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Greatest Honour ‘No Pushover’ In Early Training, But Holy Bull Winner Definitely Moving Forward Now

Courtlandt Farms' Greatest Honour, who established himself as a prime 2021 Triple Crown prospect with a powerful victory in the Jan. 30 Holy Bull (G3), is scheduled to return in the $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) Feb. 27 at Gulfstream Park.

The Shug McGaughey-trained son of Tapit is prominent on the list of 36 nominations for the 1 1/16-mile major prep for the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n Dale at Xalapa March 28 at Gulfstream Park.

Greatest Honour, who broke his maiden in his fourth career start Dec. 26 at Gulfstream, rallied from seventh in a field of nine to draw away by 5 ¾ lengths under Jose Ortiz in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull.

“I had a lot of confidence that he'd run well, but I didn't know what that meant. I maybe was a little surprised how well he ran and how much he dominated those horses,” his Hall of Fame trainer said. “I was very pleased and pleased the way he came out of it.”

Courtlandt Farms' homebred colt launched his career with a pair of strong closing third-place finishes in maiden special weight sprints at Saratoga and Belmont before losing a photo finish in his first trip around two turns at Aqueduct and completing his juvenile season with his 1 1/16-mile maiden breaker at Gulfstream.

“Two turns is a big help. All of his races around two turns have been good,” McGaughey said. “I think he'll run as far as a horse wants to run.”

McGaughey, nevertheless, was impressed with how quickly he came to hand upon joining his stable last year.

“One of the things about him is that he's a big colt with a distance pedigree, so for him to get to the races at Saratoga shows what an athletic-type horse he is,” McGaughey said. “That's a big feather in his cap. One of the things that impresses me is when I saw him in March at Courtlandt Farms and if you told me that he was going to run right off the bat at Saratoga, he didn't give me that impression. He looked more like a late-fall horse.”

Not that getting Greatest Honour to the races came without challenges.

“He's no pushover by any means. He had some things about him in his training that we had to get out of him. Being by Tapit, they can be a little difficult at times and he wasn't an exception to that rule,” McGaughey said. “But once we got him going in a forward position, he's taken everything really well. It's interesting how well he acts on race day and in the paddock and those types of things.”

McGaughey is hoping that Greatest Honour will follow in the hoofprints of Orb, whom he saddled for victories in the Fountain of Youth, Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby (G1) in 2013.

Three Diamonds Farms' Fire At Will is among the most accomplished Fountain of Youth nominees, having captured the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Keeneland in his most recent start. The Mike Maker-trained son of Declaration of War also captured the Pilgrim (G2) on turf at Belmont but broke his maiden in the off-the-turf With Anticipation at Saratoga in his second career start. Fire At Will is scheduled to make his second career start on dirt in the Fountain of Youth.

Godolphin LLC has a pair of nominees for the Fountain of Youth – Brad Cox-trained Essential Quality, last year's 2-year-old champion who is not scheduled to run, and Brendan Walsh-trained Prevalence, a dazzling 8 ½-length debut winner at Gulfstream who being considered for a return in the 75th running of the race.

Trainer Doug O'Neill has two on the list of FOY nominees – Roadrunner Racing and partners' Hot Rod Charlie, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up who finished a close third most recently in the Robert Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita; and ERJ Racing LLC and partners' The Great One, the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) runner-up who broke his maiden Jan.23 at Santa Anita.

SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC and partners' Tarantino and WinStar Farm LLC and CHC Inc.'s Prime Factor, who finished second and third, respectively, in the Holy Bull, are also notable names on the FOY nominations list.

Rodolphe Brisset-trained Tarantino, pressed the pace before finishing second in his first start on dirt. The son of Pioneerof the Nile finished 3 ¾ lengths ahead of Todd Pletcher-trained Prime Factor who raced evenly to finish third in his first start since capturing his debut by 8 ¾ lengths at Gulfstream Dec. 12.

Pletcher-trained Promise Keeper and Unbridled Honor are also FOY nominees. WinStar Farm LLC and Woodford Thoroughbreds' Promise Keeper, a son of Constitution, romped to a debut victory by five lengths in his second career start at Gulfstream Feb. 6; Whisper Hill Farm LLC's Unbridled Honor, a son of Honor Code, broke his maiden last time out at Tampa Bay Downs around two turns.

Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables LLC and partners' Drain the Clock, who is coming off a 6 ¼-length victory in the Swale (G3) and a 7 ½-length score in the Limehouse at Gulfstream for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is likely to return in either the Fountain of Youth or Gotham at Aqueduct.

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Gulfstream’s 2020-2021 Championship Meet Features $13.06 Million Stakes Schedule

The 2020-2021 Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla. will get under way Wednesday for the first of 84 days of Thoroughbred racing contested by the most popular and accomplished horses, trainers and jockeys in the country.

Racing will be conducted primarily on a Wednesday-Sunday schedule with a first-race post time set at 12:35 p.m. through March 27. Under COVID-19 pandemic protocols, racing will be conducted without spectators. Gulfstream's races will be streamed live at 1/STBet.com, Xpressbet.com; and gulfstreampark.com.

The 2020-2021 Championship Meet will offer a stakes schedule of 75 stakes, 36 graded, worth $13.06 million in purses.

The $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) will be run Jan. 23, co-headlining a program with seven graded stakes. The Pegasus World Cup, won by Mucho Gusto last year, has been designated as a 'Win and In' race for the $20 million Saudi Cup in Riyadh Feb. 20. The Pegasus World Cup Turf will be a qualifier for the $1 million Middle Distance Turf Handicap on the Saudi Cup undercard.

The $800,000 Florida Derby (G1), which has produced the winners of 60 Triple Crown races, will headline a March 27 program that will offer 10 stakes, 6 graded, including the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks. The 2020 Florida Derby was won by Tiz the Law, who went on to win the Belmont (G1). Swiss Skydiver, who captured the Gulfstream Park Oaks, went on to beat the boys in the Preakness Stakes (G1).

Gulfstream's program for 3-year-olds will kick off with the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Dec. 12, followed by the $200,000 Holy Bull (G3), a 1 1/16-mile Florida Derby prep that will headline a Jan. 30 program with five graded stakes, including the $100,000 Swale (G3), a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds. The $350,000 Fountain of Youth (G2), the 1 1/16-mile final prep for the Florida Derby, will be featured on a Feb. 27 program with nine graded stakes.

The Road to the Gulfstream Park Oaks will start with the $100,000 Forward Gal, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies on the Jan. 30 Holy Bull undercard. The $200,000 Davona Dale, the mile final prep for the Gulfstream Park Oaks, will be contested on the Feb. 27 Fountain of Youth undercard.

The $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2) kicks off Gulfstream's turf program Dec. 12 while offering an opportunity for Pegasus World Cup Turf invitational candidates to prep over the Gulfstream turf course. The $200,000 Mac Diarmida (G2), a 1 3/8-mile race for 4-year-olds and up, will be one of six graded turf stakes on the Fountain of Youth card. The $200,000 Pan American, a 1 ½-mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up, will top six turf stakes on the Florida Derby program.

The 2020-2021 stakes program will launch Saturday with the return of the Claiming Crown, a popular program for horses that have started for a claiming price at least once during the past two years. The $150,000 Jewel, a 1 1/8-mile stakes for 3-year-olds and up that have started for a claiming price of $35,000 or lower, is featured among nine Claiming Crown stakes. Jesus' Team, who finished third in the Preakness and second in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), is expected to headline the field for the Jewel.

Irad Ortiz Jr. will be back to defend the riding titles he won in 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. Luis Saez, who finished second behind Ortiz by just one and two wins respectively, will seek to regain the title he won the previous two seasons. Hall of Famers John Velazquez, fresh off his Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) victory aboard Authentic, Javier Castellano, a five-time Championship Meet titlist; and Edgar Prado, who ranks eighth all-time with 7,089 wins, will head a jockey's colony that will include young guns Tyler Gaffalione, Jose Ortiz, and South Florida's year-round leader Edgard Zayas.

Todd Pletcher, who regained his training title last season, will seek his 17th Championship Meet title. Horsemen shipping in include Shug McGaughey, Bill Mott, Mike Maker, Mark Casse, Ken McPeek, Chad Brown and Christophe Clement. New stables at Gulfstream and its satellite training center Palm Meadows in Palm Beach include Brad Cox, Jack Sisterson, Brittany Russell, Jeremiah Englehart and Butch Reid.

“We're extremely optimistic for a fantastic Championship Meet,” said Mike Lakow, Vice President of Racing at Gulfstream. “The barns are full with many of the top trainers, including some wintering here for the first time. We're also happy with the way our turf course has thrived during the extreme rainy season here this fall.”

The 20-cent Rainbow 6, the innovative multi-race wager that has produced many live-changing payoffs over the years, will again be prominent on Gulfstream's wagering menu. The Rainbow 6, which will span the final six races each day, will be kicked off Wednesday with a $50,000 jackpot guarantee. Wednesday's Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 5-10, including back-to-back optional claiming allowances in Races 8 and 9.

Shadwell Stable's Ashaar is scheduled to make his first start for Pletcher in Race 8, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up. The 3-year-old son of Into Mischief hasn't seen action since finishing off the board in the Jan. 4 Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream. Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Ournationonparade, the only stakes winner in the field, will make his first start since finishing fifth in the Sept. 5 Smile Sprint (G3) at Gulfstream. Saez has been named to ride Ashaar, while Luca Panici is set to ride the Kathy Ritvo-trained Ournationonparade.

Tracy Farmer's Catch a Thrill, who has finished second in his three most recent starts, will be looking to break through with a win in Race 9, a five-furlong turf dash for fillies and mares. The Mark Casse-trained daughter of City Zip, who finished second in the Feb. 23 Melody of Colors at Gulfstream, will be ridden by Cristian Torres.

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Tiz The Law ‘Strong’ In Wednesday Gallop At Keeneland, Expected To Work Friday Or Saturday

Sackatoga Stable's multiple Grade 1 winner Tiz the Law galloped a mile and a half under Heather Smullen over Keeneland's dirt track on Wednesday morning as he continued preparations for an expected run in the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) here Nov. 7.

“He's doing good,” trainer Barclay Tagg said about the colt, who arrived here late Sunday afternoon, jogged Monday and galloped an easy mile Tuesday. “He had a strong mile-and-a-half gallop this morning.”

Tagg brought Tiz the Law, winner of this year's Belmont (G1), Travers (G1), Curlin Florida Derby (G1) and Holy Bull (G3), to Keeneland early for the Breeders' Cup World Championships so the colt could get two works over the track. The Classic will be his first start since a runner-up finish in the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve.

“He'll work Friday or Saturday,” Tagg said of Tiz the Law, who had his fourth work since the Kentucky Derby last Friday before he departed Belmont Park. “I have a two-day leeway.”

Isolated thunderstorms are forecast for Friday morning in the Lexington area with morning showers expected Saturday.

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Pegasus World Cup, Florida Derby Highlight 2019-2020 Championship Meet At Gulfstream Park

The Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, which has evolved into one of sport's most exciting and prestigious days, and the Florida Derby, producer of an amazing 60 Triple Crown race winners, will highlight Gulfstream Park's 2020-2021 Championship Meet that begins Wednesday, Dec. 2.

Having attracted the world's top horses and horsemen since 1939, Gulfstream's Championship Meet will offer a total of 75 stakes, including 41 graded-stakes, worth $13.06 million in purses.

Entering its fifth year, the Pegasus World Cup Championship Series has continued to attract the sport's biggest stars including champions Arrogate, Gun Runner and California Chrome as well as 2019 winner City of Light and international sensations Aerolithe, Kukulkan and Magic Wand. The race has also brought out stars from film, music and fashion including Jennifer Lopez, Post Malone, Snoop Dogg, Olivia Culpo, Usher, Vanessa Hudgens, Lenny Kravitz, Pharrell and Bella Thorne.

Pegasus World Cup Day falls on Jan. 23, 2021 and will feature a total of seven stakes, all graded, worth $4.8 million led by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) for 4-year-olds and up going 1 3/16 miles on the grass.

Gun Runner, Horse of the Year in 2017; 2014 and 2016 Horse of the Year California Chrome; 2016 Longines World's Best Racehorse Arrogate, the champion 3-year-old colt of 2016; and Mexico's undefeated Triple Crown champion Kukulkan are among the prominent horses that have competed in the Pegasus World Cup since its 2017 debut.

The Pegasus World Cup Turf saw its inaugural winner Bricks and Mortar go on to complete an undefeated 2019 season and be named both champion turf male and Horse of the Year. Irish star Magic Wand, a multiple group stakes winner of nearly $5 million in purses, has finished second in both years of the event.

Florida Derby Day will take place March 27, 2021 anchored by the $800,000 Florida Derby (G1), the country's leading classic prep race that has produced 45 starters that have gone on to win 60 Triple Crown events, a list that grew when 2020 winner Tiz the Law captured the Belmont Stakes (G1) in June.

The 1 1/8-mile Derby for 3-year-olds highlights a day of 10 stakes, six graded, worth $1.95 million in purses. Among the graded events is the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), the Derby's 3-year-old filly counterpart, won in 2020 by Swiss Skydiver, who became only the sixth filly in history to capture the Preakness Stakes (G1) Oct. 3.

The Derby is the culmination of a rich and diverse stakes schedule for 3-year-olds during the Championship Meet that kicks off with the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Jan. 2 and continues with the $200,000 Holy Bull (G3) and $100,000 Swale (G3) Jan. 30, $350,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) Feb. 27, and $100,000 Hutcheson (G3) March 6.

Tiz the Law launched his sophomore season in the Holy Bull, a race that has produced a number of Grade 1 winners including Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby (G1) winners Always Dreaming (2017) and Barbaro (2016); Florida Derby winners Audible (2018), Dialed In (2011), Friends Lake (2004) and Harlan's Holiday (2002); as well as Grade 1 winners Jackson Bend, Editor's Note and Keen Ice.

Kentucky Derby and Florida Derby winners Orb (2013), Thunder Gulch (1995), Spectacular Bid (1979) and Tim Tam (1958) are among dozens of horses that have gone on to further graded success through the history of the Fountain of Youth, celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2021.

Sophomore fillies also have a lucrative series on dirt to target, anchored by the Gulfstream Park Oaks and preceded by the $100,000 Cash Run Jan. 1, $100,000 Glitter Woman Jan. 2, $100,000 Forward Gal (G3) Jan. 30 and $200,000 Davona Dale (G2) Feb. 27.

Gulfstream's 3-year-old turf stakes include the $100,000 Kitten's Joy (G3) and $100,000 Sweetest Chant (G3) Jan. 30, $100,000 Palm Beach (G3) and $100,000 Herecomesthebride (G3) Feb. 27, and $100,000 Cutler Bay and $100,000 Sanibel Island March 27.

Among the major events scheduled for Gulfstream's world-class turf course are the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2) Dec. 12, $100,000 Tropical Turf (G3) Jan. 9, $150,000 W. L. McKnight (G3) Jan. 23, $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3) Feb. 13, $200,000 Mac Diarmida (G2) and $150,000 Canadian Turf (G3) Feb. 27, and $200,000 Pan American (G2) and $100,000 Appleton (G3) March 27.

Graded turf stakes for older fillies and mares include the $150,000 Marshua's River (G3) and $150,000 La Prevoyante (G3) Jan. 23, $100,000 Suwannee River (G3) Feb. 6, $150,000 Honey Fox (G3) and $150,000 The Very One (G3) Feb. 27, and $100,000 Orchid (G3) March 27.

For the ninth consecutive year, Gulfstream will play host to the $835,000 Claiming Crown on the Championship Meet's opening Saturday, Dec. 5. The Claiming Crown, comprised of nine stakes races featuring the blue-collar horses that are the backbone of the racing industry, is highlighted by the $200,000 Jewel.

Florida-breds will be in the spotlight once again Jan. 16 with the $400,000 Sunshine Millions Day program featuring the $100,000 Sunshine Millions Classic, which has produced such horses as Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Mucho Macho Man, multiple Grade 1 winner Lava Man and the popular 16-time career winner Best of the Rest.

The Championship Meet stakes schedule can be viewed at: gulfstreampark.com/championship-meet.

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