TAA Named Official Aftercare Partner of Pegasus

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) has been named the official aftercare partner of this weekend's Pegasus World Cup races at Gulfstream Park.

The TAA will have a race named on both the Friday and Saturday programs. On Friday, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will present Race 6: “Congratulations Fasig-Tipton TAA Auction Winners” alongside Fasig-Tipton, the winning bidder of last year's Off to the Races VIP Pegasus Package. Post time is set for 2:39 PM ET.

On Saturday, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will present Race 10, the Grade II 'TAA Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational S.', which has a post time of 3:45 PM ET. Winners of both named races will receive a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance blanket and a gift bag with branded merchandise. In recognition of their enduring collaboration, 1/ST RACING will present Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance with a generous check donation following the named race at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Representatives from the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Board of Directors and its accredited organizations will be present for the check presentation.

“We're thrilled to have Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance join us again at the Pegasus World Cup,” said Nicole Walker, Vice President of The Stronach Group. “Their amazing dedication to ensuring the well-being of these incredible animals on and off the racetrack deserves to be recognized, plus their wonderful presence adds to our celebration of racing excellence.”

The TAA will present 'best turned-out' awards, sponsored by Centennial Farm, for each of Saturday's 14 races. The winning groom and horse will be recognized by the track announcer and will be promoted across TAA's social media accounts. Award recipients will recent a TAA gift bag with branded merchandise.

“Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is extremely excited to be part of Pegasus World Cup for another year,” said Stacie Clark Rogers, operations consultant at Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. “It's a testament to our shared commitment to the care and support of these exceptional athletes. We're thrilled to continue our long-time partnership with Pegasus, uniting for the betterment of retired Thoroughbred racehorses in this prestigious racing event.”

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Laurel River Set For Desert Debut

Juddmonte's Laurel River (Into Mischief), last seen running out a 3 3/4-length winner of the GII Pat O'Brien S. in August 2022 for Bob Baffert, has been entered for the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint (1200m) and the G3 Firebreak S. (1600m) on 'Fashion Friday' at Meydan Racecourse Jan. 26.

“Everything seems to be fine, we've gotten nothing but good reports from over there,” said Garrett O'Rourke, general manager of Juddmonte USA, who confirmed that the 6-year-old stallion will take part in the shorter of the two races Friday evening.

An impressive maiden winner at second asking in April 2021, Laurel River was second to The Chosen Vron (Vronsky) in the GIII Laz Barrera S. the following month, but went missing off an 11 1/2-length romp in his first start going a mile at Del Mar that September. A facile allowance winner first off an 11-month absence in July 2022, he defeated American Theorem (American Pharoah) and Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) in the Pat O'Brien to earn a berth in that year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. He was scratched on the eve of the race, for which he would have been one of the top choices.

Laurel River was subsequently transferred to the successful yard of trainer Bhupat Seemar and cleared quarantine last October. He has been in steady work since, but the Juddmonte team are taking a pragmatic approach to what might lie ahead.

“I don't want to get ahead of ourselves. He's been off a long time,” O'Rourke said. “I'd like him to show that he still has the same sparkle, but obviously we expect some rust for as long as he's been off.”

O'Rourke indicated that it will be one step at a time with Laurel River and that near-term options include the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint–a race won last year by Juddmonte's champion Elite Power (Curlin)–and the G3 Mahab al Shimaal (1200m) or G3 Burj Nahaar (1600m) on Super Saturday in Dubai Mar. 2 en route to a possible appearance on Dubai World Cup night four weeks later.

“I'd say he'll dictate where we go,” O'Rourke said. “We have to answer one question first and that's whether he shows his old spark and ability and I think after that, we'll play it by ear. You don't want to pigeonhole yourself into any plan when something different might work out to be the best.

“We've got to get past this performance and move on after that,” O'Rourke continued. “We're just happy that the horse is healthy and happy and working well and wherever it leads us after this weekend, we'll see where we go with him.”

Laurel River will kick off his Dubai campaign on a mark of 116, among the highest-rated dirt horses in the jurisdiction. Isolate (Mark Valeski), winner of last year's G2 Godolphin Mile and on track for the G1 Saudi Cup next month, is rated on 117, while the top dirt sprinter Tuz (Oxbow) is rated 115. The latter, conditioned by Seemar, is also among the entries for the Al Shindagha Sprint.

 

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