Keen Ice, Neolithic work in Company for $12 Million Pegasus World Cup (G1)

By David Joseph —-

Keen Ice, Neolithic work in Company for $12 Million Pegasus World Cup (G1)
Shaman Ghost has Friday work for Pegasus

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Todd Pletcher’s hopefuls for the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), Keen Ice and Neolithic, worked in company Saturday morning at Palm Beach Downs.

Donegal Racing’s Keen Ice, the runner-up in the Harlan’s Holiday Stakes (G3), and Starlight Racing’s Neolithic finished on even terms and were each given a time of 1:00.40 for their five-furlong work. Keen Ice worked outside of Neolithic, the winner of a Gulfstream Park allowance race Dec. 14 in his last start.

“I thought they both worked super,” Pletcher said in between races Saturday afternoon. “They seem to be doing well and everything is on schedule. I think we will keep them on a Saturday work schedule as long as the weather looks good.”

Pletcher said Javier Castellano, aboard Keen Ice for Saturday’s work, will ride him in the Pegasus. John Velazquez has the mount on Neolithic.

Shaman Ghost has Friday work for Pegasus

Stronach Stables’ Shaman Ghost worked six furlongs in 1:14.65 on Friday morning at the Palm Meadows Training Center for the inaugural running of the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus.

“He worked nice by himself and finished willingly,” Jerkens said. “He galloped out nice and strong in 1:27 2/5.”

Jerkens said he will need to find a rider for Shaman Ghost, who who won the Woodward (G1) at Saratoga Race Course in September with Javier Castellano aboard.

“The jockey is uncertain as I found out for sure that we don’t have Javier as he stayed with Keen Ice,” Jerkens said.

Gulfstream Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, and is one of North America’s top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; XpressBet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.