Tag: gulfstream park

Knicks Go Headlines Pegasus World Cup

Knicks Go (Paynter) rides a red-hot streak, including a career high in the Breeders' Cup, into Saturday's $3-million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. at Gulfstream, in which he was installed as the morning-line favorite. An upset winner of the GI Breeders' Futurity S. back in 2018, the gray was transferred from trainer Ben Colebrook to Brad Cox at the end of a disappointing 2019 season. Romping by 7 1/2 lengths in his debut for Cox in an Oaklawn optional claimer Feb. 22, the Korea Racing Authority colorbearer was sidelined with a knee chip following that effort and underwent surgery. Knicks Go returned to the track better than ever, demolishing a Keeneland optional claimer by 10 1/4 lengths Oct. 4, earning a 107 Beyer Speed Figure, and followed suit with a decisive score in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Nov. 7, for which he registered a 108 Beyer.

“I'm a big believer that speed is good at a mile and an eighth and beyond–obviously it depends on how much other speed is in the race,” said trainer Brad Cox. “But I think he can get it. I think he's a horse that once he gets free and loose, he runs with a lot of confidence. I'm excited. I really do think he'll handle a mile and an eighth. In his three races with us last year, there was horse left. In the Breeders' Cup, Joel [Rosario] reached up and grabbed him four or five jumps from the wire, so he was still going.”

Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}) looks to return to winning ways in this event after several on-the-board efforts. Victor of the 2019 GI Runhappy Travers S., the WS Farish homebred kicked off 2020 with a victory in the GIII Westchester S. June 6 and rallied for third next out in the GI Runhappy Metropolitan H. July 4. Fourth in the GI Whitney S. Aug. 1, the chestnut checked in second in the Oct. 3 GII Kelso H. at Belmont and the Nov. 27 GI Clark S. last time at Churchill Downs.

Tax (Arch) will try to make amends for a sub-par effort in last year's Pegasus. Capturing the 2019 GII Jim Dandy S., he was benched after a seventh in Code of Honor's Travers. Returning with a second behind that rival's barnmate Performer (Speightstown) in the GIII Discovery S. at the end of 2019, the gelding failed to fire in last term's Pegasus, finishing a non-factor ninth. Fifth when next seen in the May 2 GII Oaklawn H., the dark bay hit the sidelines again and returned with a dominant victory in this venue's GIII Harlan's Holiday S. Dec. 12.

“He's better now than he's ever been,” said trainer Danny Gargan. “We always knew he was a really good horse. He's grown and developed into a better horse than he was last year. I think with age he's getting better and getting stronger, healthier. He has a few little issues we had to work through, and he's gotten through them. I'm expecting a big performance.”

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Eclipse Buys Into ‘Rising Star’ Annex

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners has acquired a part-interest in recent 'TDN Rising Star' Annex (Constitution) from LNJ Foxwoods, Aron Wellman, Eclipse's managing partner tweeted and then later confirmed via phone Thursday afternoon.

“We're in a fortunate position where we've got a good relationship with the Roth family, with Jaime, and I go way, way back with Alex Solis [III] and Jason Litt, their advisors,” said Wellman. “That existing relationship certainly helped to be able to open the door for the opportunity to buy into the colt.”

Sent off at debut odds of 5-1 in a one-mile Gulfstream maiden Jan. 16, Annex was given a patient ride by Junior Alvarado and hit top gear at the eighth pole, streaking home to graduate in extremely impressive fashion (video). The flashy chestnut earned a very strong 81 Beyer Speed Figure.

“It was really an eye-catching performance,” Wellman said. “I don't think it took any sort of profound opinion to get on the horn and try to see if a horse of his caliber could be added to our stable. I thought it was a very good group of colts that he ran against and the style and manner in which he was able to win the race and show such an electric turn of foot–he came home wicked fast that day, and looked like potentially he had more gears to call upon if Junior Alvarado had asked him to do so.”

He continued, “He comes from a Hall of Fame operation in Bill Mott and you know he is thinking long-term with a colt like Annex. He certainly didn't have him cranked up first time, so we'd like to think there is plenty more there. When a horse flashes that type of natural ability in a debut and especially around two turns at a major venue, those are certainly the kind of horses we want to have as part of our stable and take us to the big races on the big days. Hopefully he is capable of building on what was a very impressive unveiling.”


Eclipse is set to be represented by a pair of runners in both of this weekend's Pegasus races–Largent (Into Mischief) in the Turf and Constitution's son Independence Hall in the main event. Like many judges, Wellman is bullish on the WinStar inmate and that made Annex that much more attractive.

“He's quickly stamped himself as a blue-chip stallion with his first few crops and certainly being associated with Independence Hall helped our cause and it allows us to have some intimate appreciation for Constitution,” he said. “He's shown that he can throw elite performers. This colt is out of a mare by Unbridled's Song and out of a half-sister to the dam of [MGISW] You (You and I), so there is plenty of quality there on the bottom side as well. We hope he continues to go from strength to strength.”

With the first stage of Triple Crown nominations set to close Saturday, Wellman said that the partnership is all but assured to pay up for the series. But he added that neither would it trouble them in any small way to remain on the grass.

“Frankly we bought him with the perspective that he's proven the ability to be a superior turf horse,” he said. “If that's what he turns out to be and can race in the upper echelon of turf races in America, of which there are incredible options with the Turf Triple, et cetera, we are not afraid at all to have a good turf horse.

He added, “We just want a good horse, but obviously the temptation to try a horse with this kind of ability that's already proved he can get two turns is there. But we're not going to be in any rush. He's in phenomenal hands, the LNJ crew has managed him beautifully to posture him for future success and have taken their time with him. If the time comes when Annex earns his opportunity to test the dirt, we're not going to be afraid to do that and we'll certainly be enterprising in that regard. But we just bought him to be a good horse, if that's turf or dirt, it doesn't matter.”

Wellman also provided an update on the stable's Valiance (Tapit). A stakes winner on turf as a 3-year-old, the gray filly broke through with a 6-1 upset of the GI Juddmonte Spinster S. on the main track ahead of a gallant runner-up effort behind likely champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 7.

“After the Distaff, we decided we were going to give her some time to recover from her campaign at WinStar Farm,” Wellman explained. “She's been there since the Breeders' Cup, it's been about 70 days now, and we're just about ready to put the tack back on her and gradually get her back into a training pattern. We'll probably give her 30 or 45 days to leg up at WinStar and then she'll join [trainer] Todd [Pletcher] in Florida before heading back up to New York. We're very enthused about her trajectory. Everything about her in terms of versatility is exciting and she's really thrived, even since the Breeders' Cup. She's really turning into a physical specimen and an imposing mare. We've conservatively managed her with the belief that she could turn into an elite filly and thankfully that came to fruition and we're certainly looking forward to another high-class campaign beginning in late spring or early second part of the year.”

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Equibase Analysis: Knicks Go Likely To Play ‘Come Catch Me’ In Pegasus World Cup

The Grade 1, $3-million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes is the biggest jewel on the crown of fantastic stakes races at Gulfstream Park this weekend in Hallandale Beach, Fla., bringing together a stellar field of 12. Leading the field in recent accomplishments is Knicks Go, last seen winning the G1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in the eye-opening time of 1:33.85.

Knicks Go has a running style in which he goes to the front and dares anyone to take him on in the early stages, so we know where he will be as soon as the gate opens in the Pegasus.

Code of Honor is an accomplished runner best known for winning the G1 Travers Stakes as a 3-year-old in 2019. Entering the race off a runner-up finish in the G1 Clark Stakes at the end of November, Code of Honor must be respected. Math Wizard earned his biggest win at the distance when taking the G1 Pennsylvania Derby as a 3-year-old in 2019 but is winless in seven races since.

Then there are a number of horses not yet proven capable of winning at the G1 level but who are in exceptional form. Sleepy Eyes Todd is one of those, having won the G2 Charles Town Classic at the distance in August of last year and most recently victorious over the track in the G3 Mr. Prospector Stakes.

Similarly, Last Judgment won the Sunshine Classic Stakes just one week ago at the distance and at Gulfstream Park. Harpers First Ride has won four of his last five including the G3 Pimlico Special in October and the Native Dancer Stakes at the end of 2020. 

Mr Freeze finished second in the 2019 Pegasus and last fall won the G2 Fayette Stakes at the distance. Another strong contender is Jesus' Team, who closed from seventh to second behind Knicks Go in the Dirt Mile and who recently won the Claiming Crown Jewel Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Tax enters the Pegasus World Cup off a win in the G3 Harlan's Holiday Stakes over the track last month. Similar to Code of Honor and Math Wizard he was a top 3-year-old in 2019, including a win in the G2 Jim Dandy Stakes. Kiss Today Goodbye earned the biggest win of his career last month in the G2 San Antonio Stakes and is yet another potentially on the brink of breaking through to this top level.

Independence Hall was a strong 2-year-old in the fall of 2019 and as a 3-year-old in the winter of 2020, winning the Jerome Stakes and finishing second in the G3 Sam F. Davis Stakes before taking time off. He most recently finished fifth in the G1 Malibu Stakes. Coastal Defense rounds out the field, coming into the race off a pair of non-threatening fourth place finishes in stakes. 

Win contenders:
Knicks Go changed trainers to start his 2020 campaign, moving to the barn of Brad Cox, and went three-for-three last year, culminating with a career best 120  Equibase Speed Figure when winning the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in wire-to-wire fashion. He had lost 10 races in a row before the first of his 2020 wins, but the turnaround was not out of the clouds as Knicks Go had been a top 2-year-old in 2018, winning the G1 Breeders' Futurity with the same running style as all three wins last year. Improving from a 104 figure effort in February of last year, to 116 then to the 120 in the Breeders' Cup, and coming back off a 2 1/2-month rest it is highly likely Knicks Go will be fresh and able to easily establish the early lead he likes.

Horses which try to take on a front runner of his nature will likely find their chances compromised, and that makes Knicks Go the one to beat in this year's Pegasus World Cup Invitational. Furthermore, he's been working out steadily (every six to seven days) for his comeback and although he has never run the mile and one-eighth distance of the Pegasus, Knicks Go has the breeding to succeed at the trip as a son of Paynter, who finished second in the 2012 Belmont Stakes at the distance of 1 1/2 miles.

Last Judgment, Harpers First Ride and Sleepy Eyes Todd all must be considered contenders to win the Pegasus World Cup, although they have less probability to win than Knicks Go based on the likely pace scenario in this race in which Knicks Go controls the tempo from the start. Nevertheless, with all three likely to go to post at high odds, I would not hesitate to bet them. 

I'll start with Last Judgment, who has won six of 14 races including his only try at the distance of this race. That win came in his most recent start just seven days ago when dominating in the Sunshine Classic Stakes by six lengths. That effort tied his career best 107  figure and he has won while racing on the lead or from off the pace so he could be finishing very well in this race. 

Harpers First Ride is another horse who knows where the finish line is, having won 10 of 17 career starts. First or second in his last six races, including the Pimlico Special last fall at the distance of 1 3/16 miles, Harpers First Ride earned a career best 109 figure in winning the Native Dancer Stakes in his most recent race. 

Sleepy Eyes Todd earned the biggest win of his career in the Charles Town Classic Stakes last August at the distance of the Pegasus. He ran poorly when shipped to California for the Awesome Again Stakes the next month but has won both starts since then, including the Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream. The 119 figure earned in the Charles Town Classic was a career best and the highest figure of any horse other than Knicks Go (120 in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile) has ever earned, so if he can repeat that effort Sleepy Eyes Todd could give Knicks Go a run for the winner's share of this $3 million purse.

The rest of the field, all who have the ability to compete effectively in this race, with their best  Equibase Speed Figures, is Coastal Defense (108), Code of Honor (109), Jesus' Team (114), Kiss Today Goodbye (105), Independence Hall (108), Kiss Today Goodbye (107), Mr Freeze (106) and Math Wizard (107).

Win Contenders, in preference order:
Knicks Go
Last Judgment
Harpers First Ride
Sleepy Eyes Todd

Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes – Grade 1
Race 12 at Gulfstream Park
Saturday, January 23 – Post Time 5:44 PM E.T.
1 1/8 Miles
Four Years Olds and Upward
Purse: $3 Million

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Second Chances: Everesting

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar.

Everesting (c, 3, Frosted–If Not For Her, by Not For Love) stamped himself as one to watch following a better-than-it-looked fifth-place finish on debut behind 'TDN Rising Star' Annex (Constitution) going two turns over the Gulfstream lawn Jan. 16 (video).

The gray's worktab included a pair of bullets at trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr.'s Palm Meadows base, led by a four-furlong breeze in :47 (1/74) Jan. 9.

Off at odds of 12-1, he hopped at the start after exiting from post nine and was bumped by a rival one to his inside. Edgard Zayas got him over and secured a two-wide journey around the clubhouse turn. Sixth without cover and ready to roll through a half-mile in :47.30, Everesting began to launch with a flashy, three/four-wide blitz on the far turn and led his nine rivals as they cornered for home. He began to get leg weary in the stretch, however, and ran out of gas in the final furlong to finish fifth, beaten 3 1/4 lengths.

The impressive, come-from-behind winner Annex stopped the timer for the one-mile distance in 1:34.93 and earned an 81 Beyer Speed Figure. Everesting was assigned a respectable 74.

Bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm, Everesting RNA'd for $170,000 as a Keeneland September yearling and later brought $110,000 from Cash is King, LC Racing and John Fanelli after breezing an eighth in :10 2/5 out of the Cary Frommer consignment at last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

Everesting's page is one that Cash is King's frontman Chuck Zacney is certainly familiar with.

Hailing from the first crop of Frosted, he is the first foal out of the three-time winner and stakes-placed mare If Not For Her. The 10-year-old is a half-sister to MSW & MGSP Awesome Flower (Flower Alley), GSP First Mondays (Curlin) and a full-sister to the winning dam of MSW & GSP Monday Morning QB (Imagining).

Like Everesting, the 2018 GIII Smarty Jones S. third-place finisher First Mondays and last November's GIII Discovery S. runner-up Monday Morning QB have also carried the green-and-white colors of Cash is King.

Everesting's third dam produced blowout 2009 G1 Dubai World Cup hero Well Armed (Tiznow).

“I thought he ran a really good race,” Zacney said. “It was a quick time. It certainly was a sweeping move and I think he's going to get a whole lot out of it. Our intent was probably for a dirt race, but unfortunately one was not quite there yet, so we decided to try the turf. Saffie made the comment that he was breaking a little slow from the gate [in the morning], so he thought the turf race would help him a little bit more. We were quite pleased with the effort. It's certainly going to help him going forward.”

Anything in mind yet for Everesting's next start?

“Nah, we'll figure that out still,” Zacney said. “He's going to work a week from this Saturday on the 30th, and we'll go from there. I think the intent probably will be a mile or a mile and a sixteenth on the dirt. We'll have Saffie tell us what's best for him.”

Previous standouts featured in 'Second Chances' include: GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Honor A. P. (Honor Code), GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner and Royal Ascot G2 Norfolk S. runner-up Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Paradise Woods (Union Rags), GII Los Alamitos Futurity winner and MGISP Spielberg (Union Rags), GSW Backyard Heaven (Tizway), and MSW and 'TDN Rising Star' Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

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