Ron Paolucci's War Story will bypass the June 6 Belmont Stakes in favor of the June 20 Ohio Derby at Thistledown, the owner confirmed May 26.
The 3-year-old son of Northern Afleet , who finished 16th in the May 2 Kentucky Derby last time out, breezed five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 at Churchill Downs May 26 for trainer Tom Amoss. Track clockers caught him in splits of :12 4/5 seconds, :25 2/5 seconds, :37 4/5 seconds, :50 seconds, and out six furlongs in 1:14.
"He worked so good today, I don't want to blow a race," Paolucci said. "He's not a real huge horse, and to ask him to go a mile and a half at this stage in his career, I don't know if it's in the best interests of the horse. What if he runs a mile and a half and it knocks him out forever? He's a gelding, so there's no added value other than winning the race.
"I'll be 50-1 or 60-1 in the Belmont and probably 2-1 to win the Ohio Derby."
On the heels of two banner years, ThistleDown Racino increased the purse this season for the 1-1/16-mile Ohio Derby to $500,000. This marks the second year in a row that the purse for the Ohio Derby has seen a significant increase, up from just $100,000 in 2013.
Typically raced in July, the Ohio Derby has been moved up to claim an earlier spot on the summer calendar. The new date positions the Ohio Derby between the famed Triple Crown races and the prestigious stakes races that occur across the country later in the summer.
"That's my home track," said Paolucci, an Ohio native. "I'll be happy on the 20th of June when I run in the Ohio Derby, but not on June 6 when I'm watching the Belmont. I wanted to run in the Belmont so bad, because it's a chance to be a part of history, but he can't run in both so I guess I'll go with the easier, better spot."
Bred in Kentucky by Jack Swain III out of the Pulpit mare Belle Watling, War Story is owned by Paolucci's Loooch Racing Stables, Christopher Dunn, and Glenn Ellis, who purchased the gelding from Harry Rosenblum after his first start.
War Story factored in the 3-year-old prep series in Louisiana prior to his Derby run; he was second in the Jan. 17 LeComte Stakes and second in the Feb. 21 Risen Star Stakes, and ran third in the March 28 Louisiana Derby.