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Brazilian-Bred Ivar Named Morning-Line Favorite For Pegasus Turf

With the recent retirement of two-time winner Colonel Liam (Liam's Map), MG1SW Ivar (Brz) (Agnes Gold {Jpn}) was named the narrow 5-2 morning-line favorite for the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf. A winner of three of 12 starts in the U.S.–topped by the 2020 GI Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland–he has run in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile each of the last three years, running third in 2021 and fourth in 2020 and 2022.

“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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Gulfstream Stakes Winners to Target Pegasus World Cup

Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) will be aimed at the Jan. 28 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational after his victory in the GIII Harlan's Holiday S. Saturday at Gulfstream, while the Christophe Clement-trained stablemates City Man (Mucho Macho Man) and Decorated Invader (Declaration of War), first and second in the GII Fort Lauderdale S., will now target the Jan. 28 GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational.

Skippylongstocking won the 2022 GIII West Virginia Derby and was third in the GI Belmont S.

“He's getting better and he's filled out so much,” trainer Saffie Joseph said. “He exceeds all expectations. I never give him that much credit and he keeps delivering.”

Joseph said Skippylongstocking will be joined in the Pegasus by stablemate O'Connor (Chi) (Boboman), who finished fourth as the favorite in the Harlan's Holiday.

“He wears glue-on shoes and they actually separated where one shoe was half on and half off,” Joseph said of the Chilean Group 1 winner's trip in the Harlan's Holiday. “I think that could have been a hinderance. I'd rather lose a shoe than have one half on and half off.”

Also expected to move on to the Pegasus are Harlan's Holiday runner-up Pioneer of Medina (Pioneerof the Nile) and third-place finisher Simplification (Not This Time).

The Christophe Clement-trained stablemates City Man (Mucho Macho Man) and Decorated Invader (Declaration of War), first and second in the GII Fort Lauderdale S. at Gulfstream Park Saturday, will now be aimed at the Jan. 28 GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Peter and Patty Searles's City Man got a patient ride from jockey Joel Rosario to find room inside late and surged to a 1 1/2-length victory, while West Point Thoroughbreds, William Freeman, William Sandbrook and Cheryl Manning's Decorated Invader emerged from a three-way photo to get second by a neck.

“The two horses came back in good shape and looked good to me this morning,” Clement said Sunday. “We'll speak to the owners, but the idea would be to train them for the Pegasus.”

The 6-year-old City Man won the GIII Forbidden Apple S. at Saratoga last July and was second in the GIII Bernard Baruch H. before winning a pair of New York-bred stakes in the fall.

“He had some very good races [last] year and we just hope we can keep his form for one more race,” Clement said. “The idea is to run in the Pegasus then we'll pull the plug, send him to Ocala and give him a break afterward.”

Co-owner Dean Reeves, who also campaigned City Man's GI Breeders' Cup Classic-winning sire, was excited about City Man's performance.

“We were thrilled. It's just such a satisfying win and I'm just so proud of City Man and of course his stallion,” he said. “It's a double win for me.”

A three-time graded stakes winner, Decorated Invader had to overcome drawing the outermost post in a full field of 12 in the Fort Lauderdale, but was put into contention right away by jockey Tyler Gaffalione, pressing 34-1 longshot pacesetter Winfromwithin and was still there at the end.

“I thought he ran very well because he had the terrible post. It was very encouraging. Let's not forget he was a very nice 2-year-old. It took me a while to get his form back, but I loved the race yesterday,” Clement said. “As long as both horses are doing well and training well, hopefully we'll be able to run them in the Pegasus.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher said Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) would remain under consideration for the Pegasus Turf following his sixth-place finish as the favorite in the Fort Lauderdale. Colonel Liam, who won the Pegasus Turf in 2021 and 2022, was making his first start Saturday since running ninth in the G1 Dubai Turf last March.

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City Man Punches Pegasus Turf Ticket in Ft. Lauderdale

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Peter and Patty Searles' City Man (Mucho Macho Man) was the recipient of a cool-headed ride from Joel Rosario and kicked smartly at the fence to take out Saturday's GII Fort Lauderdale S., earning a spot in the field for the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf in a month's time.

And he's done it the old-fashioned way–he's earned it.

The second betting favorite as the public went head over heels for the comebacking two-time Pegasus hero Colonel Liam (Liam's Map), City Man bounced well from gate six and was asked for a bit of speed to get a foothold at the fence in third, as longshots Winfromwithin (Into Mischief) and Decorated Invader (Declaration of War) showed the most early interest. Colonel Liam, marooned in the 11 hole and having his first run since finishing down the field in the G1 Dubai Turf last March, got all the way down into the two path to be a forward factor as well.

Holding his spot at the fence turning up the backstretch, City Man was in the box seat from third, while Colonel Liam was taken out three wide, with a clear shot at the leaders as they reached the midpoint of the second turn. Ridden with the whip three wide at the three-sixteenths, Colonel Liam got to within a length of the now-scrimmaging pacesetters, but had run his race soon after. Ridden for a bit of luck by Rosario, City Man was shifted down to the rail to take advantage of the opening left by a drifting Winfromwithin, felt a right-handed crack of the crop when striking to the lead about a furlong down and kept on gamely for the victory. Street Ready (More Than Ready) won a photo for third ahead of the dead-heating Winfromwithin and 65-1 Good Governance (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who ran a sneaky race while covering stacks of extra ground. Colonel Liam tired to sixth.

“The idea was to be forward with him,” winning trainer Christophe Clement confirmed. “I told [jockey Joel Rosario] not to fight him and be comfortable, and he won well. It's a nice race, a prep for the Pegasus. That would be the plan. He's a New York-bred, so I gave him a break [in the winter] in the past. But this year, I just thought we had never run in the Pegasus and I told Mr. Reeves, 'Why don't you try to run in the Pegasus?' It's a beautiful turf course, well done by Gulfstream. They got it right. All the jockeys have been very positive about it, and I'm delighted.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher indicated that the Pegasus remains in the plans for the beaten favorite.

“I thought he worked out a pretty good trip from the wide post,” the conditioner said. “He got to the position we wanted. They were really running along quickly. [Jockey] Irad [Ortiz Jr.] said he flattened out on him a little in the middle of the far turn. It's been a while since he's run and hopefully, he needed the race. He seemed to jog back great and looked great. We'll train as though he'll run in the Pegasus Turf unless he tells me not to.”

Better than ever at the age of five, City Man caused a 12-1 upset in Saratoga's GIII Forbidden Apple S. in July, his first at the graded level and was a good second in the GIII Bernard Baruch H. in September. Much to the chagrin of his competition, the 5-year-old returned to state-bred restricted company for his two most recent appearances at Aqueduct, resulting in wins in the Sept. 24 Ashley T. Cole S. and the Mohawk S. Oct. 30.

Pedigree Notes:

City Man is one of three graded winners for Mucho Macho Man, whose two Grade I winners include 2020 GI Pegasus World Cup romper Mucho Gusto. City Scamper, a winning half-sister to New York-bred stakes winner Alwaysinstilletos (Bandini), produced a colt by Hoppertunity in 2020, a full-sister to City Man in 2021 already named Miss City Girl and a Vino Rosso filly in 2022.

Saturday, Gulfstream
FT. LAUDERDALE S.-GII, $200,000, Gulfstream, 12-31, 3yo/up, 1 1/8mT, 1:46.10, fm.
1–CITY MAN, 126, h, 5, by Mucho Macho Man
                1st Dam: City Scamper, by City Zip
                2nd Dam: Always Belong, by Belong to Me
                3rd Dam: Morgans Raider, by Giboulee
($20,000 Wlg '17 FTNMIX; $185,000 2yo '19 OBSAPR).
O-Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Peter & Patty Searles;
B-Moonstar Farm (NY); T-Christophe Clement; J-Joel Rosario.
$115,320. Lifetime Record: 26-9-5-3, $987,120. Werk Nick
Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Decorated Invader, 121, h, 5, Declaration of War–Gamely
Girl, by Arch. ($200,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-West Point
Thoroughbreds, William T. Freeman, William Sandbrook &
Cheryl Manning; B-Redmon Farm, LLC (KY); T-Christophe
Clement. $37,200.
3–Street Ready, 121, g, 5, More Than Ready–Sense to
Compete, by Street Sense. ($240,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-Lucky
Seven Stable (Mackin); B-Earle I. Mack LLC (KY); T-Ian R.
Wilkes. $18,600.
Margins: 1HF, NK, HD. Odds: 3.10, 21.90, 8.10.
Also Ran: (DH)-Good Governance (GB), (DH)-Winfromwithin, Colonel Liam, Pao Alto (Fr), Tango Tango Tango, King Cause, Shadow Sphinx, Kentucky Ghost, Carpenters Call. Scratched: Marwad (GB). Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Rosario Set For Record-Breaking Saratoga Meet

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – It's not your imagination that jockey Joel Rosario is having a big summer at Saratoga.

Rosario, 37, is very much in the hunt for the overall title, a competition led by Irad Ortiz, Jr. Through Thursday's program, Ortiz had 37 wins, eight more than Rosario. However, in graded stakes races, Rosario is far and away the leader with 10 victories from 19 starts, a remarkable 53% win rate. Ortiz is next with five.

With the 10, Rosario is in position to smash the current record of 11 graded stakes wins in a Saratoga season. According to Equibase stats, Hall of Famers Javier Castellano and John Velazquez share the record of 11. Castellano won 11 of 31 graded stakes starts in 2015 and Velazquez, who is nearing 1,000 wins at the track, finished first in 11 of 23 graded stakes in 2005. At 10, Rosario is on level with Castellano (2016) and Jerry Bailey (2001).

“It's unbelievable what we've done early,” Rosario said. “Thanks to all the people who gave us the opportunity. My agent, Ron Anderson, has done a really great job for me. We appreciate the opportunities from the owners and the trainers.”

Rosario is no stranger to success. The native of the Dominican Republic has finished in the top 10 in North American jockey earnings for 13 years, has a resume filled with graded stakes wins, including 13 in the Breeders' Cup. Last year, he had a career year, riding horses that earned $32,956,215 and secured his first Eclipse Award as champion jockey.

In 2020, Rosario was the leading graded stakes winner at Saratoga with seven. Last summer, he finished in a tie with Luis Saez for the top spot at six. This year, he had seven graded wins in the first 13 days of the 40-day season.

“We always are looking for a good meet,” Rosario said, “But, we've been doing really well this year.”

During the first four days of the meet, Rosario won the July 15 GIII Forbidden Apple S. with City Man (Mucho Macho Man) for trainer Christophe Clement; the GI Diana S. on In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) for Chad Brown July 16; and the GIII Quick Call S. on Big Invasion (Declaration of War) for Clement July 17. He completed the month with three wins for Steve Asmussen: the GII Shuvee S. on Clairiere (Curlin) July 24, the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt S. on Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) and the GII Jim Dandy S. on Epicenter (Not This Time).

In August, he won the GII National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame S. on Ready to Purrform (Kitten's Joy) for Brad Cox Aug. 5 and the next day won the GI Test S. on Chi Town Lady Verrazano) for Wesley Ward and the GII Glens Falls on War Like Goddess (English Channel) for Bill Mott.

Six trainers. Dirt. Turf. Sprints. Routes.

Starting on Saturday with the GI Alabama and the GII Lake Placid, there are 17 graded stakes left in the Saratoga season. Rosario has the mount on Haughty (Empire Maker) for Brown in the Lake Placid and will ride Gerrymander (Into Mischief) for Brown in the Alabama. He is likely to be up on contenders in most of the remaining graded stakes, including the Asmussen triumvirate of Epicenter in the GI Runhappy Travers S., Jackie's Warrior in the GI Forego S. and Clairiere in the GI Personal Ensign.

In 2015, six of Castellano's 11 wins were in Grade I races. Velazquez had five Grade I winners in 2005. So far, Rosario has three.

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