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War Front (horse)

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War Front
War Front in 2016
SireDanzig
GrandsireNorthern Dancer
DamStarry Dreamer
DamsireRubiano
SexStallion
Foaled (2002-02-11) February 11, 2002 (age 22)
Paris, Kentucky, U.S.
CountryUnited States
ColorBay
BreederJoseph Allen
OwnerJoseph Allen
TrainerH. Allen Jerkens
JockeyRichard Migliore
José Santos
John Velazquez
Record13: 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, The Factor, Roly Poly, U S Navy Flag, Omaha Beach, Siege of Orleans and War of Will.

Background

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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 Rubiano 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

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2004: Two-year-old season

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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

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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

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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

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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]

However, by 2025 his standing fee had been lowered from $100,000 to $75,000.[22]

Notable progeny

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His most notable progeny so far are:

c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding

Foaled Name Sex Major Wins
2008 Data Link c Maker's Mark Mile Stakes[23]
2008 Summer Soiree f Del Mar Oaks[24]
2008 Sweet Orange[a] c Hong Kong Classic Mile (HK)
2008 The Factor c Pat O'Brien Handicap, Malibu Stakes[25]
2009 Declaration of War c Queen Anne Stakes, International Stakes[26]
2010 Helene Super Star[b] c Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup (HK)
2010 Jack Milton c Maker's Mark Mile Stakes
2011 War Command c Dewhurst Stakes[27]
2012 Avenge f Rodeo Drive Stakes
2012 Peace and War f Alcibiades Stakes
2013 Air Force Blue c Phoenix Stakes, National Stakes, Dewhurst Stakes[28]
2013 American Patriot c Maker's Mark Mile Stakes
2013 Hit It A Bomb c Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf
2014 Brave Anna f Cheveley Park Stakes
2014 Homesman g Underwood Stakes, Australian Cup
2014 Lancaster Bomber c Tattersalls Gold Cup
2014 Roly Poly f Falmouth Stakes, Prix Rothschild, Sun Chariot Stakes
2015 Civil Union f Flower Bowl Stakes
2015 U S Navy Flag c Middle Park Stakes, Dewhurst Stakes, July Cup
2016 Fog of War c Summer Stakes (Canada)
2016 Halladay c Fourstardave Handicap
2016 Omaha Beach c Arkansas Derby, Santa Anita Sprint Championship, Malibu Stakes
2016 War of Will c Preakness Stakes, Maker's Mark Mile Stakes
2019 Annapolis c Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes


Notes:

  1. ^ Sweet Orange raced as Warning Flag in Ireland before he was exported to Hong Kong in 2011
  2. ^ Helene Super Star raced as Lines of Battle in Ireland, UAE and US. He was sold to Hong Kong and renamed

Pedigree

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Pedigree of War Front, bay stallion, 2002[2]
Sire
Danzig (USA)
b. 1977 		Northern Dancer (CAN)
b. 1961 		Nearctic
br. 1954 		Nearco
Lady Angela
Natalma
b. 1957 		Native Dancer
Almahmoud
Pas de Nom (USA)
b. 1968 		Admiral's Voyage
b. 1959 		Crafty Admiral
Olympia Lou
Petitioner
b. 1952 		Petition
Steady Aim
Dam
Starry Dreamer (USA)
gr. 1994 		Rubiano (USA)
gr. 1987 		Fappiano
b. 1977 		Mr. Prospector
Killaloe
Ruby Slippers
gr. 1982 		Nijinsky
Moon Glitter
Lara's Star (USA)
b. 1981 		Forli
ch. 1963 		Aristophanes
Trevisa
True Reality
b. 1973 		Round Table
Secret Promise

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

References

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  1. ^ "War Front Retired To Claiborne". November 8, 2006. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "War Front pedigree". Equineline. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  3. ^ "Leading Sire Danzig Dead at 29". BloodHorse. January 3, 2006. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  4. ^ "Starry Dreamer". Equibase. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "War Front". Equibase. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  6. ^ "Pedigree Analysis: Is Bigger Always Better?". The Blood-Horse.
  7. ^ Track chart equibase.com
  8. ^ Track chart equibase.com
  9. ^ Track chart equibase.com
  10. ^ Track chart equibase.com
  11. ^ Track chart equibase.com
  12. ^ Track chart equibase.com
  13. ^ Track chart equibase.com
  14. ^ Track chart equibase.com
  15. ^ Track chart equibase.com
  16. ^ Track chart equibase.com
  17. ^ Track chart equibase.com
  18. ^ a b "War Front Reclaims Dirt Sire Reputation". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  19. ^ "Stallions Archive - Claiborne Farm".
  20. ^ "War Front". Racing Post. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  21. ^ "The world's 10 most expensive stallions for 2016 | Topics: Sea The Stars, War Front, Galileo, Deep Impact, Medaglia D'Oro, Invincible Spirit, American Pharaoh, Frankel, Dubawi, Tapit". Thoroughbred Racing Commentary. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  22. ^ "Claiborne Posts Fees; Prince of Monaco to Join Roster Prince of Monaco is targeting the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar". bloodhorse.com. Claiborne Farm. October 17, 2024. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  23. ^ "Data Link". Racing Post. 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  24. ^ "Summer Soiree". Racing Post. 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  25. ^ "The Factor". Racing Post. 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  26. ^ "Declaration Of War". Racing Post. 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  27. ^ "War Command". Racing Post. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  28. ^ "Air Force Blue". Racing Post. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
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