Gunnevera Training ‘Better and Better’ for Pegasus World Cup (G1)

By David Joseph —-

Breezes 5F in 1:01.40 for North America’s Richest Race Jan. 29
Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Accelerate Breezes
Cigar Mile (G1) Winner Patternrecognition Works
Video Gunnevera, Accelerate, Patternrecognition

HALLANDALE, BEACH – Margoth’s Gunnevera breezed five furlongs in 1:01.40 Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park West in preparation for a start in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 26.

The workout, which was the second fastest of 18 recorded at the distance, was the 4-year-old son of Dialed In’s third breeze since finishing second in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs Nov. 3.

Video link: https://youtu.be/eyKZkkl6jdE

Irad Ortiz Jr. was aboard the Antonio Sano-trained colt for the third consecutive workout.
“He’s working really good. He’s been doing everything the right way. He’s getting better and better. Today, he worked better than the last couple times,” Ortiz said. “He’s doing everything comfortable. I put my hands down and he does whatever he wants. We’re just keeping him happy.”

Ortiz, widely regarded as the frontrunner in the race for the 2018 Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey, rode Gunnevera in his second-place Breeders’ Cup Classic finish, in which he recovered from early bumping to close from 11th to come within a length of victorious Accelerate.

“He has a big heart. He always tries,” Ortiz said. “He didn’t have the best trip and just got beat.”

Gunnevera finished third behind Gun Runner and West Coast in last year’s Pegasus World Cup.

Gunnevera, who has earned $4.1 million in career earnings, captured the 2017 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream. The Antonio Sano-trained 4-year-old son of Dialed In has also won the 2016 Saratoga Special (G2) and the $1 million Delta Jackpot (G3) and has been Grade 1 stakes-placed in the 2017 Travers (G1) and the 2018 Woodward (G1) at Saratoga.

Gunnevera is on course for a rematch with Accelerate in the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup, which will co-headline the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series with the $7 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, North America’s richest turf race.

Accelerate breezed five furlongs in 1:01.60 Saturday morning at Santa Anita. Video link: https://www.xbtv.com/video/workout/accelerate-worked-5-furlongs-in-101-60-at-santa-anita-park-on-december-22nd-2018/

Cigar Mile (G1) winner Patternrecognition worked a half-mile at Palm Meadows. Video Link:
https://www.xbtv.com/video/workout/patternrecognition-worked-4-furlongs-in-48-45-at-palm-meadows-on-december-22nd-2018/

Audible, Bravazo, City of Light, Kukulkan, Leofric, Seeking the Soul, Something Awesome and Unbridled Juan are also being pointed to the Pegasus World Cup.

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.