Cox, who won the the 2021 renewal with Knicks Go (Paynter), looks set to be represented by a pair of entrants in the nine-furlong contest. Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming), front-running winner of the GI Pennsylvania Derby last September, will seek to become the second Saudi-owned winner of the Pegasus as he looks to bounce back from a 10th in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' First Mission (Street Sense) is also among the 12 invitees and will have the chance to turn the tables on Trademark (Upstart), who beat him a nose when last seen in the GII Clark S. at Churchill Nov. 24.

National Treasure (Quality Road), whose sire accounted for 2019 Pegasus winner City of Light, can give Baffert a third Pegasus, joining inaugural winner Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) as well as Mucho Gusto (Mucho Macho Man). Winner of last year's GI Preakness S., the bay was just touched off by Cody's Wish (Curlin) when last seen in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Pletcher is represented by Grand Aspen (Dialed In) in the main body of the race, who earned his ticket to the Pegasus with a narrow defeat at the hooves of O'Connor (Chi) (Boboman) in the GIII Harlan's Holiday S. at Gulfstream Dec. 30.

In addition to O'Connor, the Saffie Joseph, Jr. trainee might be joined by his stable companion Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator), the GII Charles Town Classic winner who was last seen finishing third in the Dirt Mile.

Also among the invitees are Hoist the Gold (Mineshaft), winner of the GII Cigar Mile H. trying to stretch out to nine furlongs; Newgrange (Violence), last-out winner of the GII San Antonio S.; Cigar Mile runner-up Senor Buscador (Mineshaft); GIII Smarty Jones S. hero Il Miracolo (Gun Runner); and multiple Argentinian Group 1 winner Subsanador (Arg) (Fortify), fourth in the San Antonio.

Defending champion Atone (Into Mischief) is among a dozen invitees to the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf, but looks to face a field much stronger on paper than 12 months ago. Chief amongst the opposition is Godolphin's Master of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who might make another trans-Atlantic trip having taken a photo in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has been kept busy by trainer Aidan O'Brien, as she proved an unlucky loser in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf in November ahead of a third in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase last time. Arguably the most intriguing among any of the Pegasus invitees is Integration (Quality Road), who was unbeaten in three smashing victories at three in 2023, including the GIII Virginia Derby and GII Hill Prince S. Webslinger (Constitution) won three of his nine starts last term, a season that might have been even more productive but for near misses in the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S. and GI Hollywood Derby. Main Event (Bernardini) earned his spot in the field with an all-the-way success over Kingmax (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the GII Fort Lauderdale S. Dec. 30.

Chad Brown won the inaugural GIII Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf with Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) in 2022 and has two chances to double his tally in the form of GI Matriarch S. runner-up Fluffy Socks (Slumber {GB}) and MGSW Consumer Spending (More Than Ready). Queen Goddess (Empire Maker) is winless in four starts since defeating the Brown-trained Shantisara (Ire) (Coulsty {Ire}) in last year's renewal.

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And while their bigger name might be out, Godolphin is still going for the repeat here with last year's Arlington Million winner Santin (Distorted Humor). In the Churchill Downs edition held at 1 1/8 miles, the 5-year-old led nearly gate-to-wire and soundly defeated GISW Smooth Like Strait (Midnight Lute). Racing for trainer Brendan Walsh, Santin will have to overcome the widest draw of the field from gate 11 and gets back on the turf after a pair of main-track races at Churchill and Ellis respectively resulting in back-to-back off-the-board finishes.

Never far from Grade I turf action, trainer Chad Brown brings a pair of entries in last year's GI United Nations S. winner Adhamo (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) and GISW Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).

And while Brad Cox may be more well known for his dirt horses, Set Piece (GB) (Dansili {GB}) will look to give his trainer another Grade I coming off a win in the GIII Arlington S. at Churchill two back June 3 and a narrow third in the GII Wise Dan S. last time out at Ellis July 1.

THE GIRLS GO FOR BREEDERS' CUP SLOT IN BEVERLY D.

With an all-expenses paid trip to the GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf on the line, a field of seven fillies and mares duel on the Virginia turf in the 1 3/16-mile GI Beverly D. S.

Mark Casse's Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) leads the field from the rail draw and will look to continue her run of trifecta finishes since coming stateside last year. A two-time graded stakes winner at Woodbine, the 5-year-old trailed Whitebeam (GB) (Caravaggio) and MGISW In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) by just a half-length on the line in Saratoga's GI Diana S. July 15.

The Argentinian-bred Didia (Arg) (Orpen) had her seven-race win streak ended by Chad Brown's Marketsegmentation (American Pharoah) by just three-quarters of a length in Belmont's GI New York S. June 9. Prior to that, the 5-year-old earned Group 1 wins in her native country and took Churchill's GIII Modesty S. on the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 5 before contesting the New York. Racing for Merriebelle Stable and trainer Ignacio Correas, she is also the only member of the field with experience over Colonial's Secretariat turf course–winning both of her first two starts in the United States.

Peter Brant's Gina Romantica (Into Mischief) brought just over $1,000,000 at auction as a yearling at Keeneland September and her value increased exponentially after wining last season's GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland. A winner of two of her four turf starts for Chad Brown, she enters off a fourth–beaten just 1 1/4 lengths–in her seasonal debut in the GIII Eatontown at Monmouth Park June 17.

Silver Knott trains at Saratoga | Sarah Andrew

GODOLPHIN'S SILVER KNOTT TAKES ON NAGIRROC IN SECRETARIAT

While Rebel's Romance may not have made the trip, Godolphin is still well-represented in Saturday's action with Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) who will contest the first of the three graded stakes at Colonial in the GII Secretariat S. A Group 3 winner in England, the Charlie Appleby trainee missed Grade I glory by just a nose to Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

A further 2 1/4 lengths behind that pair, Nagirroc (Lea) has never been off the board in his eight career starts for Graham Motion and owners Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables LLC and William Strauss. A winner two back in the James W. Murphy S. at Pimlico on Preakness Day, the colt was a narrow third last time out in Belmont's GIII Manila S. July 7.

Another Manila starter and an early-season Triple Crown trail colt, Spendthrift's Major Dude (Bolt d'Oro) has seen much success since switching to the turf for nearly all of his 3-year-old season. A three-time graded stakes winner, he finished second behind the recently-retired Two Phil's (Hard Spun) in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks S. at Turfway Mar. 25 and came right back to win the GII Penn Mile two starts back June 2.

SARATOGA'S FOURSTARDAVE IS 'WAYI' OPPORTUNITY

Keeping to the grass but moving north to New York, a field of seven accomplished older horses vie for a slot in the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile with Saturday's GI Fourstardave H.

Already the earner of over $2 million, Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) took last year's rendition of this race and started this year off strong with a loss by a just a head in Saudi Arabia's G3 1351 Turf Sprint Feb. 25. Third in the GI Jaipur S., a race he also won last year, the Bill Mott trainee took the GIII Kelso S. at Saratoga in preparation for this spot. A true war horse, this is his fourth straight attempt at the Fourstardave.

Todd Pletcher's 'TDN Rising Star' Annapolis (War Front), a Grade I winner as a 3-year-old, has missed the trifecta only once his entire career and began his season with a win in the Opening Verse S. at Churchill before just failing to reel in Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) in the GIII Kelso S. last month at Saratoga.

Another Pletcher runner, 'Rising Star' Emmanuel (More Than Ready) races for Siena Farm and WinStar Farm and posted a victory last time out in the GIII Poker S. at Belmont Park June 10. He's raced exclusively on the turf since a third in last year's GI Toyota Blue Grass S. The 100 Beyer Speed Figure he put up in the Poker S. is a career best.

2-YEAR-OLDS TACKLE THE SARATOGA SPECIAL

A plethora of maiden winners make the jump into graded-stakes company Saturday in the 6 1/2-furlong GII Herb Moelis Memorial Saratoga Special S.

Courtlandt Farms has 'TDN Rising Star' Edified (Tapit) here for trainer Steve Asmussen. The Summer Wind Equine-bred, the $650,000 Keeneland September yearling, rolled by 3 1/2 lengths in his Ellis Park debut July 1 under Joel Rosario, who retains the ride here.

Norm Casse jumps Rhyme Schemes (Ghostzapper) up in class after he broke his maiden in dominating fashion in his second career start, wiring an Ellis field by 9 1/2 lengths June 15 as an 8-1 shot. With Ricardo Santana Jr. still aboard, the chestnut keeps the blinkers on and looks to improve upon the impressive 94 Beyer Speed Figure he put up in that maiden race.

Haul (Army Mule), racing for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and St. Elias Stables, went for $260,000 at this year's OBS April sale and immediately rewarded his connections with a three-length debut win as the favorite at Belmont July 9.

Rhyme Schemes (outside) | Sarah Andrew

WEST COAST FILLIES GO IN THE SORRENTO

2-year-old fillies make the grade at Del Mar Saturday in the GIII Sorrento S. Bob Baffert saddles Dua (Arrogate) for Zedan Racing Stables, the same connections who picked up the sale-topping son of Curlin at Tuesday's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. The $400,000 Fasig-Tipton July yearling won her Del Mar debut by a half-length July 22.

City of Light picked up his first 'TDN Rising Star' with Benedetta who flew home by three lengths for trainer Simon Callaghan and owner Kaleem Shah at Los Alamitos July 8. The bay brought $750,000 at the OBS March sale and put in a near-bullet work at Del Mar Aug. 5 going four furlongs in :47 1/5 (3/82).

Already a stakes winner in her first start, Dreamfyre (Flameaway) has helped put her freshman sire (by Scat Daddy) on the map with a near gate-to-wire performance in Pleasanton's Everett Nevin S.

YELLOW RIBBON HOSTS ON THE TURF

Finishing out the evening on the West Coast, fillies and mares tackle the GII Yellow Ribbon S. at Del Mar going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The race is led by the Harris Farm-homebred Closing Remarks (Vronsky) who breaks from the rail and has contested exclusively graded-stakes company since a third in last year's GII Buena Vista S. Grade I-placed in the 2021 GI Del Mar Oaks, the 5-year-old mare was sixth last time out in the GI Gamely S. at Santa Anita May 29.

Also in that Gamely S., School Dance (Animal Kingdom) checked in just behind Closing Remarks in last year's GII Royal Heroine S. and just missed by a head in the GI American Oaks.

Bob Baffert can never be counted out, even on the turf, and he brings in Ganadora (Quality Road) here. The 4-year-old sold for $1,000,000 as a yearling at Keeneland in 2020 and was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' for her 6 1/2-length debut win at Santa Anita last year. She did her best running in last year's Dark Mirage S. but also just missed by a nose in this season's GIII La Canada S. Jan. 15.

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Entries are available on Fasig-Tipton's enhanced online catalogue, which features pedigrees, race replays, statistical links, and Ragozin “sheet” numbers, as well as both Daily Racing Form and Thoroughmanager past performances. The catalogue will also be available via the equineline sales catalogue app, while print catalogues will be available on the sales grounds in the week leading up to the sale.

The July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale was established in 2013 and graduates have earned more than $75 million. Among the sale's graduates to shine this year are GI Pegasus Turf Invitational S. winner Atone (Into Mischief), GI Santa Anita H. winner Stilleto Boy (Shackleford), and G1 King Faisal Cup winner Scotland Yard (Quality Road).

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The winner, bet down to 7-2 off a 12-1 morning line, most recently took an Aqueduct optional claimer going this distance Nov. 10. Acquired for $130,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton July HRA sale after originally racing for his breeder Godolphin, the bay was fourth in this race last year amidst four other graded stakes placings. He was second in the GIII WinStar Mint Million S. at Kentucky Downs Sept. 10, and was eighth two back in Keeneland's GI Coolmore Turf Mile S. Oct. 8. Ivar was second in that race.

With 2022's Eclipse-winning jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. seeking a fourth win (third graded and second for Maker) on the card, Atone found a good midpack spot along the fence behind solid splits of :23.26, :47.30 and 1:11.36 with Ivar on his right flank. Ivar moved first as Atone had to wait for clear sailing, but Ortiz seemed unconcerned as he eased his mount to the outside as noses pointed for home. Ivar briefly looked the winner as he struck the front in midstretch, but Atone gobbled up ground to reel him in late.

“It was perfect, every step of the way,” Ortiz said of his trip. “I was so happy. I was following a live horse, Wit (Practical Joke), and then by the three-eighths pole the horse that I had to beat was outside of me, so I had to take two or three strides to let him move before I made my move. I waited, but at the same time I tipped my way out so when I hit the clear my horse was there. All the credit goes to the horse.”

The 30-year-old added, “I'm just enjoying the moment and what is happening in my career right now. I have to thank my agent Steve Rushing for doing a great job and thanks to all the owners and trainers for supporting me. They make me the happiest man in the world to be honest. I'm living the dream.”

Maker won the second running of this race in 2020 with Zulu Alpha (Street Cry {Ire}), and for good measure, just minutes before Atone's victory, took a state-bred Aqueduct maiden special weight with sophomore colt Maker's Candy (Twirling Candy).

“It feels great to win. It doesn't get old,” said Maker. “Irad looked like he wanted to be forwardly placed out of the gate and it looked like a couple of others had the same idea. He settled in nice, saved some ground and got lucky to get some racing room when it counted… He was a hard-luck horse last year. He's always been right there, and today was his day.”

He added, “It's been a great day, and I've got two more tonight at Turfway.”

Carl Fiebig, a partner in Three Diamonds Farm, said “All the credit goes to Mike and his staff. Irad is an Eclipse Award winner for a reason. It was flawless execution. Most importantly, for the Wycoffs, this win is for them. We're glad to be a small part of this. For myself and my family to be a part of this, I just want to thank Jordan and Kirk [Wycoff] who put a lot of energy, money and everything into this business and I'm glad to see them rewarded on days like this.”

Pedigree Notes:

A product of two of the most important stallions of the last few decades, Atone is his sire's 59th Northern Hemisphere graded winner, but just the second from that group out of an A.P. Indy mare. A.P. Indy is the broodmare sire of 121 graded/group winners worldwide.

Atone's dam, a daughter of GISP Folk, was a stakes winner and graded-placed routing on the dirt. She has a 3-year-old filly named Rekindled (Nyquist) who has been working towards a debut at Tampa Bay Downs, and Captivativ Lass sold to Mark Dodson at KEENOV '21 for $50,000 carrying an English Channel colt. She was bred back to Good Magic. Douglas Arnold bought Atone's 4-year-old half-sister Way of Life (Street Boss) for $11,000 at the recent Keeneland January sale in foal to Astern (Aus).

Saturday, Gulfstream
PEGASUS WORLD CUP TURF INVITATIONAL S. PRESENTED BY QATAR RACING-GI, $981,400, Gulfstream, 1-28, 4yo/up, 1 1/8mT, 1:46.19, fm.
1–ATONE, 123, g, 6, by Into Mischief
                1st Dam: Captivating Lass (SW & GSP, $133,225), by A.P. Indy
                2nd Dam: Folk, by Quiet American
                3rd Dam: Polish Style, by Danzig
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN,
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($130,000 4yo '21 FTKHRA). O-Three
Diamonds Farm; B-Godolphin (KY); T-Michael J. Maker;
J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $558,000. Lifetime Record: 23-7-4-4,
$1,179,146. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ivar (Brz), 123, h, 7, Agnes Gold (Jpn)–May Be Now,
by Smart Strike. O-Bonne Chance Farm, LLC & Stud R D I, LLC.;
B-Stud Rio Dois Irmaos (BRZ); T-Paulo H. Lobo. $186,000.
3–Speaking Scout, 123, g, 4, Mr Speaker–Miss Scout,
by Pleasant Tap. ($10,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $3,000 Ylg '20
OBSOCT). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Mike Abraham
(KY); T-H. Graham Motion. $93,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1HF, NK. Odds: 3.80, 3.70, 24.00.
Also Ran: Lady Speightspeare, One More Bid, King Cause, Master Piece (Chi), Wit, Good Governance (GB), Hurricane Dream (Fr), Decorated Invader, City Man. Scratched: Steady On, Who's the Star. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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“I think his [last] race was very good,” said trainer Paulo Lobo. “He lost to a very top horse [Modern Games]. Javier Castellano was riding him for the first time. He rode a very good race, and since then we've pointed for the Pegasus Turf and we've never missed a day and never had a bad day. Everything that we planned is happening, no problems.”

Hall of Famer Castellano will be back aboard Ivar from Post 10.

Also among the dozen contenders are 4-1 second choice MGSW City Man (Mucho Macho Man) and GISW Decorated Invader (Declaration of War), both trained by Christophe Clement, who respectively ran 1-2 in Gulfstream's GII Fort Lauderdale S. Dec. 31.

Third choice at 6-1 is Charles Fipke's homebred GISW Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown), who will face males for the first time. The 5-year-old owns seven wins from 13 career starts, six of them in graded-stakes including Woodbine's GI Natalma S. Third last time out in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, she retains the services of Luis Saez from post six.

Rounding out the field are MGSP Atone (Into Mischief), MGSW Master Piece (Chi) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), MGSW Who's the Star (Tonalist), GSW One More Bid (California Chrome), MGSP Good Governance (Kingman {GB}), and another pair of stablemates, Graham Motion-trained GISW Speaking Scout (Mr. Speaker) and MGSP Hurricane Dream (Fr) (Hurricane Cat), making his first start in North America.

On the also-eligible list, in order of preference, are GSW King Cause (Creative Cause) and Dark Shift (Dark Angel {Ire}), winner of the Royal Hunt Cup last summer at Royal Ascot.

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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.

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The reigning Eclipse Award winner Cox is represented by Juddmonte's Set Piece (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who was rerouted to this spot after scratching from a potential defense of his title in the May 5 Opening Verse S. at Churchill Downs. Winner of that track's GII Wise Dan S. last June, the homebred was runner-up in the GI Fourstardave H. at the Spa in August and most recently raced a bit freely when seventh first off a September layoff in the GI Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland Apr. 15. Cox saddled Factor This (The Factor) to take the 2020 Dinner Party.

Maker sent out Somelikeithotbrown (Big Brown) to score last year and tightens the girth around Three Diamonds Farm's Atone (Into Mischief) here. Second in last year's GII Fort Lauderdale S. at Gulfstream Dec. 18, the bay gelding was beaten less than two lengths into fourth behind Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Jan. 29 and fought on bravely to finish just a length off Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) when completing the super in the Maker's Mark.

Beacon Hill (Blame) looms an intriguing alternative to the top two choices off an Apr. 20 allowance effort at Keeneland in which he lagged back, came wide with what appeared to be a winning bid, but lugged in on multiple occasions and lost a bob. Joel Rosario sees fit to hop back aboard.

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“He seems to look good and energetic coming into this,” confirmed Pletcher. “Is he going to be ready to fire his best shot off the lengthy layoff? But every indication he is he's ready.”

A winner of this race in 2019 with ultimate Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar, Chad Brown is represented by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Mike Caruso's Sacred Life (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). Fourth in this race last year, the French-bred won the GIII Knickerbocker S. last October before finishing a head back in second behind the re-opposing Field Pass (Lemon Drop Kid) in Del Mar's GII Seabiscuit S. Nov. 27. Jose Ortiz gets back aboard.

D K Racing, Radley Equine Inc., Taste of Victory Stables, Rick Gold, Tony Maslowski and Dave Odmark's Hit the Road (More Than Ready) reeled off four consecutive wins between May 2020 and March 2021, including Santa Anita's GIII Thunder Road S. and the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile in March. He is coming off back-to-back thirds in the GII Del Mar Mile in August and GII City of Hope Mile Oct. 2. The 5-year-old was purchased by trainer Dan Blacker and Australian bloodstock agent Craig 'Boomer' Rounsefell after he RNA'd for $200,000 at Keeneland September.

“He's the best horse I've ever trained,” said Blacker. “Hopefully, there'll be more like him to come, but, he's a really special horse. It meant a lot that myself and Craig Rounsefell bought him ourselves at the sale and watched him develop into a great horse. I always had a confidence that he could be a top-level horse, but you never know. To have him go and win a Grade I, it was more than I could have hoped for, a real thrill. I'm just thankful to the owners to give me the chance to buy horses like him.”

Kirk Wycoff's Three Diamonds Farm offers a two-pronged attack with Cross Border (English Channel) and the aforementioned Field Pass. Their trainer Mike Maker, who won this race with Zulu Alpha (Street Cry {Ire}) in 2020, is also represented this year by Jordan Wycoff's Atone (Into Mischief) and Mike and Jules Iavarone, Abbondanza Racing and Donald Durando's Flavius (War Front).

Cross Border, winner of the GII Bowling Green S. at Saratoga in July, took the Prairie Bayou S. over Turfway Park's all-weather surface Dec. 18. Winless with a second and two thirds over Gulfstream's turf, Cross Border gets the services of Reylu Gutierrez from post 11.

Victorious in the GIII Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup in July, Field Pass later finished runner up in the Knickerbocker before taking the Seabiscuit. He won in his only previous try over Gulfstream's grass course in the 2020 Dania Beach S. Umberto Rispoli rides from post 9.

Joseph Allen's homebred Doswell (Giant's Causeway), runner up in the 2020 edition of the GII Ft Lauderdale S., finished third in his next three starts, including the GIII W. L. McKnight S., also at this venue. Sent off a 9-2 while trying to go one better in last month's Ft. Lauderdale, he went wire-to-wire to score by 1 1/2 lengths over Atone Dec. 18.

“He came out really, really well,” said trainer Barclay Tagg. “Not a blemish on him. He's happy, eating well and he hasn't missed a breeze since. We feel good about him. If he can get to where he can relax and be up close, then I think it'll work out fine.”

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The fourth running of the Pegasus World Cup Turf presented by Baccarat and the sixth renewal of the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) presented by 1/ST BET on dirt, both at 1 1/8 miles, and the inaugural $500,000 TAA Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G3) presented by PEPSI comprise the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, headlining a blockbuster 12-race program featuring seven graded stakes worth $5.2 million in purses.

First race post time is 11:30 a.m. EST. NBC will provide live national coverage from 4:30 to 6 p.m. EST.

Colonel Liam will become one of only five horses to run in the Pegasus Turf more than once, a group led by California-based Next Shares, who took part in each of the first three editions. Cross Border, third behind Colonel Liam and Pletcher-trained stablemate Largent last year, as well as Sacred Life and Channel Cat, respectively fourth and 10th in 2020, also return this year.

Neither previous Pegasus Turf winner –subsequent 2019 Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar or Zulu Alpha (2020) – returned for a title defense.

“It would be awesome,” Pletcher said of back-to-back Pegasus Turf victories. “We feel good about everything going into it. We'll just keep our fingers crossed for a good trip and, hopefully, he can come with another big effort.”

During Tuesday's post-position draw inside Gulfstream's Sport of Kings Theater, Colonel Liam was made the narrow 3-1 favorite among 11 stakes winners, nine of them graded, including fellow Grade 1 winners Channel Cat and Hit the Road. Second choice on the morning line at 7-2 is stablemate Never Surprised, with Sacred Life (6-1) and Hit the Road (8-1) the others listed at single-digit odds.

Following the Pegasus, Colonel Liam went on to capture the Muniz Memorial Classic (G2) and dead heat for first with Domestic Spending in the Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs. A 5-year-old son of Liam's Map, a two-time Grade 1 winner on dirt for Pletcher, Colonel Liam has not raced since finishing eighth to Domestic Spending in the 1 ¼-mile Manhattan (G1) last June at Belmont Park. He got some time off starting in late summer and returned to the work tab in early December at Palm Beach Downs.

“I think over the years we've done pretty well in layoff situations, so I think it was important that we got the works into him that we did and we were fortunate enough that everything went according to the way we mapped it out,” Pletcher said. “So, I feel good about that. You never know if they're going to be quite as sharp off a layoff, but he's certainly trained well enough and has run well fresh before. Hopefully we can get the same type of effort. He's given us every indication that he's come up to it as good as ever.”

Among his rivals in the Pegasus Turf will be 4-year-old Never Surprised, a front-running type that is coming off a victory in the 1 1/16-mile Tropical Park Derby Dec. 26 at Gulfstream, the same race Colonel Liam won in his Pegasus prep.

“When we came down looking at the Tropical Derby, we were hoping he'd run well enough to earn his way into the Pegasus. He was able to do that,” Pletcher said. “I think Never Surprised is coming in with a live chance. We'll see how much speed is in the race, but he's kind of shown that he's able to get into that high cruising speed and keep going. It'll be a fun race to watch.”

Riding a two-race win streak that includes the 1 1/16-mile Gio Ponti last November at Aqueduct, Repole Stable's Never Surprised has never finished worse than second in seven career starts. He won the 2020 Central Park in his second lifetime trip and ran second in the 2021 Kitten's Joy (G3) at Gulfstream, Saranac (G3) and Hill Prince (G2).

“Never Surprised is a free-running horse and he's got good natural speed. The key is just trying to get him to settle and relax,” Pletcher said. “I think he made a real step forward last time in the Tropical Derby. It was a very impressive performance. We'll let him do his thing and hopefully he won't overachieve early on. If he's able to just relax and settle in and get away with a decent pace, then I think he could be dangerous.”

Irad Ortiz Jr., aboard Colonel Liam for last year's Pegasus Turf, gets the return call from Post 6, while Championship Meet-leading rider Luis Saez is named on Never Surprised from the far outside Post 12.

The Pegasus Turf will be the 31st career race for Calumet Farm homebred Channel Cat, a millionaire son of late grass champion English Channel. He became a graded winner in the 2020 Bowling Green (G2) at Saratoga and a Grade 1 winner in the 1 3/8-mile Man o' War last May at Belmont.

Unraced since finishing second by a neck after setting the pace in the 1 3/8-mile Red Smith (G2) last November at Aqueduct, 7-year-old Channel Cat (12-1) has been working steadily at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, for his return.

“We couldn't ask him to be doing any better. His final piece of work was last Thursday and it was probably the finest piece of work he's ever done with us,” trainer Jack Sisterson said. “He came out of the breeze in good shape, and he just really seems to be getting bigger and stronger and faster and he should be going the other way because he's getting older. It's quite remarkable. We're looking forward to Saturday.”

Joel Rosario, widely regarded as the favorite to earn his first Eclipse Award as champion jockey for 2021, will ride from Post 10.

D K Racing, Radley Equine Inc., Taste of Victory Stables, Rick Gold, Tony Maslowski and Dave Odmark's Hit the Road, 5, strung together four consecutive wins between May 2020 and March 2021 capped by the Thunder Road (G3) and Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) at Santa Anita. He has raced 12 times, the last 11 at eight furlongs, and is coming off back-to-back thirds in the Del Mar Mile (G2) and City of Hope Mile (G2), the latter Oct. 2.

Based in California, Hit the Road (8-1) was purchased privately by trainer Dan Blacker and Australian bloodstock agent Craig 'Boomer' Rounsefell. The son of More Than Ready has six wins and ventured east once before, running fifth in the Maker's Mark Mile (G1) last April.

“He's the best horse I've ever trained. Hopefully there'll be more like him to come, but, he's a really special horse,” Blacker said. “It meant a lot that myself and Craig Rounsefell bought him ourselves at the sale and watched him develop into a great horse. I always had a confidence that he could be a top-level horse, but you never know. To have him go and win a Grade 1, it was more than I could have hoped for, a real thrill. I'm just thankful to the owners to give me the chance to buy horses like him.”

Hit the Road will have the services of Tyler Gaffalione from Post 5.

Trainer Mike Maker has had two Pegasus Turf starters each of the past two years, winning with Zulu Alpha and finishing third last year with Cross Border, who is part of Maker's quadruple threat this year along with Atone, Field Pass and recent acquisition Flavius. A triple stakes winner for breeder Juddmonte Farms, Flavius (15-1) was purchased for $230,000 at Keeneland's November breeding stock sale and turned over to Maker at Gulfstream, where the 7-year-old ridgling has breezed eight times over the main track. Paco Lopez will be up from Post 3.

Kirk Wycoff's Three Diamonds Farm owns both Cross Border and Field Pass. An 8-year-old millionaire son of English Channel, Cross Border (15-1) has the most experience among Pegasus Turf horses with 39 previous starts, 11 of them wins including the 2021 Bowling Green and Dec. 18 Prairie Bayou over Turfway Park's all-weather surface last time out. Winless with a second and two thirds over Gulfstream's turf, Cross Border gets the services of Reylu Gutierrez from Post 11.

Field Pass (10-1) has more stakes wins than any of his Pegasus Turf rivals with seven, five of them in graded-company, the most recent in the 1 1/16-mile Seabiscuit Handicap (G2) Nov. 27 over the Del Mar turf. He also owns four Grade 3 victories and won in his only previous try over Gulfstream's grass course in the 2020 Dania Beach. Umberto Rispoli rides from Post 9.

Jordan Wykoff's 5-year-old Atone (20-1), by Into Mischief, will be making his second straight graded-stakes start and third overall after finishing second to fellow Pegasus Turf contender Doswell in the 1 1/8-mile Fort Lauderdale (G2) Dec. 18 at Gulfstream. Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, up for a one-mile optional claiming allowance win Nov. 21 at Aqueduct, rides back from Post 2.

Coming into the Pegasus Turf off a last-out win over the track is Joseph Allen's homebred Doswell (10-1), who captured the Fort Lauderdale by 1 ½ lengths Dec. 18 for trainer Barclay Tagg. Doswell ran a troubled second in last year's Fort Lauderdale and Tagg opted to skip the Pegasus and run Doswell in the 1 ½-mile W.L. McKnight (G3) instead, where he finished third.

“He came out really, really well. Not a blemish on him. He's happy, eating well and he hasn't missed a breeze since. We feel good about him,” Tagg said. “If he can get to where he can relax and be up close, then I think it'll work out fine.”

Junior Alvarado, up in the Fort Lauderdale, rides back from Post 7.

Live Oak Plantation homebred March to the Arch (20-1) will give U.S. and Canadian Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse his first starter in the Pegasus Turf. The 7-year-old son of Arch is a six-time stakes winner, including Grade 2 victories in the 2020 King Edward and 2019 Wise Dan. He is two-for-five over Gulfstream's turf course, breaking his maiden in 2018 and winning the Sunshine Millions Turf in 2020, and was sixth in the one-mile Artie Schiller on the grass at Aqueduct in November to cap 2021.

Edwin Gonzalez will be aboard from Post 4.

Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Michael Caruso's Sacred Life (6-1) beat Field Pass by a head in the 1 1/8-mile Knickerbocker (G3) last October at Belmont, then fell short by the same margin in the Seabiscuit. Overall, the 7-year-old ridgling has finished third or better in 16 of 22 starts with seven wins, including the 2017 Prix Thomas Bryon (G3) in his native France.

Jose Ortiz rides from Post 8.

Completing the field is Clipper Logistics' Space Traveller, a British-bred 6-year-old that in 2019 won the Jersey Stakes (G3) in England and Boomerang Salonaway Stakes (G2) in Ireland. He is winless in four U.S. tries, all last year, running fourth in the Mr D (G1) shortly after arriving stateside. Second in the Woodbine Mile (G1) and fifth in the Keeneland Turf Mile (G1), Space Traveller made a belated run to be fourth, beaten 3 ¾ lengths by Doswell, in the Fort Lauderdale.

“He seems like he came out of it good. We were a little disappointed that he didn't run better, but to be fair to him he had his excuses. He was drawn wide and there was a bit of lack of pace, as well, I think,” trainer Brendan Walsh said. “I think we could have done with a little bit of a better setup, plus he was coming off a layoff. He's been doing really well since, so I'm hoping he can turn it around on the big day.”

Irish jockey Jamie Spencer, based in England, is named to ride from the rail.

Here's the full field with morning-line odds:

1. Space Traveller (12-1)
2. Atone (20-1)
3. Flavius (15-1)
4. March To The Arch (20-1)
5. Hit The Road (8-1)
6. Colonel Liam (3-1)
7. Doswell (10-1)
8. Sacred Life (6-1)
9. Field Pass (10-1)
10. Channel Cat (12-1)
11. Cross Border (15-1)
12. Never Surprised (7-2)

The post Colonel Liam Attempts To Defend Pegasus Turf Title Off 239-Day Layoff appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Barclay Tagg-trained lightly raced 7-year-old gelding was timed in 1:22.95 over a firm turf at Gulfstream's satellite training facility.

Three Diamond Farm's Atone and Calumet Farm's English Bee, Pegasus Turf reserve invitees who finished second and third, respectively, in the Fort Lauderdale, also breezed Sunday.

Mike Maker-trained Atone breezed five furlongs in 1:02.14 on dirt at Gulfstream, where Maker-trained Pegasus Turf invitee Field Pass also breezed five furlongs on the main track in 1:01.91. Graham Motion-trained English Bee breezed six furlongs in 1:12.05 on turf at Palm Meadows.

Sunday's Gulfstream worktab also included several other notable breezes. St. George Stable LLC's Letruska, a finalist for an Eclipse Award for Older Dirt Female, returned to the worktab for the first time since finishing off-the-board in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). The Fausto Gutierrez-trained mare, who won five straight races (three Grade 1 stakes) in a row prior to the Distaff, was timed in 37.20 seconds for three furlongs.

Grade 1 winner Drain the Clock breezed a half-mile in 48.14 seconds. Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Wonder Stables and Michael Nentwig's 4-year-old son of Maclean's Music most recently came off a 3 ½-month layoff to win a six-furlong optional claiming allowance in 1:08.63. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained colt defeated Gatsby, who came back to score a dazzling victory in Saturday's $75,000 Sunshine Sprint at Gulfstream.

Red Oak Stable's Make It Big, an undefeated 3-year-old trained by Joseph, breezed a half-mile in 49.62. The son of Neolithic captured the $400,000 Remington Springboard Mile Dec. 17.

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