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Pegasus: ‘Knicks’ Set to ‘Go’ in Saturday’s $3 Million Pegasus World Cup
Posted On 21 Jan 2021
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By David Joseph —-
‘Knicks’ Set to ‘Go’ in Saturday’s $3 Million Pegasus World Cup
Improving Colonel Liam Gets Favorite’s Role in Pegasus Turf (G1)
Bronx Beauty Continues Graded Chase in Inside Information (G2)
PEGASUS INTERVIEWS – Brad Cox, Dale Romans, Todd Pletcher, Kirk Wycoff, Claudio Gonzalez Interview
‘Knicks’ Set to ‘Go’ in Saturday’s $3 Million Pegasus World Cup
Pegasus, $1 Million Pegasus Turf Co-Headline 12-Race Card
Grade 1 Stakes Will be Supported by Five Other Graded Stakes
` Advance Wagering on Pegasus Card Available on Friday
Late Pick 4 and Pick 5 Pools Guaranteed at $750,000
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Korea Racing Authority’s Knicks Go is scheduled to seek the biggest payday of his career in Saturday’s $3 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park while also pursuing lucrative future considerations.
“It’s a very prestigious race. It hasn’t been around that long, but with the likes of Gun Runner, Arrogate and City of Light, there are champions that have won this race. It means a whole lot. It’s a race that can make a stallion, and we’re still trying to do that with Knicks Go,” trainer Brad Cox said. “He’ll be a stallion at some point. This would mean a lot and do a lot for his value as a stallion. Not only is it a great purse, but it’s going to add a lot of value if he’s able to win the race.”
The Pegasus, which will be contested at 1 1/8 miles for the richest purse for older horses in North America not associated with the Breeders’ Cup, and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), a 1 3/16-mile turf feature for older horses, will co-headline a 12-race program that will also offer the $200,000 Inside Information (G2), $125.000 Fred W. Hooper (G3), $125,000 William. L. McKnight (G3), $125,000 La Prevoyante (G3) and the $125,000 Marsha’s River (G3). First-race post time is set for 11:40 a.m. Advance wagering on the Pegasus program will be available on Friday. The late Pick 4 and Late Pick 5 pools will both be guaranteed at $750,000.
Knicks Go will enter the fifth running of the Pegasus off three straight victories in as many starts in 2020, including a track record-breaking triumph under Joel Rosario in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt (G2) at Keeneland. Installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite in a field of 12 after drawing Post. No. 4 Wednesday, Knicks Go will have to prove himself by trying to carry his abundant speed beyond 1 1/16-miles, the longest distance he has run during his 17-race career.
“I haven’t raced a lot at Gulfstream, but I think speed is always a good thing there. I’m a big believer that speed is good at a mile and an eighth and beyond – obviously it depends on how much other speed is in the race. But I think he can get it. I think he’s a horse that once he gets free and loose, he runs with a lot of confidence,” Cox said.
“I’m excited. I really do think he’ll handle a mile and an eighth. In his three races with us last year, there was horse left,” he added. “In the Breeders’ Cup, Joel reached up and grabbed him four or five jumps from the wire, so he was still going.”
Knicks Go is in the middle of a career resurgence since joining Cox’s stable in 2020. The Maryland-bred son of Paynter was a top 2-year-old in 2018, capturing the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland by 5 ½ lengths and finishing second behind Game Winner in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Churchill Downs. However, he went winless in 10 starts after his Breeders’ Futurity score.
Knicks Go registered a front-running 7 ½-length victory for Cox in a Feb. 22 optional claiming allowance at Oaklawn Park before heading to the sidelines for seven months. He returned to action with a sensational 10 ¼-length romp in a Oct. 4 optional claiming allowance at Keeneland, encouraging his connections to give the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile a try. Knicks Go came through with a spectacular 3 ½-length, front-running victory in the track-record time of 1:33.85.
Rosario has been awarded the return call aboard Knicks Go.
W. S. Farish’s Code of Honor, a graded-stakes winner over the Gulfstream Park track, was rated second in the morning-line at 9-2 after drawing Post. No. 10. The Shug McGaughey-trained 5-year-old captured the 2019 Fountain of Youth (G2) before finishing third behind Maximum Security in the both the Florida Derby (G1) and the Kentucky Derby (G1). He went on to win the Travers (G1) at Saratoga and the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) via the disqualification of Vino Rossi at Belmont Park.
After winning the June 6 Westchester at Belmont to open his 2021 campaign, Code of Honor has been winless in four starts that include a third-place finish in the Met Mile (G1) at Belmont, a troubled fourth in the Whitney (G1) at Keeneland, a runner-up finish in the Kelso at Belmont, and a second-place finish in the Clark (G1) at Churchill Downs.
“In the Clark, he was bottled up there. By the time he got loose, the race was pretty much over. Before that, going a mile, Chad’s horse [Complexity] kind of controlled what was going on. I think Javier [Castellano] knew he had to be closer and move a little sooner,” trainer Shug McGaughey said. “The Whitney was a throw out. His first race was good. I probably shouldn’t have run him in the Metropolitan Mile. He was wide and Vekoma got the trip. He’s a nice horse. Maybe this will be his day”
Tyler Gaffalione is scheduled to ride Code of Honor for the first time Saturday,
“Obviously, he rides this racetrack very well and he’s very familiar with it,” McGaughey said. “He’s a very patient rider and that’s what Code of Honor wants, so I’m pleased to have him.”
Randy Hill, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Hugh Lynch’s Tax is set to make his second straight start in the Pegasus, in which he finished off the board after stumbling at the start last year. The 5-year-old son of Arch, one of two returning Pegasus entrants, is coming off a dominating 4 ½-length victory in the Dec. 12 Harlan’s Holiday (G3) at Gulfstream.
“He’s better now than he’s ever been. We always knew he was a really good horse. He’s grown and developed into a better horse than he was last year. I think with age he’s getting better and getting stronger, healthier,” Gargan said. “He has a few little issues we had to work through, and he’s gotten through them. I’m expecting a big performance.”
Luis Saez has the return mount aboard Tax, who drew Post No. 7 and was rated third at 5-1.
Jim Bakke and Jerry Isbister’s Mr Freeze will seek to improve on a second-place finish behind Mucho Gusto in last year’s Pegasus. The Dale Romans-trained 6-year-old came right back from his big run in the Pegasus with a three-length victory in the Gulfstream Park Mile (G2). The son of To Honor and Serve has won one of six subsequent graded-stakes starts, capturing the 1 1/8-mile Fayette (G2) Oct. 10 sat Keeneland before finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and fifth in the Clark.
Mr Freeze was rated at 15-1 after drawing the Post No. 11.
“Mr Freeze has plenty of gas, so he can get out and settle where he needs to be. It’s a pretty fair race going a mile and an eighth here no matter where you draw,” said Romans, who named John Velazquez to ride Mr Freeze. “He loves this racetrack.”
Romans is also scheduled to saddle Albaugh Family Stables LLC and Helen K. Groves Revocable Trust’s Coastal Defense for the Pegasus. The 5-year-old son of Curlin finished fourth in both the Fayette and Clark in his last two starts and is also rated at 15-1. Corey Lanerie has the mount.
He is a grinder, so hopefully he can drop over before the first turn, Romans added.
Thumbs Up Racing LLC’s Sleepy Eyes Todd, who is rated at 8-1 in the morning line, enters the Pegasus off a half-length victory in the seven-furlong Mr. Prospector Dec. 19 at Gulfstream, but the 5-year-old son of Paddy O’Prado was a front-running winner in the 1 1/8-mile Charles Town Classic (G2) in August.
“I love the mile and an eighth,” trainer Miguel Silva said. “He already won at that distance and he performed really good at that distance. We’re just hoping that we have a different kind of trip. We don’t want to be on the lead and hopefully we can pick up horses at the end.”
Jose Ortiz is scheduled to ride Sleepy Eyes Todd for the first time.
Grupo 7C Racing Stable’s Jesus’ Team is rated at 10-1 in the morning-line for the Pegasus on the strength of a pair of Grade 1 placings last year. After winning a $32,000 maiden claiming race at Gulfstream last March, the son of Tapiture went on the road to finish third in the Preakness (G1) and second behind Knicks Go in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. The 4-year-old over-achiever returned to Gulfstream to prepare for a start in the Pegasus with a victory in the Claiming Crown Jewel Dec. 5.
Jesus’ Team is trained by Jose D’Angelo, a former leading trainer in Venezuela before venturing to South Florida in 2019,
“It’s very exciting. It is the most important race of our calendar in South Florida at Gulfstream Park,” D’Angelo said. “I think it’s a big test for both me and Jesus.”
Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode Mucho Gusto to victory last year, is scheduled to ride Jesus’ Team for the first time Saturday.
Trainer Michael McCarthy, who saddled City of Light for a 5 ¾-length romp in the 2019 Pegasus, is scheduled to saddle Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Twin Creek Racing Stables LLC, Robert and Kathleen Verratti’s Independence Hall. The 4-year-old son of Constitution, who finished fifth in last year’s Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream, came off a seven-month layoff to win a Nov. 8 allowance at Del Mar before finishing fifth in the seven-furlong Malibu (G1) at Santa Anita last time out.
“There are a lot of unknowns with the horse. Can he handle a mile and an eighth? His one race at Gulfstream was just OK,” McCarthy said. “So, there are a lot of unknowns going into this.”
Flavien Prat has the call.
John Sondereker’s Kiss Today Goodbye enters the Pegasus after winning his first stakes in the Dec. 26 San Antonio (G2) at Santa Anita. The Eric Kruljac-trained 4-year-old son of Cairo Prince is rated at 12-1. Mike Smith, who rode Arrogate to victory in the 2018 Pegasus, has the call on Kiss Today Goodbye.
Harpers First Ride, who has been privately purchased since his last start by GMP Stables LLC, Cypress Creek Equine and Arnold Bennewith, will seek his fifth stakes victory in six starts Saturday. The Claudio Gonzalez-trained 5-year-old son of Paynter will be ridden by regular jockey Angel Cruz.
John Fanelli and partners’ Math Wizard will seek his first victory since capturing the 2019 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) in the Pegasus. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained 5-year-old son of Algorithms will be ridden by Edgard Zayas.
Michael Dubb, Steve Hornstock, Bethlehem Stables LLC and Nice Guys Racing’s Last Judgment, who captured the Jan. 16 Sunshine Classic by 6 ½ lengths at Gulfstream Park, drew into the field upon the withdrawal of True Timber. The Michael Maker trainee will be ridden by Paco Lopez.
Improving Colonel Liam Gets Favorite’s Role in Pegasus Turf (G1)
Heads Talented Pletcher-Trained Trio in $1 Million Grass Event
Among Seven Graded-Stakes Worth $4.725 Million Jan. 23
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Robert and Lawana Low’s Colonel Liam, making just his sixth career start and first in graded company, figures to garner plenty of support in the richest grass stakes of the winter season, Saturday’s $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
The third running of the 1 3/16-mile Pegasus Turf and the fifth renewal of the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) at 1 1/8 miles on dirt comprise the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, headlining a blockbuster 12-race program featuring seven graded-stakes worth $4.725 million in purses.
First race post time is 11:40 a.m. EST. The Pegasus Turf will be part of NBC’s live national telecast from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
This year, the Pegasus Turf will serve as a ‘Win and In’ qualifier for the $1 million Middle Distance Turf Handicap Feb. 20 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In addition, the Pegasus World Cup is a ‘Win and In’ race for the $20 million Saudi Cup.
During Wednesday’s post-position draw inside Gulfstream’s Sport of Kings Theatre, Colonel Liam was made the narrow 7-2 program favorite over stablemate Largent (9-2) in a field of a dozen stakes winners, 10 of them graded, including Grade 1 winners Aquaphobia, Next Shares, Say the Word and Storm the Court, the 2-year-old male champion of 2019.
Colonel Liam and Largent are part of trainer Todd Pletcher’s triple threat that includes Social Paranoia (8-1), also among the five horses listed at less than double-digit odds. The others are Anothertwistafate (5-1) and Say the Word (6-1).
“The mile and three-sixteenths is a little different distance for Largent. He’s never been quite that far but the way he ran in the Fort Lauderdale going a mile and an eighth certainly gives you confidence he’ll handle it,” Pletcher said.
“Social Paranoia has won as far as a mile and five-sixteenths, and Colonel Liam was a little bit unlucky in the Saratoga Derby at a mile and a quarter. I think [the distance] should work for all three of them,” he added.
Colonel Liam, a 4-year-old son of Liam’s Map, is the least experienced runner in the Pegasus Turf. Liam’s Map was a two-time Grade 1 winner on dirt for Pletcher, taking the 2015 Woodward and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
“It’s always fun when you’re training the offspring of a horse that you’ve trained,” Pletcher said. “It’s great to see Liam’s Map doing well as a stallion and showing his versatility of getting dirt horses and turf horses and good 2-year-olds, and showing that he’s capable of siring just about any type of horse.”
A $1.2 million purchase as a 2-year-old in training in April 2019, Colonel Liam went unraced as a juvenile before debuting against older horses going a mile on dirt last April at Gulfstream, where he was placed first after finishing a troubled second. Moved to the grass for the first time in his third start, he beat his elders again in an open allowance at Saratoga, then encountered trouble again while running fourth, beaten less than a length, in the Saratoga Derby.
Colonel Liam turned in his best performance to date last time out, rating in mid-pack off a moderate pace before coming with a four-wide move to take the lead and widen his advantage through the stretch to win the 1 1/16-mile Tropical Park Derby by 3 ¼ lengths Dec. 26 at Gulfstream.
“Very impressed,” Pletcher said. “I loved the way he pulled away at the end. We’ve always had high hopes for him, so it’s nice to see him living up to those.”
Irad Ortiz Jr., up in the Tropical Park Derby, rides back from Post 5.
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Twin Creeks Racing Stable’s Largent also had a career-best effort in his most recent start, saving ground inside before forging a short lead at the top of the stretch and drawing clear to a two-length triumph in the 1 1/8-mile Fort Lauderdale (G2) Dec. 12. The 5-year-old Into Mischief gelding, never worse than second in nine starts with six wins, beat Virginia-breds in turf stakes at Laurel Park and Colonial Downs last summer.
“That was his breakthrough performance,” Pletcher said. “He’s always been very consistent. He’s run against some really nice horses. We took advantage of his Virginia-bred status because that’s what you’re supposed to do when you have those kinds of options. It wasn’t so much that we felt like he didn’t belong at Saratoga or some bigger races; we had the opportunity and wanted to take advantage of it.”
Paco Lopez gets the return call on Largent from Post 6.
Winner of the one-mile Poker (G3) in July, The Elkstone Group’s Social Paranoia, 5, went unraced until capturing a 7 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance Dec. 16 on the Gulfstream turf. The son of Street Boss owns three wins in four tries on the local surface including the one-mile Appleton (G3) last winter. He won the Dueling Grounds Derby going 1 5/16 miles at Kentucky Downs in 2019.
“He’s consistent and likes this course, and he’s proven at the distance,” Pletcher said. “The key, for him and Colonial Liam both, was we needed a race under their belt to kind of set them up for this. They were both coming off short layoffs so a prep race was important for both of them.”
Luis Saez, whose previous trip aboard Social Paranoia came in his March 2019 maiden triumph at Gulfstream, has the assignment from outside Post 12.
Peter Redekop’s Anothertwistafate, based in California with trainer Peter Miller, is a stakes winner on three surfaces. He won the El Camino Real on Golden Gate’s all-weather track and was second by a neck in the Sunland Derby (G3) on dirt, both going 1 1/8 miles, while on the 2019 Triple Crown trail.
The 5-year-old son of Scat Daddy won the Longacres Mile (G3) going a mile at Emerald Downs last September in one of only two 2020 starts, and in just his second race for Miller captured the 1 1/8-mile San Gabriel (G2) on the Santa Anita turf Jan. 2. Joel Rosario rides for the third straight race from Post 8.
“I don’t think [distance] will be an issue,” Miller said. “He’s the type of horse that doesn’t seem to get tired. He’s got a lot of stamina and is built like a horse that can get a mile and a half.”
A win by homebred Say the Word would be a fitting sendoff for Sam-Son Farm, the legendary owner and breeder of 84 Sovereign Award winners and four Eclipse Award winners, which is undergoing a complete dispersal of its racing and breeding stock. The 6-year-old gelding became a Grade 1 winner in the 1 ½-mile Northern Dancer (G1) last October on the Woodbine turf and exits a third, beaten one length, in the 1 ½-mile Hollywood Turf Cup (G2) Nov. 27 at Del Mar.
Flavien Prat, up in the Turf Cup, rides Say the Word (6-1) from Post 11.
Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey will send out a pair of contenders in North Dakota (10-1) and Breaking the Rules (20-1). Allen Stable Inc. homebred North Dakota, a 5-year-old half-brother to Grade 2 winner and influential sire War Front, needed seven tries to break his maiden but has won four of his last six races. The most recent came in the 1 3/8-mile Red Smith (G3) Nov. 21 at Aqueduct.
“He’s been kind of a late bloomer but he’s been doing well. His races, really all [last] year, have been good so we’re looking forward to running him here,” McGaughey said. “He’s a true distance horse, probably even a little more than a mile and three-sixteenths. The way he’s doing and the way he’s been coming around, all year really, [is great], and his races have been spaced and he’s fresh and we’re ready to give it a try.”
Another homebred, Phipps Stable’s Breaking the Rules is a 6-year-old son of War Front that has three career races over the Gulfstream turf, winning the Tropical Park Derby and finishing second by a head in the Canadian Turf (G3) during the 2018-2019 Championship Meet. He went two-for-five in 2020, running fourth in the Lure and Knickerbocker (G2) in New York and third by two lengths in the Fort Lauderdale under jockey Edgard Zayas after being bumped at the start.
“I think he’s had a pretty good year. I was disappointed in his race at Saratoga in the Lure. Then he came back and I thought he ran fine on a track he doesn’t prefer. He wants it hard and it had more give to it than I thought,” McGaughey said. “I thought his race here in the Fort Lauderdale was pretty good. I think that Edgard was not familiar with him and he told me he thought he was too far back and I think he moved a little bit soon on him. He got caught up on the outside and didn’t get beat far. It was a fast race, so I’m looking forward to getting him stretched out.”
Hall of Famer John Velazquez is named on Breaking the Rules from Post 2, while Jose Ortiz has the call on North Dakota from Post 4.
Exline-Border Racing, David Bernsen, Susanna Wilson and Dan Hudock’s Storm the Court (12-1) went winless in eight 2020 starts, including a sixth in the Kentucky Derby (G1), after clinching his Eclipse Award with a front-running head triumph in the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). He has raced three times on the turf for trainer Peter Eurton, running second in the 1 1/16-mile La Jolla (G3) last summer at Del Mar as well as the Mathis Brothers Mile (G2) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. Julien Leparoux gets the assignment from Post 3.
Trainer Mike Maker upset the 2020 Pegasus Turf with Zulu Alpha, and while that horse continues to recover from an injury that knocked him out of the Breeders’ Cup last fall, Maker will be represented by the pair of Cross Border (15-1) and Aquaphobia (20-1).
“It was cool to win it last year, it’d be cooler to win this year and even cooler than that to win it again next year,” Maker said.
Three Diamonds Farm’s Cross Border owns nine wins from 30 lifetime starts and became a graded winner when elevated to first in the 1 3/8-mile Bowling Green (G2) last summer at Saratoga following the disqualification of Grade 1 winner Sadler’s Joy, who edged Cross Border by a neck. Last time out, the gelded 7-year-old son of turf champion English Channel was beaten a head when second in the 1 1/16-mile Buddy Diliberto Memorial Dec. 19 at Fair Grounds.
“I like his chances. He’s doing great and shipped over well. We’re looking forward to running him,” Maker said. “He’s been a very solid horse. We’ve had luck with him from 6 ½ furlongs to a mile and a half. He just loves his job and he’s easy to train.”
Paradise Farms Corp., David Staudacher, Hooties Racing and Skychai Racing’s Aquaphobia is the most experienced runner in the Pegasus Turf with 39 career starts, nine of them wins, none bigger than his one-length triumph in the 1 3/8-mile United Nations (G1) last July at Monmouth Park. The 8-year-old Giant’s Causeway horse has raced exclusive in stakes since being claimed by Maker for $62,500 last winter at Gulfstream, most recently running sixth by two lengths behind North Dakota in the Red Smith.
“He’s a horse we were trying to get for quite some time and we were fortunate to get him,” Maker said. “We gave him some freshening. He just got outrun last time and he’s doing super now. He’ll get a firmer course here which he likes and I think the distance is favorable for him.”
Tyler Gaffalione will ride Cross Border from Post 9. Joe Bravo, aboard in the United Nations, returns from Post 7.
Godolphin’s well-traveled homebred Pixelate (15-1) was a popular head winner of the 1 1/8-mile Del Mar Derby (G2) last September, and is coming off a half-length victory in the one-mile Woodchopper Dec. 26 at Fair Grounds. The 4-year-old City Zip colt will be making his Gulfstream debut in his 15th career start, having raced at nine different tracks in seven states. Edgard Zayas gets the assignment from Post 10.
Co-owned by a partnership that includes trainer Richard Baltas and his wife, Debby, Next Shares (20-1) is the richest horse in the Pegasus Turf with a $1.85 million bankroll and one of two millionaires in the field, along with Storm the Court. The 8-year-old Archarcharch gelding and 2018 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) victor is winless since his triumph in the November 2019 Seabiscuit Handicap (G2).
Next Shares will be making his third straight appearance in the Pegasus Turf, having finished seventh in 2019 and 12th in 2020. Drayden Van Dyke has the call from Post 1.
Bronx Beauty Continues Graded Chase in Inside Information (G2)
Seven-Furlong Sprint Highlights Pegasus World Cup (G1) Undercard
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – 2W Stables’ Bronx Beauty, an eight-time stakes winner over her first four seasons of racing, continues the pursuit of her elusive first graded triumph in Saturday’s $200,000 Inside Information (G2) at Gulfstream Park.
The 42nd running of the seven-furlong Inside Information for fillies and mares 4 and older is among seven graded-stakes worth $4.725 million on a blockbuster 12-race Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series program featuring the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) at 1 1/8 miles on dirt and $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) at 1 3/16 miles on the grass.
First race post time is 11:40 a.m. Both Pegasus races will be part of NBC’s live national telecast from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The Inside Information is carded as Race 9 (4:35 p.m.).
Bronx Beauty, a daughter of Grade 1 winner Liaison bred in Pennsylvania, owns 10 wins and $618,070 in purse earnings from 25 career starts, all for owners Richard and Marie Woll, for whom Margotta purchased the now 6-year-old mare as a yearling. Both natives of the Bronx, Woll named the horse after his wife.
Twenty-two of Bronx Beauty’s starts have come in stakes, six of them graded, including a head loss to Lady’s Island in the Dec. 12 Sugar Swirl (G3) at Gulfstream, a race where the winner survived a jockey’s objection for interference to earn her second straight win in the six-furlong sprint.
It marked the third straight year Bronx Beauty capped her season in the Sugar Swirl, running fourth in 2018 and 2019. She also launched 2020 in the Inside Information, where she got hung out wide and raced near the back of the pack before finishing eighth.
“We bought her to take advantage of the Pa-bred program because we’re right across the road in New Jersey. She really turned out to be a very, very hard-knocker,” Margotta said. “We didn’t pay much for her but she’s earned over $600,000 and she just got the elusive Grade 3 placing. It was almost a Grade 3 win. We almost got it by default.
“She’s been a very productive, very sound filly. You look at her record. Fortunately we’ve been able to manage her along nicely,” he added. “She won the MATCH series the year before last when that came back into play, which was a great thing for everybody. She’s just really been a pleasure to have around.”
Bronx Beauty signaled her ability early on by winning five of her first six races including the open Colleen Stakes in her second start and both open and state-bred stakes at Penn National and Parx. She’s won at least one stake in each of her racing seasons, including two stakes at 2 and 3 and three stakes at 4.
“When I was first breezing her in the morning she identified herself that she was going to be good. How good we didn’t know,” Margotta said. “She’s always shown us that she had ability.
“We’re going to give her another year. The people that own the horse are longtime clients and sportsmen and they don’t jump right into the breeding shed. They like to race,” he added. “We’re going to see how we do here. Obviously, a Grade 2 on her resume, if she hits the board, would be great. If she wins, we’re over the moon. She’s a valuable broodmare no matter what happens.”
Margotta said he has not seen a decline in interest from Bronx Beauty as occasionally happens with older mares. Luis Saez, aboard in the Sugar Swirl, will ride back from Post 3 in a field of eight.
“Sometimes that will happen and she’s shown no signs of that. And on the flipside of that coin, you will see some older fillies and mares that really light up the board later in their careers at 4 or 5,” Margotta said. Quite frankly, we had offers to sell her as a broodmare but [the owner] in the game to race. He loves the game. We’re blessed to have her in the barn.”
Bronx Beauty will face a familiar foe in Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Michael Anspach and Bethlehem Stables’ Cinnabunny, the 4-year-old Golden Lad filly trained by Brad Cox that closed to be third in the Sugar Swirl, beaten three-quarters of a length for it all.
Cinnabunny was making her stakes debut in the Sugar Swirl after winning four of her first six career starts by 10 combined lengths, all last year at Parx for trainer Kathleen Demasi and Anspach’s Shooting Star Stable, which also bred the filly in Pennsylvania.
“She ran really well last time. She didn’t break quite as well as we needed to in order to win,” Cox said. “When she was coming, she got sandwiched late. She just didn’t have much racing luck down the lane. But, she’s a really nice filly that we’re hoping can win a graded stakes.”
Irad Ortiz Jr. has the return call on Cinnabunny from Post 2.
CJ Thoroughbreds, Left Turn Racing and Casner Racing’s two-time Grade 3 winner Sally’s Curlin will attempt to rebound off a pair of off-the-board finishes, the most recent coming in the one-mile Rampart (G3) Dec. 12 at Gulfstream. Trained by Dale Romans, the 5-year-old daughter of two-time Horse of the Year and 2014 Hall of Famer Curlin mare won the seven-furlong Hurricane Bertie (G3) at Gulfstream last March and the one-mile Chilukki (G3) in late 2019 at Churchill Downs.
Corey Lanerie has the riding assignment from Post 7.
Miracle International Trading, Inc.’s Dream Marie is a 4-year-old daughter of Graydar that ran second in the Rampart, her third career graded-stakes placing. She owns a 2-2-1 record from eight lifetime trips at Gulfstream, including seconds in the one-mile Davona Dale (G2) and 1 1/16-mile Hollywood Wildcat last winter and spring, respectively.
Dream Marie will break from Post 1 with jockey Leonel Reyes.
Completing the field are Pacific Gale, five times Grade 3-placed; Piedi Bianchi, twice Grade 1-placed as a juvenile in 2017; Sound Machine, winner of the Glitter Woman last winter at Gulfstream and most recently fourth by length in the Sugar Swirl; and Thissmytime, riding a two-race win streak including an off-the-grass Filly & Mare Turf Preview Nov. 22 at Gulfstream Park West.
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Interviews for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational (G1) and $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1).
Brad Cox – Knicks Go (World Cup)
Dale Romans – Mr Freeze, Coastal Defense (World Cup)
Kirk Wycoff – Cross Border (World Cup Turf)
Todd Pletcher – Largent, Social Paranoia, Colonel Liam (World Cup Turf)
Claudio Gonzalez – Harpers First Ride (World Cup)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGXOu849QMQ&feature=youtu.be
About The Stronach Group and 1/ST
The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horseracing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The company’s consumer facing brand 1/ST (pronounced “First”) powers The Stronach Group’s forward-thinking 1/ST RACING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY, 1/ST LIVE and 1/ST PROPERTIES businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING drives the best-in-class horseracing operations at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, and Gulfstream Park West (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the newly formed operating group for all of 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, GWS and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is horseracing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST LIVE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality by delivering uniquely curated events such as InfieldFest and Pegasus LIV Stretch Village. 1/ST PROPERTIES is responsible for the development of the company’s live, work and play communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred horseracing on and off the track. For more information please email david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com and visit www.1st.com.
