In a race otherwise dominated by closers, War of Will asserted his will on the front end, winning the Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths over Country House. 

War of Will ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.59 and paid $4 as the favorite, beating 13 rivals after breaking from post 13 under Tyler Gaffalione. Mark Casse trains War of Will, a War Front colt, for owner Gary Barber. War of Will earned 50 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby for a total of 60 and is in the 20-horse Derby field if he can make the race. 

War of Will tracked pace-setting Gun It through a half-mile in 47.36, put Gun It away around the far turn, and might have idled a bit while racing on his own the entire homestretch. The second-, third-, fourth-, and fifth-place finishers -- Country House, Roiland, Hog Creek Hustle, and Limonite -- were 11th, 14th, 13th, and 12th after a half-mile, suggesting War of Will might have outperformed his bare margin of victory. 

War of Will is expected to make his next start here March 23 in the $1 million Louisiana Derby.

Full recap with quotes soon on drf.com.