Trainer Jonathan Thomas and Augustin Stables continued their SoCal roll in style Nov. 30, capturing their third graded stakes win of the Del Mar Turf Festival with Will Then in the $103,000 Jimmy Durante Stakes (G3T).
All three of the barn's graded stakes winners—Mrs. Astor, Truly Quality, and Will Then—had the services of jockey Vincent Cheminaud, who has made the trip out west from his Turfway Park winter base to pilot the Thomas runners. The combination has proven deadly.
With the late scratch of 4-5 post-time favorite Supa Speed for antics in the gate, Will Then was dismissed at 10-1 odds when the field reassembled for the break. Racing far off a snappy early pace of :22.69 and :46.98, the War of Will filly improved her position into the far turn and circled widest of all down the lane. Devouring the ground, Will Then swept by the leaders and thundered across the line by a widening 2 1/4 lengths.
Will Then ($23) completed the mile in 1:36.46 over a firm turf course.
Casalu held on for runner-up honors over a closing Resolve.
With her victory, Will Then gave 2019 Preakness Stakes (G1) hero and Claiborne Farm stallion War of Will his first black-type stakes winner. The son of War Front will stand the 2025 season for $20,000 at Claiborne near Paris, Ky. A homebred for Augustin Stables out of the Pulpit mare Remember Then, Will Then is a half sibling to stakes winner Born Dapper (Union Rags ).
