Post Draw Reaction From Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Participants

By David Joseph —-

Connections talk about their participation in Saturday’s $12 million event

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Monday evening post positions were drawn for the inaugural running of the world’s richest race, Saturday’s $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park.

Below race participants share their thoughts on their horse’s post position and reflect on what the Pegasus World Cup means to them and the industry:

Trainer Bob Baffert, Arrogate, Post 1: (Speaking from London at the Longines and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities award ceremony, where Arrogate today was named Longines World’s Best Race Horse): “I’m really looking forward to it. I really think it will be a great race. It’s going to be the last of the heavyweight title rematch, so hopefully we’re ready for it, and we’re excited.”

“One you’ve drawn your post position for this, we don’t worry about it anymore. It’s up to Mike Smith and he knows what to do. The horse is doing well and that’s more important than the post draw. Once we ship there and keep him happy and healthy that’s all that matters.”

Trainer Reade Baker, Breaking Lucky, Post 10: “It’s good, not great. I would have liked to have had the four or five but I can see the horses on the inside, three and four, going hard, and 12 going hard and try to cut the corner. Hopefully the four that are inside us – the five, six, seven, eight – we know the nine will drop back a little bit. Five, six, seven eight they all won’t go at the same time as we do. I don’t think they will and that will give us a chance to drop over. That’s all we want.”

“He couldn’t be any better. He’s a big, sound, healthy horse in the prime of his life. This is it for him. He won’t get any better than this, so we got no excuses.”

“[The Pegasus] is great for me. This is where I want to be, a high-pressure race going around two turns for a ton of money. Any trainer in the world would want to be right here.”

“The concept is great. It’s something I’ve come to expect. I’ve known the Stronach family for 40 years, so I expected Frank to come up with something big. He only thinks big.”

“[The post position] is going to really hurt his (Chrome) chances. He’s going to have to go instead of getting hung out. The stats on winning from the 12 hole aren’t that good but, one, there aren’t that many races and the guys that typically get that in a regular race scratch. That’s going to be a tough task to try to get over there and not be five, six wide on the first turn. Don’t worry, these guys on the inside if they all break and we get there first, they aren’t going to be doing him any favors.”

Assistant trainer Norm Casse, Noble Bird, Post 4: “We’re very happy about the post position. You want to be drawn inside at Gulfstream, I don’t care what anybody else says. We were hoping for an inner post position. I kind of like the horses that are on either side of us, as well. If he (Noble Bird) breaks a step slow I don’t think he’ll be compromised as much. He’s a horse that’s coming in doing really well right now and we just need to get lucky. Today we were lucky with the post position.”

“I love what Frank Stronach is doing here. I think it’s very important. I think anytime you can create an incentive for older horses to stay in training longer it’s a plus for the industry. We’re just super excited to be part of the first running of this race, and this race will run for many years to come.”

“I don’t think Arrogate’s post position is that bad. I think Bob would be very happy with the post position. Chrome’s in a little bit of a situation. I think it opens up the opportunity for a horse like Noble Bird to maybe surprise some people.”

“All we can do now is hope that Noble Bird breaks sharp, gets comfortable early going into the first turn and see what happens.”

Owner Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds, Breaking Lucky, Post 10: “We wanted four through seven or eight, so it’s out there. I just hope we don’t get marooned. I’m sure the California Chrome people are saying the exact same thing. It’s pretty tight into that first turn.”

“It’s really fascinating because you figure those riders are riding for a $700,000 payday and they got the two big guns on the very inside and the very outside. I’m sure if I was a rider I might want to be inside so I could be in the middle of the pack so I could have aim on them. It’s going to be a rider’s race. I’m sure they’re excited, all the connections are excited, and the racing world’s excited. That’s a pretty powerful combination.”

“We have seven partners that got involved in this horse. When we bought him he sold out in 24 hours, so people really love the concept. It’s a pretty neat sell, a pretty good thing to be able to call a person and say, ‘We got a horse for less than $1 million and we’re going to run for a purse of $12 million in two weeks.’ I know it’s not going to happen every time but it sure worked this time.”

“I probably talked to more people that are looking to get into the business. We talked to a lot of people. The vast majority aren’t serious but I can tell you without a doubt that this thing has reverberated throughout that group of people that come to talk to us. It’s really been at the forefront for people for the past couple months.”

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens, Shaman Ghost, Post 7: “[The post] is good. I wouldn’t want any further out than that. He’s an in-between horse. He doesn’t have early lick, but he’s not a plodder either. He should be able to draft in behind and save some ground into the first turn and be in a good spot.”

“He’s a little bit of an enigma. Sometimes you can’t get a line on him. He’s a character. Sometimes he’s quiet in his stall. The next day he’s looking to jump over the screen. He’s kind of hard to gauge. Basically, I like what I see. His works have all been good and he looks perfectly good in the flesh and is fit. I can’t fault him coming in here.”

“Something’s got to be done to keep the older horses around. They’re just getting to be good horses and they’re going to stud. It’s ridiculous. Something like [the Pegasus] might be good. Let’s hope everybody has a safe trip and and it goes over big because it can’t be anything but good for racing.”

Owner Ron Paolucci of Loooch Racing Stables, War Story, Post 5: “Unbelievably good [post position]. I had told the partners and Jorge (Navarro), let me get the 3-4-5 and let me draw right outside of Noble Bird, wherever he’s at. That’s where I want to be cause I know he’s going to go and kind of clear the way for us. If we break, we should be right on his coattails. We ended right outside of Noble Bird.”

“[The Pegasus] is crazy in one sense and it’s unbelievably great in another sense. It keeps California Chrome racing. Without that, he would be retired. It also gives the people food for thought to come back for next year. You never know. You’re never going to make that much in the breeding shed, $7 million, with the Dubai World Cup and the Breeders’ Cup. It’s just great because it just keeps the stars coming back and running. Isn’t it a great way to start the with the two horses that put on such a show at the BC? And You got the 1 and 12 holes, which makes it equal for everybody else. It’s perfect.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher, Keen Ice, Post 9, and Neolithic, Post 3: “Like everyone else I thought it was interesting that Arrogate drew inside and California Chrome drew outside, but I think both are such good horses that post position probably wasn’t critical for them. It still creates some intrigue for the race.”

“I was happy with both of our draws. I wouldn’t have minded Keen Ice being a little more inside but I’m really happy with Neolithic getting the three. We’ll hope for some racing luck. Sometimes you get good trips from bad posts and bad trips from good posts. You never know how the race is going to unfold. We’re happy with our two positions.”

“The key I think if you draw the one or the 12 is that you want to break alertly. I think that puts a little more pressure on breaking well but outside of that, California Chrome probably doesn’t mind being outside and Arrogate I believe he was the one when he won the Travers. I’m sure those guys are confident in their horses and that’s the main thing.”

“I think both of our horses are in very good form at the moment, training very well and had productive races over the track. It’s fun for us to have a big race at home and not have to ship cross-country for. Whether that’s enough to overcome the talent of the two favorites we’ll see, but we’re excited about the opportunity and excited about the way the horses are training.”

“I think it’s terrific for Gulfstream and it’s a credit to Mr. Stronach for his investment and his vision in the game. It’s great to have a marquee event in the early part of the year. It’s something that’s a lot of fun and it’s great for the industry.”

Dean Reeves of Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Breaking Lucky, Post 10: “The draw as Reade [Baker] said was good but not great. We do have a lot of speed inside of us so I think they are going to go. Hopefully, we’ll get to the turn and I think we will be okay.”

“I saw in him that he’s growing. He’s mentally getting things figured out. He’s getting better and better, even with each work and each race. We’re excited about the future for him the rest of the year.”

“His last work I was very impressed. I thought his gallop-out was really strong. I think we’re going to be in the mix, so we’re excited.”

“I think being part of the inaugural Pegasus has just been so much fun. It’s an event that is different. We’ve got a lot of people wanting tickets and we’re just looking forward to a great day.

Dale Romans, Prayer for Relief, Post 2: “I’m happy with the post position. I would think that maybe they would have to let the outside horse run a little more and I know Bob won’t want to get hung up down inside so he’s going to go anyway, so it’s a good spot for him as long as he breaks clean. We just want to get settled on the rail, save some ground and make one run. He’s training perfect.”

“One the complaints about racing has always been, ‘same old, same old.’ [The Pegasus] is really out-of-the-box thinking. It’s a work in progress; hopefully it pulls off to be a major success and people enjoy it, learn a lot from this effort and build from it.”

“It’s a big deal. It’s a big deal to be a part of it. We’re throwing a horse in that is doing good and has a chance to pick up a check, but being a part of the first big, big event, big change in racing like this, is definitely a factor.”

Dan Schafer, War Story, Post 5: “We’re right in the middle of the pack, where we wanted to be, so we’ll see what happens. With Arrogate on the rail and Chrome outside, they’re still the top two dogs, no doubt about it. I feel good with where we’re at.

“It’s an absolute honor to be involved with The Stronach Group and Mr. Stronach and Belinda Stronach, they have been amazing. What they are doing for the industry is just great. To be a part of it in year one of this race is just amazing.”

Art Sherman, California Chrome, Post 12: “Well, you know we’ve had some outside, inside posts. You know, you can’t make any excuses. The only good thing I thought about this, we won’t have to be in the starting gate long. Chrome is Chrome. He’s got tactical speed. I was hoping we might get closer inside. We can overcome all this, believe me. I’m sure Victor will ride a great race on him. I’m looking forward to it.

“He looks super right now. I couldn’t be more satisfied. I watched his work the other day . . . he amazes me every time I watch him. He’s a once-in-a-lifetime horse. I just hope everybody has good luck in the race, and we have a fair shake . . . all contestants in the race.

“I probably won’t realize [he is retired] until I’m on the airplane going home. Then I will have to reminisce about all the good times.”

Jack Wolf, Starlight Pegasus Partners and CEO of the Pegasus World Cup, Neolithic, Post 3: “The way the horse ran his last race and he’s two for two at Gulfstream, he seems to want to be forwardly placed. The three-hole I’m very happy with.”

“He will probably be up there [on the pace] until he eyeballs one of those good horses. Hopefully, you can compete with them when they get to that point. Class is hard to overcome. We hope everybody gets a good trip and we’ll see how it works out.”

“It’s very exciting. You can feel the energy in the room. We’ve got a lot of the slot holders here. To have Frank and Belinda Stronach and Mike Rogers, and Tim Ritvo, and P.J. Campo here, and all the work they have done, and hopefully now we can have some fun with this.”

“When you get somebody like Frank behind an idea like this when there were a lot of doubts to begin with — and actually when we started we only had three committed, it was the California Chrome people, Starlight, and Frank — but once the press release was made, it became very popular. I think with Frank behind it made me feel good; I didn’t lose too many nights’ sleep about it.”

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.