Empress At War battled through the stretch and got her nose down on the wire for a game maiden win Sunday on the Tapeta track at Gulfstream.

The 4-year-old filly set the pace into the stretch, where War Princess challenged from the outside and may have pulled ahead for a stride or two, but Empress At War and jockey Jose Ortiz fought back along the inside and won the head bob.

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey was happy and said we’re going to have some fun with her “here, there and everywhere” this year.

A daughter of champion Classic Empire, Empress At War was acquired at the OBS April sale in 2021 with racing partners Michael Lyden and Titletown Racing Stables.