Editor’s Note: This article was published in The Paulick’s Report.
After back-to-back runner-up finishes 16 days apart last month, Anthony Minto’s 4-year-old gelding War to Remember gutted out a popular head decision Saturday (April 11) at Gulfstream Park to give Christopher Hall his first career training victory.
By War of Will, War to Remember ($3.20) completed 5½ furlongs over the all-weather Tapeta course in 1:04.78 to graduate in the maiden claimer for 3-year-olds and up, his 13th career start and third since being claimed for $12,500 February 6 from trainer Mark Casse.
Ridden by Anthony Thomas, like Hall a native of Jamaica, War to Remember broke alertly and was in front after a quarter-mile in :22.82, briefly lost the lead at the three-eighths pole but regained it at the top of the stretch and held off Dew for the breakthrough win.
“It feels good. He was the favorite, so I knew he had a big shot,” Hall said. “I thought he would win by further, but I’m glad he won.”
Hall, 52, had five seconds and two thirds with 18 prior starters dating back to his first, a runner-up finish by Stone Love last July 18. He currently has seven horses stabled at Gulfstream.
“I’ve been training on my own for a year now, but I’ve been dealing with horses for almost 18 years here in Florida,” Hall said. “So far, so good. We had five seconds and now we have this win.”
Hall was playfully doused with a bucket of water by War to Remember’s groom after posing for pictures in the winner’s circle.
“I had a lot of friends here,” he said, “so that was nice.”
