Grupo 7C Racing Stable's Jesus' Team breezed a half-mile at Palm Meadows Saturday morning in preparation for a start in next Saturday's $3-million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
The Jose D'Angelo-trained 4-year-old was timed in 48.50 seconds. Regular exercise rider Simon Rodriguez was aboard for the workout at Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.
“Jesus' work today was perfect. I think, with this work, he will be ready for the Pegasus World Cup,” D'Angelo said.
Jesus' Team, who broke his maiden for a $32,000 claiming price at Gulfstream last March, has been stakes-placed in his last five starts, including a third-place finish in the Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes (G1) and a second-place finish behind Knicks Go in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. The Kentucky-bred colt most recently captured the Dec. 2 Claiming Crown Jewel at Gulfstream.
Jim Bakke and Gerry Isbister's Mr Freeze, who finished second behind Mucho Gusto in last year's Pegasus, breezed five-furlongs in 59.83 seconds Saturday morning at Gulfstream for his second Pegasus start. The Dale Romans-trained son of To Honor and Serve produced the fastest of 40 workouts recorded at the five-furlong distance. Romans also sent Pegasus also-eligible Coastal defense to the Gulfstream track for a half-mile breeze in 47.11 seconds.
Calumet Farm's True Timber breezed five-furlongs in 1:01 at Palm Meadows Saturday for a third start in the Pegasus. The Jack Sisterson-trained 7-year-old son is coming off a victory in the Dec. 5 Cigar Mile (G1) at Aqueduct by 5 ½ lengths.
The son of Mineshaft, who was transferred to trainer Jack Sisterson's stable upon the retirement of Kiaran McLaughlin in the spring, finished seventh and eighth, respectively in his first two Pegasus tries.
Trainer Todd Pletcher sent his three candidates for the $1-million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) to the Palm Beach Downs track for final five-furlong tune-ups for the 1 3/16-mile turf feature. Largent, who captured the Dec. 12 Fort Lauderdale (G2) at Gulfstream, and multiple graded-stakes winner Social Paranoia, who came off a 5 ½-month layoff to win a Dec. 16 optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream, were timed in 1:01.49. Colonel Liam, who captured the Dec. 26 Tropical Park Derby by 3 ¼ lengths, was clocked in 1:01.49.
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