Lancaster Bomber – bay colt, foaled 2014, won Tattersalls Gold Cup.
• Roly Poly – bay filly, 2014, won Falmouth Stakes, Prix Rothschild, Sun Chariot Stakes.
• U S Navy Flag – bay colt, 2015, won Middle Park Stakes, Dewhurst Stakes, July Cup.
• Omaha Beach – bay colt, 2016, won Arkansas Derby, Santa Anita Sprint Championship, Malibu Stakes.
• War of Will – bay colt, 2016, won 2019 Preakness Stakes, Maker's Mark Mile Stakes.

Pedigree[]

Note: b. = Bay, br. = Brown, ch. = Chestnut, gr. = Gray

References[]