Bonsall-based War Heroine wins $200,000 stakes at Del Mar

War Heroine, a speedy filly based at the San Luis Rey Training Center in Bonsall, played "catch me if you can" in the $200,000 San Clemente Stakes at Del Mar July 21. None of her 12 rivals could.

War Heroine led wire to wire in the one-mile San Clemente, a Grade 2 turf contest for 3-year-old fillies. Ridden by Tyler Baze, War Heroine just held off the hard-charging Ollie's Candy to win by a neck on opening weekend of the 2018 Del Mar summer meeting.

"She's an extremely fast filly – extremely fast," said Baze of War Heroine. "But it isn't so much about the speed, it's about how they're expanding their energy. She was doing it well today."

War Heroine completed the mile in 1:34.90 while earning her first graded stakes victory.

"I knew she was good for a mile," said Baze. "She's all heart. She loves to stick her neck out and win. She's tough."

Kentucky-bred War Heroine has four wins in six career starts. Trained by Peter Miller and owned by Gary Barber, War Heroine collected $120,000 for the San Clemente victory and the nice payday boosted her earnings to $240,945.

War Heroine provided Miller with his first victory in the San Clemente Stakes and gave the trainer his 20th career stakes win at Del Mar. After the race, Miller compared War Heroine to a multiple-stakes winner in his barn, Belvoir Bay.

"She reminds me a lot of Belvoir Bay – small but mighty," said Miller. "She's got a big heart and a lot of speed. I didn't think we'd be on the lead and I told Tyler she doesn't need to be, but if they give it to you take it. He rode a super race, got reasonable fractions (:22.85, :46.86, and 1:10.67 through six furlongs) and she really kicked home strong."

War Heroine will be asked to stretch her speed another furlong when she makes her next start in the Grade 1 $300,000 Del Mar Oaks, a 1 1/8-mile turf race to be run Aug. 18.

"I see no reason not to try her in the Del Mar Oaks," said Miller. "I think that's the move and that's what we'll do."

War Heroine, at just under 6-1, was the third wagering choice in a field of 13 and paid $13.80 to win.

War Heroine was one of three San Luis Rey-based horses that Miller led into the winner's circle during opening week of the 2018 Del Mar summer season. He won back-to-back races July 19, scoring with a longshot and a strong favorite.

The 3-year-old filly Surrender Now captured the third race July 19 at odds of 23-1 and paid $49.00 to win. Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, Surrender Now came from a couple lengths off the pace to post a one-length victory in a five-furlong allowance dash on the turf in :57.22.

In the fourth race July 19, Miller's even-money favorite Robin's Love romped to a 4 1/4-length victory in a seven-furlong race for $25,000 claimers. Ridden by Baze, the 4-year-old filly paid $4.00 after stopping the timer in 1:25.27.

Trainer Doug O'Neill saw two of his Bonsall-based horses win at Del Mar during opening week. The 6-year-old gelding Avanti Bello ($7.00) won the first race July 20 and the 2-year-old colt Mason Dixon ($25.00) triumphed in the fifth race July 21.

Jockey Flavien Prat rode Avanti Bello, who prevailed by a nose over Point Piper in a one-mile race for $25,000 claimers. Avanti Bello was timed in 1:38.20.

Prat also was aboard Mason Dixon, who charged from fifth-to-first in the stretch to win a five-furlong maiden claiming event by three-quarters of a length in his career debut. Mason Dixon hit the wire in :59.37.