War Story Skips Southwest, Opting for Risen Star Stakes

War Story, one of the most exciting sophomores based at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots will return to the New Orleans oval after shipping to Hot Springs, Arkansas, for Oaklawn Park’s Grade III $300,000 Southwest Stakes and drawing the 11-post of 12 in that Monday feature. Owned by Loooch Racing Stables and Chris Dunn, War Story is trained by Fair Grounds’ leading conditioner Tom Amoss and exits a sharp second after a troubled trip in its Grade III $200,000 Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 17.

“It just didn’t work out,” Amoss said. “We drew an outside post-position and there’s a strong statistical negative to that post. Plus, there’s a forecast for dicey weather on Monday. He worked quite well at Oaklawn (on Wednesday).”

The chestnut gelding will now ship back to Fair Grounds to prepare for the 41st renewal of the Grade II $400,000 Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 21, where he is expected to meet Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s Lecomte winner International Star again. In a triad of career starts, the Kentucky-bred has two wins and a second and is regarded by many as a Triple Crown trail prospect to watch.