Aidan Butler Joins TDN Writers’ Room

Whenever a day at the races can be turned into an “event,” the fans and the bettors turn out in droves, and there's no better example of that than the Pegasus World Cup Day card at Gulfstream. Highlighted by the GI Pegasus World Cup, the day has become among the most important on the calendar for 1/ST Racing, which owns Gulfstream, and this year's handle could once again top the $40 million mark.

1/ST Racing CEO of Racing Aidan Butler will be among those responsible for putting on a good show this Saturday, and we brought him on this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland to tell us more about the Pegasus and the importance of getting people to the track to experience live racing. Butler was this week's Green Group Guest of the Week.

“Like everybody else, I am slightly depressed that racing isn't quite the draw that it once was,” Butler said. “If you are going to get fans back, you have to get them to the track. It's why we all fell in love with it. There is no feeling like the excitement of the horses coming past you and the buzz of the crowd. Like with a lot of other industries, it's a lot simpler to be digital. You can send the picture, you can bet on your app. That is never going to grow the sport back. Do I think we're going to be 60,000 people on a Wednesday at Santa Anita? No, but we can at least put our best foot forward when it comes to our marquee days and try to appeal to a broader audience. The Pegasus is an example. We take that to the nth extreme. It's a huge party and it's something that you don't see at racetracks, really, anywhere else in the world. We are really trying to elevate that experience. I think everybody has the understanding now that you have to compete from an experiential standpoint to get people back to the sport. You've got to offer them something that is really unique and the racing and the horses are about as unique as you get. So let's not let the side down with crappy food and bad hospitality and everything else. I'm never going to point a finger, but we may have been asleep at the wheel for a couple of decades, but we're coming back.”

This year's Pegasus was unable to land a major star like past winners Arrogate (Unbridled's Song), Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) or Knicks Go (Paynter), but Butler seemed more than happy with the way the race came together.

“We got the best of what's out there,” he said. “Talk about competitive races. If you're looking for someone to bet, these races are very deep. Personally, I think it's the most competitive Pegasus by far.”

Butler was also asked to talk about Santa Anita's remarkable safety record in 2022 and the latest goings-on in Maryland. In 2020, the Racing and Community Development Act was passed and it earmarked $375 million for the rebuilding of Pimlico and Laurel. Since, the project has stalled. Why?

“Since the original plan, the numbers have gone through the roof,” Butler said. “Everything they had planned for has exponentially gotten more expensive, which has meant we have to be very thoughtful about how we go forward. The last thing we need is to go and spend a bunch of money, especially money that we might be getting from the state, and then being backstopped by the state. We've got to make sure we do it the right way. Luckily for us, the horsemen and women out there, the state representatives, all of the horsemen bodies and all of the people on our side, are being extremely thoughtful. I wish we could get this going. I'd love to see what a new building, particularly at Pimlico, could do, because I think that's a really big opportunity to get the Preakness back to its former glory.”

Speaking of the GI Preakness S., is 1/ST Racing still considering changing the date so that it is not run so close to the GI Kentucky Derby?

“Nothing has been decided and nothing is going to change at the moment,” Butler said. “Hopefully, when and if something changes, it'll be done as an announcement from the Triple Crown Group as opposed to one track trying to do something for the betterment of themselves. If you don't pay attention to the rest of the ecosystem, that's when silly stuff happens. Personally, I'm pretty, happy with where it's at. Internally, we've have some big debates and I've won a couple and lost a couple. But I think at the moment, let's not throw the baby out with the bath water because for once in decade a horse (Rich Strike) didn't run back in the Preakness.”

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by Coolmore,https://lanesend.com/ the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, XBTV, Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders and https://www.threechimneys.com/ West Point Thoroughbreds, Zoe Cadman, Randy Moss and Bill Finley handicapped the Pegasus World Cup and the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf. The team a look back at last week's GIII Lecomte S. and the incredible run trainer Brad Cox is on and looked ahead to Saturday's GIII Southwest S. at Oaklawn. And with another defendant being sentenced to prison for his role in the wide-ranging scheme to dope horses, the 52-month sentence handed down to standardbred trainer Nick Surick was an important topic of discussion.

The post Aidan Butler Joins TDN Writers’ Room appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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GISW Proxy Heads Pegasus Workers

Godolphin's Proxy (Tapit) had his last major workout at the Fair Grounds Saturday in preparation for the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Jan. 28. The 5-year-old official time for the six-furlong move to the seven-eighths pole was 1:13.20, the fastest of two works at the distance Saturday morning.

Working in tandem with stablemate Global Sensation (Into Mischief), the pair covered five-eighths in 1:00.40, with Proxy working an additional eighth-mile past the wire. With a crush of horses working right after the track's renovation break, exercise rider Arturo Aparicio ran into traffic past the wire and had to steer Proxy around a couple of horses galloping out from their own workout.

“Basically Proxy had to go around those horses and weave a little bit to navigate around the turn,” Stidham explained. “It probably cost him a length or two in the final time. But a very nice work. He finished up well and went on out real nice and continued to gallop out well down the backside.”

He added, “The last work [five-eighths in a minute flat] and this work were the two important works. I just wanted to see him finish up willingly and then continue around the turn with good energy. He did that last time and this time really well.”

Runner-up in the GIII Lecomte S. and GII Risen Star S. in the spring of his sophomore season, the homebred finished fourth in the GII Louisiana Derby and GIII Lexington S. before bowing out for the remainder of the season. In 2022, he returned with an allowance win in New Orleans in February before hitting the board in his next four starts, including a third in the GII Stephen Foster S. last summer. Trying Grade I company for the first time in the Nov. 25 Clark, he came home a 3/4-length winner going nine furlongs, the same distance as the Pegasus.

“We talk about it, that Proxy wasn't quite where he needed to be to go into the Triple Crown,” Stidham explained. “It wasn't 'Oh well, why don't we do this or that?' It was a done deal. Believe me, the reason [2021 G1 Dubai World Cup scorer] Mystic Guide [Ghostzapper] did what he did was because of that, allowing us to go slow with him and skip some of the big races, including the Breeders' Cup. With Proxy, skipping the Triple Crown has allowed us to get to winning the Clark. I don't think a lot of people realize how important those decisions are in a horse's career, for their future.”

Also working toward the Pegasus, Saffie Joseph Jr. sent out Daniel Alonso's Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) and Fernando Vine Ode and Michael and Jules Iavarone's O'Connor (Chi) (Boboman) to the main track at Palm Meadows for easy half-mile breezes Saturday morning.

Skippylongstocking breezed a half-mile in :48.50 (18/99), while O'Connor was caught in :51.05 (88/99) at Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County. Both horses were breezing for the first time since running in the GIII Harlan's Holiday S., won by Skippylongstocking. O'Connor finished fourth in the 8 1/2-furlong test Dec. 31. Joseph Jr. also trains White Abarrio (Race Day), who prepped for the Pegasus at Gulfstream Friday morning with a five-furlong work in :59.24.

Joseph also sent Ken Ramsey and the Estate of Sarah Ramsay's Artie's Princess (We Miss Artie) to Palm Meadows' main track for a half-mile breeze in :48.45 in preparation for a start in the GIII Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf invitational.

At Santa Anita Saturday, GI Awesome Again winner Defunded (Dialed In) also worked in advance of the Pegasus World Cup. The Bob Baffert trainee drilled six furlongs in 1:12.6.

Taking on the Pegasus Turf

At Santa Anita Saturday morning, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Speaking Scout (Mr Speaker), victorious in the Dec. 3 GI Hollywood Derby, breezed a half-mile in :48.20 for a start in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational. Also pointing toward the Turf, Three Diamonds Farm's Atone posted his third straight bullet workout Saturday at Gulfstream, powering through five-eighths of a mile in :59.96 (1/48). The prior two weeks, Atone worked in :59.04 and :59.20.

A $130,000 Fasig-Tipton July purchase, he led all the way through a leisurely pace to win his last start, an Aqueduct turf allowance Nov. 10.

“He's in top form. The freshening did him well, so I expect another big performance from him,” said trainer Mike Maker, who won the 2020 Pegasus Turf with Zulu Alpha. “He's always been a straightforward horse, works well, puts a bunch into his gallops.”

For the second straight year, Atone needed defections from the Pegasus Turf's original invitees in order to run. Last year, he finished fourth, losing by a total of 1 3/4 lengths to two-time winner Colonel Liam (Liam's Map).

While the 6-year-old gelding has never won a stakes, he has hot the board five times in graded-stakes over the past 13 months.

“He's been a little bit of a hard-luck horse,” Maker said. “He's a lot more mature this year than he was last year.”

Maker also indicated Mark Breen's Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro), fourth in last year's Pegasus World Cup at 85-1 odds, and Nice Guy Stables' GIII Knickerbocker S. winner King Cause (Creative Cause), who is awaiting a spot in the Pegasus Turf, would run if they get into their respective races.

Both horses are currently on the reserve list. The final invitational lists will be released Wednesday, Jan. 18 with the draw for all Pegasus races to take place Sunday, Jan. 22.

The post GISW Proxy Heads Pegasus Workers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Horse Racing Women’s Summit Gulfstream Event Tickets on Sale

The Horse Racing Women's Summit (HRWS) at Gulfstream Park has been scheduled for Friday, Jan. 27, the eve of the Pegasus World Cup. Guests will gather and network in the beautiful Flamingo Room for brunch and a handicapping seminar featuring NYRA and Fox Sports presenter Maggie Wolfendale-Morley and Claudia Spadaro, on-air handicapper and personality for Gulfstream and HipicaTV. Following the seminar, guests will have access to the White Suite for the remainder of the race day.

Tickets are on sale for $130 and will include brunch and beverages, including beer, wine, and champagne plus entry into our first-ever HRWS handicapping contest.

“We are thrilled to continue creating opportunities to connect and empower women in horse racing,” said Jodie Vella-Gregory, VP Industry Relations, 1/ST RACING & GAMING, “At the Gulfstream Park Meet Up, we hope women take a moment to network, discuss the future, and celebrate one another. Every time we come together new ideas are cultivated and connections are forged creating a brighter future for women in racing.”

Tickets are available at www.womeninracingsummit.com.

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Cyberknife, Colonel Liam Head List Of 2023 Pegasus World Cup Invitees

Cyberknife (Gun Runner) and two-time defending champion Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) top the invitational lists for the $3 million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational and the $1 million GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational respectively.

The seventh running of the Pegasus World Cup, a 1 1/8-mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up, will be featured Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park along with the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, a 1 1/8-mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up, and the GIII Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for older fillies and mares on turf.

The invitation list includes 12 older horses for each, as well as a list of eight reserve invitees. Contenders for the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational are: MGISW Cyberknife, GISW Defunded (Dialed In), GISW Proxy (Tapit), GISW White Abarrio (Race Day),  GISW Get Her Number (Dialed In), GISW Art Collector (Bernardini), G1SW Super Corinto (Super Saver), G1SW O'Connor (Boboman), MGSW & GISP Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator), GSW & MGISP Stilleto Boy (Shackleford), GSW & GISP Simplification (Not This Time), and GSW Last Samurai (Malibu Moon).

The eight horses on the reserve list are: Barber Road (Race Day), Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro), Hoist the Gold (Mineshaft), Law Professor (Constitution), Muad'dib (Fiber Sonde), Pappacap (Gun Runner), Pioneer of Medina (Pioneerof the Nile), and Ridin With Biden (Constitution).

The GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational invitees incude: MGSW Cabo Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile), MGSW City Man (Mucho Macho Man), MGISW Colonel Liam (Liam's Map), GISW Decorated Invader (Declaration of War), GSW Dicey Mo Chara (Adaay {Ire}), GISW Ivar (Brz) (Agnes Gold {Jpn}), MGSW & GISP Masteroffoxhounds (War Front), GSW Master Piece (Chi) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), GISW Shirl's Speight (Speightstown), GISW Speaking Scout (Mr Speaker), MGSW Who's the Star (Tonalist), and MGSW & MGISP Wit (Practical Joke).

The eight horses on the reserve list are: Atone (Into Mischief), Cellist (Big Blue Kitten), Dark Shift (Dark Angel {Ire}), Good Governance (Kingman {GB}), Hurricane Dream (Hurricane Cat), In Love (Brz} (Agnes Gold {Jpn}), King Cause (Creative Cause), Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown), Law Professor (Constitution), Never Surprised (Constitution), and Street Ready (More Than Ready).

Leading the list of 12 for the GIII Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf is GISW Shantisara (Ire) (Coulsty {Ire}), GSW & GISP Wakanaka (Power {GB}), GISW Dalika (Pastorious {Ger}), and GISW Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Also invited are: Artie's Princess (We Miss Artie), Gam's Mission (Noble Mission {GB}), Justify My Love {Brz} (Agnes Gold {Jpn}), Lady Speightspere (Speightstown), Queen Goddess (Empire Maker), Skims (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Sparkle Blue (Hard Spun), and Stolen Holiday (War Front).

Five reserve invitees include: Kate's Kingdom (Animal Kingdom), Lady Rockstar (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Perseverancia (California Chrome), Saffron Moon (Malibu Moon), and Scotish Star (Arg) (Key Deputy).

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