Santa Anita, Ca - Ireland's Aidan O'Brien-trained Declaration of war is a best priced 8/1 shot to take on this year's Belmont Stakes superstar Palace Malice in Saturday's renewal of the Breeders' Cup Classic.
The four year-old son of War Front (USA) out of Tempo West (USA) has been honed to perfection to pulverize trainer Todd Pletcher's three year-old Curlin colt 'and one or two others if predictions hold good over 12 furlongs of dirt.
He will be ridden by current Irish champion jockey and trainer's son Joseph O'Brien who has reported Declaration of War's latest 9-furlong pre-race gallop as 'bleedin mazin' - that's Leopardstownspeak for 'immensely impressive'.
Of course this probably cuts no ice with trainer Bob Baffert's 5/2 race favorite Game On Dude, a six year-old gelding with an awesome track record, nor with second favorite Mucho Macho Man, the five year-old 4/1 2nd fav trained by Kathy Ritvo for owners Reeves Thoroughbred Racing.
Also in the frame is Ron the Greek whose 6¾L trouncing of Palace Malice over 10 furlongs last month at Belmont sees him rated just a single point longer at 10/1 for the ultimate Blue Ribband prize.
Commenting on the ante-post betting situation a spokesperson for the Los Angeles-based Aintgottaprayer.con spread betting website said 'he'd eat his hat' if Declaration of War beat all the eleven other contenders including Palace Malice.
Watch the race live right here on this website where confidence rides high on the Irish colt.
