War of Will (USA)
April 17, 2016 – Living
War Front (USA) x Visions of Clarity (IRE), by Sadler’s Wells (USA)
Family 8-h
April 17, 2016 – Living
War Front (USA) x Visions of Clarity (IRE), by Sadler’s Wells (USA)
Family 8-h
War of Will showed talent on turf as a youngster but became a winner only after being switched to dirt, becoming a contender on the American Triple Crown trail. He ran in all three Triple Crown races, taking the Preakness Stakes after being one of the primary victims in the wild traffic jam in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (USA-G1) which ended with the disqualification of the primary culprit, apparent winner Maximum Security. The rest of War of Will’s 3-year-old season was disappointing, but he came back to the turf as a 4-year-old to win the Maker’s Mark Mile (USA-G1) at Keeneland. He is now a young stallion at Claiborne Farm, standing alongside his sire.
Race record
18 starts, 5 wins, 1 second, 3 thirds, US$1,881,803
2018:
2019:
2020:
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2019 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 12 pounds below co-highweights Crystal Ocean (a multiple European highweight over 9.5 to 14 furlongs), Enable (the European Horse of the Year), and Waldgeist (winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, FR-G1).
As an individual
A handsome bay horse with the smoothly muscled look typical of the Danzig tribe, War of Will stands 16.2 hands. His hocks appear to be slightly out behind him. He was a Grade 1 winner on both dirt and turf and handled sloppy going well. He has a history of intermittent stringhalt (a neuromuscular condition causing exaggerated upward movement of one or both hind legs). He is said to be a kindly horse to handle.
As a stallion
War of Will entered stud in 2021. He got his first stakes winner on March 23, 2025, when his daughter Will Then won the China Doll Stakes at Santa Anita.
Connections
Foaled on Kentucky, War of Will was bred by the Niarchos family's Flaxman Holdings Ltd. Sold for 250,000 euros ($298,550) through the 2018 Deauville May sale of 2-year-olds in training, he was owned by Gary Barber and trained by Mark Casse. He was ridden to his Preakness Stakes win by Tyler Gaffalione. War of Will entered stud in Kentucky in 2021 at Claiborne Farm.
Pedigree notes
War of Will is inbred 3x3x5 to the breed-shaping sire Northern Dancer and 4x5 to 1966 Argentine Horse of the Year Forli. He is a half brother to 2010 Boylesports.com Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Pathfork (by Distorted Humor) and to listed stakes winner Tacticus (by A.P. Indy). In addition, he is a half brother to Lotus Sutra (by Kingmambo), dam of listed stakes winners Nucifera (by More Than Ready) and Buying Trouble (by Hat Trick), and to Flock of Doves (by Kingmambo), second dam of Grade 3 winner Fast as Flight.
War of Will’s dam, Visions of Clarity, won the listed Prix de Bagatelle as a 3-year-old in France in 2003. She is a half sister to multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Spinning World (by Nureyev), whose top-level victories include the 1996 Irish Two Thousand Guineas and the 1997 Breeders’ Cup Mile. She is also a half sister to Balance of Nature (by Storm Cat), dam of 2013 Auraria Stakes (AUS-G3) winner Global Balance (by Redoute’s Choice).
Visions of Clarity and her siblings are out of Group 1-placed listed stakes winner Imperfect Circle (by Riverman), whose half sister Chimes of Freedom (by Private Account) won the 1989 Moyglare Stud Stakes (IRE-G1) and is the dam of 2004 American champion sprinter Aldebaran (by Mr. Prospector), 2002 Atto Mile Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Good Journey (by Nureyev), 2003 Jenny Wiley Stakes (USA-G3) winner Sea of Showers (by Seattle Slew), and listed stakes winner Tomisue’s Indy (by A.P. Indy). Produced from 1984 Heinz “57” Phoenix Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Aviance (by Northfields), Imperfect Circle is also a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Denon (by Pleasant Colony), to seven-time Peruvian champion sire Privately Held (by Private Account), and to stakes-places Piquetnol (by Private Account), dam of multiple Group 3 winner Dietrich (by Storm Cat) and German stakes winner Mambo Light (by Kingmambo) and second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Beauty Bright. In addition, Imperfect Circle is a half sister to Remote Romance (by Irish River), dam of German and Italian Group 1 winner Saddex (by Sadler’s Wells).
Books and media
Footage of War of Will’s win in the 2020 Maker’s Mark Mile can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AHsbbEAMtw.
Fun facts
Last updated: May 23, 2025
Race record
18 starts, 5 wins, 1 second, 3 thirds, US$1,881,803
2018:
- 2nd Summer Stakes (CAN-G1, 8FT, Woodbine)
2019:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Risen Star Stakes. (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
- Won LeComte Stakes (USA-G3, 8F+70yD, Fair Grounds)
- 3rd Pennsylvania Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Parx Racing)
2020:
- Won Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (USA-G1, 8FT, Keeneland)
- 3rd Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes (CAN-G1, 8FT, Woodbine)
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2019 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 12 pounds below co-highweights Crystal Ocean (a multiple European highweight over 9.5 to 14 furlongs), Enable (the European Horse of the Year), and Waldgeist (winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, FR-G1).
As an individual
A handsome bay horse with the smoothly muscled look typical of the Danzig tribe, War of Will stands 16.2 hands. His hocks appear to be slightly out behind him. He was a Grade 1 winner on both dirt and turf and handled sloppy going well. He has a history of intermittent stringhalt (a neuromuscular condition causing exaggerated upward movement of one or both hind legs). He is said to be a kindly horse to handle.
As a stallion
War of Will entered stud in 2021. He got his first stakes winner on March 23, 2025, when his daughter Will Then won the China Doll Stakes at Santa Anita.
Connections
Foaled on Kentucky, War of Will was bred by the Niarchos family's Flaxman Holdings Ltd. Sold for 250,000 euros ($298,550) through the 2018 Deauville May sale of 2-year-olds in training, he was owned by Gary Barber and trained by Mark Casse. He was ridden to his Preakness Stakes win by Tyler Gaffalione. War of Will entered stud in Kentucky in 2021 at Claiborne Farm.
Pedigree notes
War of Will is inbred 3x3x5 to the breed-shaping sire Northern Dancer and 4x5 to 1966 Argentine Horse of the Year Forli. He is a half brother to 2010 Boylesports.com Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Pathfork (by Distorted Humor) and to listed stakes winner Tacticus (by A.P. Indy). In addition, he is a half brother to Lotus Sutra (by Kingmambo), dam of listed stakes winners Nucifera (by More Than Ready) and Buying Trouble (by Hat Trick), and to Flock of Doves (by Kingmambo), second dam of Grade 3 winner Fast as Flight.
War of Will’s dam, Visions of Clarity, won the listed Prix de Bagatelle as a 3-year-old in France in 2003. She is a half sister to multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Spinning World (by Nureyev), whose top-level victories include the 1996 Irish Two Thousand Guineas and the 1997 Breeders’ Cup Mile. She is also a half sister to Balance of Nature (by Storm Cat), dam of 2013 Auraria Stakes (AUS-G3) winner Global Balance (by Redoute’s Choice).
Visions of Clarity and her siblings are out of Group 1-placed listed stakes winner Imperfect Circle (by Riverman), whose half sister Chimes of Freedom (by Private Account) won the 1989 Moyglare Stud Stakes (IRE-G1) and is the dam of 2004 American champion sprinter Aldebaran (by Mr. Prospector), 2002 Atto Mile Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Good Journey (by Nureyev), 2003 Jenny Wiley Stakes (USA-G3) winner Sea of Showers (by Seattle Slew), and listed stakes winner Tomisue’s Indy (by A.P. Indy). Produced from 1984 Heinz “57” Phoenix Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Aviance (by Northfields), Imperfect Circle is also a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Denon (by Pleasant Colony), to seven-time Peruvian champion sire Privately Held (by Private Account), and to stakes-places Piquetnol (by Private Account), dam of multiple Group 3 winner Dietrich (by Storm Cat) and German stakes winner Mambo Light (by Kingmambo) and second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Beauty Bright. In addition, Imperfect Circle is a half sister to Remote Romance (by Irish River), dam of German and Italian Group 1 winner Saddex (by Sadler’s Wells).
Books and media
Footage of War of Will’s win in the 2020 Maker’s Mark Mile can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AHsbbEAMtw.
Fun facts
- War of Will was nicknamed “WOW,” an acronym for his name but also a reference to his striking appearance.
- War of Will was the first winner of an American Triple Crown race for both Casse and Gaffalione.
Last updated: May 23, 2025