War Stroll (Stroll), an impressive wire-to-wire maiden winner at Oaklawn Jan. 28, worked four furlongs in :50.20 [12/34] Tuesday at the Hot Springs oval and is under consideration for Monday's GIII Southwest S., according to trainer Ken McPeek.
“He just had a nice maintenance half-mile this morning, and we'll probably make a day-of-entry decision on whether we go or not,” commented McPeek. “His last race was a really good race, and you don't get too many opportunities for straight 3-year-olds, but he's done well here. Obviously he has an affinity for the racetrack.”
After six previous tries at sprint distances as a juvenile, War Stroll broke through in his most recent start–his first try around two turns. With the benefit of a respite after the final race of his 2-year-old season Nov. 28, McPeek said his charge seems to be more comfortable with the slower, more controlled pace of route races.
“I think he needed two turns all along–I just didn't have the opportunity to get him there,” the trainer continued. “He was able to set the fractions somewhat on his own terms, as opposed to scrambling.”
Meanwhile, McPeek said that GII Pocahontas S. winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies third-place finisher Dothraki Queen (Pure Prize) is under consideration for a possible trip to Europe. The filly has not returned to the worktab since a fourth-place run in the GII Golden Rod S. at Churchill Nov. 28, but could return to competition by the spring time.
“Dothraki Queen is not quite ready for her first work yet,” McPeek said. “She's not going to show up until late March or early April. I'm contemplating running her maybe in Newmarket or over in London. I think she could be a better grass filly and we're thinking maybe not the [GI] Kentucky Oaks, especially if Songbird (Medaglia D'Oro) goes there. She'll definitely be pre-nominated to the [GI] 1,000 Guineas, and the [GI Epsom] Oaks, as well as the Kentucky Oaks.”
The trainer added that Dorodansa (Bellamy Road), third last out in the one-mile Martha Washington S. at Oaklawn Feb. 6, will make her next start in the GIII Honeybee S. in Hot Springs Mar. 12.
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