PROFILE
| Foaled: | May 17, 2019 |
|---|---|
| Breeder: | Christine Hayden |
| Color/Sex: | Bay/Colt |
| Sire: | Air Force Blue |
| Dam: | Safe Haven |
| Dam Sire: | A.P. Indy |
| Trainer: | Josie Carroll |
HORSE OVERVIEW
MyRacehorse is expanding its stable internationally in pursuit of racing’s most lucrative purses. This Ontario bred colt by Air Force Blue to be trained by Canadian Hall of Famer Josie Carroll.
With its eyes set on expanding its stable internationally and competing in the world’s most prestigious races, MyRacehorse purchased this son of Air Force Blue for $90,000 at the June Ocala Breeders’ Sale.
While all types of horses come out of the Ocala Sales, its synthetic surface gives those looking to add a turf or synthetic projected runner a more objective evaluation process. Since Woodbine runs on a synthetic race track and has the option of turf racing as well, we were excited to pick up a runner who moved over the OBS track smoothly with long strides towards the end of his breeze and throughout his gallop out. The colt by Air Force Blue (War Front) breezed an eighth of a mile in 10.1 seconds with a very impressive gallop out. Out of the A.P. Indy mare Safe Haven, the colt should relish a routing distances when he gets to the races.
After taking a few months off to decompress out of the sale, the colt is now in training and will be targeting a debut late 2021/early 2022.
Breeding Insights
War Safe’s sire, Air Force Blue, is a son of the sensational War Front, North America’s highest-priced stallion in 2019 and 2020. Air Force Blue was a rockstar on the racetrack as a 2-year-old in Europe, becoming the first juvenile since 2001 to win three European Group 1 races in 2015. His victories in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh, and the Phoenix Stakes, also at the Curragh, earned him the 2-year-old European championship, known as the Cartier Racing Award. At the time, his acclaimed trainer, Aidan O’Brien, said Air Force Blue was the best 2-year-old he had ever trained.
In addition to carrying the royal bloodlines of War Front, who is a son of Danzig and a grandson of Northern Dancer, Air Force Blue’s second dam, Circle of Gold, is a sister to Flanders, a champion 2-year-old old filly and a winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
Air Force Blue entered stud in Kentucky at Ashford Stud in 2017, and drew immediate attention in 2020 with his first crop of runners, which included 33 individual winners and six stakes winners. His early success as a sire put the spotlight on his yearlings who sold at auction in 2020, with many of them commanding six-figure final bids.
A half-sibling to the stakes-placed Sent to Heaven and three other winners, War Safe’s bloodlines on the female side of his family are equally impressive. First dam Safe Haven is a winning daughter of A.P. Indy, and a granddaughter of Seattle Slew. War Safe’s second dam, Missed the Storm, is a Grade 1-winning daughter of Storm Cat.
Expected on track: December 2021
War Safe Update
War Safe is back galloping at Woodbine and trainer Josie Carroll said she couldn’t be happier with the job the vets did at the clinic on his gelding. Josie said that War Safe had no complications while healing and her rider said he felt great when returning to the track. He will likely take a […]
War Safe Update
War Safe has been enjoying his turnout time down south in sunny Florida. He is getting turned out 4-5 hours a day while at Woodford farms in Reddick, Florida just outside of Ocala. He is scheduled to return to training while at Woodford farm on January 1st.
War Safe has Shipped
War Safe is currently en route to Woodford Farms in Ocala, Florida. We will report back in the coming days once he has had time to settle in. Photo Credit Nicole Finch Photography