War Trace Has Real Test

The half-length margin of victory doesn’t do justice to how good War Trace’s performance was in his maiden victory March 17 at Gulfstream Park.

The 3-year-old Storm Cat colt, who had shown nothing in two starts on the main track, overcame a horrendous beginning in his initial outing on the grass but pulled away in the final two furlongs to win comfortably under jockey Edgar Prado.

Owned by Joan and John Phillips and trained by James Toner, War Trace will face tougher today in the $100,000 Forerunner, a 1 1/8-mile grass affair for 3-year-olds.

Bred by his owners, War Trace is out of the brilliant turf mare Memories Of Silver, who won a Grade I (the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup) over the local layout several years ago.

The horse to beat in the Forerunner is Prince Arch. A son of Arch owned by Ray Cottrell Sr. and trained by Ken McPeek, he was second to the unbeaten Shakespeare in the Caltech in his most recent start at Gulfstream Park on March 20.

Race of the day: Iron’s Halo, who won the Phoenix Gold Cup at 9-1 on March 13 at Turf Paradise, returns to Santa Anita for today’s sixth, a $52,000 allowance at six furlongs.

The 5-year-old Halo Sunshine horse was second, beaten a neck by Valleys Passion, in his last race here on Feb. 25. Tyler Baze will ride.

One for the road: L’Oiseau d’Argent is perfect in two starts in this country for high-percentage trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and can remain that way in today’s fourth, a $67,000 allowance at 1 1/8 miles on the grass, at Keeneland. John Velazquez will ride the 5-year-old Silver Hawk gelding, whose last victory was flattered when Stage Call, the horse he beat, came back to win at Keeneland last week.

Exotically speaking: A place pick all using Och Tamale in the first, Whatsthenameman in the second, Natural Style and Gobi Dan in the third, Silver Diablo and Gratis in the fourth, Wild Babe in the fifth, Iron Halo and Revello in the sixth, Electric Chair in the seventh and Hour Outlaw, Grey Misty and Battle Red in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/236. Money: Previous day/meet total: $12/$1,273.20. Total money bet: $1,378.