War of Will drew clear of the field to win the 2019 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 18. | Photo: iStock

Gary Barber’s War of Will, who finished eighth in the eventful 2019 Kentucky Derby (Grade 1), rebounded with a victory in May 18’s 144^th Preakness Stakes (Grade 1) at Pimlico Race Course, in Baltimore, Maryland, courtesy of a well-judged, trouble-free trip under jockey Tyler Gaffalione.

In the Kentucky Derby, first-place finisher Maximum Security drifted into the path of War of Will on the turn into the homestretch causing Gaffalione to check his horse to avoid a collision. The Mark Casse-trained War of Will went on to finish eighth, but was ultimately placed seventh due to the disqualification of Maximum Security that awarded the victory to Country House.

cIt was so important to win it,” Casse said after the colt’s win in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. “I just wanted him to get his chance to show everyone how good he is, because he is a super horse. We thought we were going to win it two years ago and we got beat at the wire so I kept trying to figure out where the wire was . It was exciting, just unbelievable