The starting gate in $3,500 claiming races at Emerald Downs can have the feel of an equine old folks’ home. But there are few athletes more lovable than old warhorses, and the 10-year-old gelding War Chest, who will make his Emerald debut on Friday night in his 78th career race, is as cuddly as they come.
“He’s just so kind. He’s happy to train. We call him grandpa,” said Eliana Thompson, assistant to trainer Jorge Rosales, who happens to be her boyfriend. “Anyone could get on him.”
There’s typically very little upside claiming a 10-year-old, but Rosales and Thompson did just that when they took War Chest for $6,250 this past February at Turf Paradise for owner Ramon Chavarria-Delgado. The horse paid immediate dividends, winning three of four grass races in Phoenix before shipping to Canterbury Park in late spring.
“Ramon has been a really, really great owner to have,” said Thompson. “He probably thought we were crazy when Jorge and I called him and said, ‘Let’s buy a 10-year-old.’ But he said, ‘If you guys want him, you buy him.’ ”
After the conclusion of the Turf Paradise meet, War Chest was sent to Rafael Barraza’s barn at Canterbury, where the horse had enjoyed prior success. But War Chest responded with one of the worst three-race stanzas of his career, prompting his owner to ring up Thompson earlier this month.
“He just wasn’t running like he was in Phoenix, so Ramon called me and said, ‘You want to go get him?’ ” said Thompson. “So I hooked up my truck and trailer and drove to Minnesota a week and a half ago. He traveled really good and seems really happy.”
Despite his considerable seasoning, it’d be inaccurate to say War Chest has seen it all. Friday’s mile-long race 7, which will be run for a $9,500 purse, is War Chest’s first at Emerald Downs and the first time his connections have intentionally run him on dirt, with his only three starts on the surface coming when races were rained off the turf.
“The surface is still dirt, but it’s not really deep for him,” explained Thompson. “I think that’s why a lot of turf horses acclimate well here, because it’s not so deep. It’s not as hard on them.”
With nearly $300,000 in career earnings, War Chest prefers to come from off the pace, which likely will be set by the front-running Roister in a race that isn’t exactly brimming with speed. This is where War Chest’s experience figures to come in handy.
“War Chest has never wanted to have the lead. If he sat two or three off, he could be close and that would be fine, but I’ve watched him break really bad and be dead last, and you think he’s not gonna get it done and he does,” said Thompson. “He’s had 77 starts. He can kind of come off the pace or play from anywhere. As long as he gets a good, clean break, put him near the front. But if he doesn’t, I wouldn’t worry about him.”
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