Peter Vegso’s 4-year-old Florida homebred War Monger appears to be a star on the rise after a powerful stretch charge carried him to victory under jockey Kent Desormeaux in Saturday’s $500,000 OBS Sunshine Millions Turf at Gulfstream Park, finishing 1 ¼ lengths clear of Herman Heinlein’s 4-year-old Soldier’s Dancer, who also made a late run to be second in the 1 1/8 miles grass course feature.
Trained by Bill Mott, War Monger is a son of War Chant and was winning for the fourth time in seven career starts, and first since making a big impression winning the Rutgers Stakes on Breeders’ Cup weekend at Monmouth Park in late October. War Monger went off as the 9-5 favorite in the field of 11 and was timed in 1:46:32 over the ‘firm’ course.
Harris Farms’ 6-year-old California-bred invader Lucky J.H. led the field to inside the eighth pole before giving way to the two closers, and held well for third, a length behind the runner-up.
Owner-Breeder Peter Vegso : “I’m looking at the monitors and I don’t know where to look. This is a ‘red letter’ day. It doesn’t get any better. We had been in a bit of a slump, like 1 for 40. But today we won early at Tampa, and then these two. We were 3-for-3 and Bill ran the table as well. It doesn’t get any better.”
Trainer Bill Mott : “There were no anxious moments by the time we got to Go Between because we (Mott stable) had already won twice and Peter (Vegso) had already won here. Then, even though he (Go Between) was all the way back there, I knew they were going 22 and 45, and no matter how fast the track is, they’ve got to come back to you. He’ll probably get a week in the round pen and roll around in the sand. We don’t have to do anything with him in any hurry. We’re under no pressure to get into any race. At this point, because he ran so well on the Cushion Track, we’d have to think about the Santa Anita Handicap, but we’re in no hurry.
You imagine days like this. I was not surprised by War Monger. I was not surprised by the filly (Quite a Bride), although they really must have a great turf course out there because she really loves firm turf, and with all the weather they had, it must have been in great shape to have been something she liked.”
“When he switches off (leads), he’s got a nice punch. He ran well today. Is he better at a flat mile? I can’t tell you. He didn’t have a good trip. It’s amazing, when those jocks have a lot of horse, they are able to find room. I have nothing picked out (next). ”
(Note: Mott also won two Sunshine Millions race at Santa Anita on Saturday with Haras Santa Maria de Araras’s Quite a Bride in the $500,000 Filly & Mare Turf and Peter Vegso’s 5-year-old Go Between in the $1 million Classic.)