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Jan. 23 Insights

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INTRIGUING GROUP OF COLTS DEBUT ON PEGASUS UNDERCARD

6th-GP, $50K, Msw, 3yo, 7f, 2:04 p.m.

This salty Pegasus World Cup day maiden special is littered with firsters with big pedigrees and big price tags, including a half-brother to undefeated Triple Crown hero Justify (Scat Daddy) named STAGE RAIDER (Pioneerof the Nile). After RNAing for $950,000 at KEESEP, the bay will carry the colors of breeder John Gunther and will be saddled by Chad Brown. In addition to Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male Justify, Stage Raider is also a half to the ill-fated GSW The Lieutenant (Street Sense) and their dam is GSP Stage Magic (Ghostzapper).

Todd Pletcher unveils a $1.05-million son of Curlin in Shadwell Stable's Ghazaaly. The chestnut's second dam is MSW & MGSP Alternate (Seattle Slew), who is the dam of Grade I winner Higher Power (Medaglia d'Oro), MGSW millionaire Alternation (Distorted Humor) and SW & GSP Interrupted (Broken Vow). This is also the family of Canadian Horse of the Year and MGISW Peakes and Valleys (Mt. Livermore). Pletcher also saddles first timer Traveller (Tourist) for the powerhouse team of WinStar Farm and China Horse Club. Out of GSW Purely Hot (Pure Prize), the dark bay is a half to Grade I-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Eight Rings (Empire Maker).

Godolphin homebred Prevalence (Medaglia d'Oro) makes his career bow here for trainer Brendan Walsh. The bay is a half to GSW Estihdaaf (Arch) and SW Libreta (Girolamo). His second dam is GSW Sahara Gold (Seeking the Gold), who is responsible for MGISW Better Lucky (Ghostzapper), GSW Sahara Heat (A.P. Indy) and SW Final Frontier (Ghostzapper). This is also the family of GI Breeders' Cup Sprint heroine Desert Stormer (Storm Cat).

WS Farish snagged Marching (Liam's Map) for $285,000 at KEESEP and he debuts here for Shug McGaughey. Out of MSP War Tigress (War Chant), he is a half to GSW War Heroine (Lonhro {Aus}). TJCIS PPs

BAFFERT UNVEILS PRICEY INTO MISCHIEF

2nd-SA, $61K, Msw, 3yo, 1m, 4:03p.m.

Bob Baffert sends out the latest in his line of expensive and well-bred 3-year-olds in $650,000 KEESEP buy FENWAY (Into Mischief). Owned by the partnership known as the “Avengers,” the bay boasts a typically speedy Baffert worktab, most recently going a best-of-76 five furlongs in :59 1/5 at Santa Anita Jan. 17. He hails from the family of stakes winners Key to the Cat (Tale of the Cat) and Miss Catalyst (Mr. Greeley). TJCIS PPs

CALHOUN UNVEILS WELL-RELATED TAPIT

9th-OP, $82K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 6:17p.m.

Bret Calhoun sends out homebred first timer FORCE OF NATURE (Tapit) for Gary and Mary West in this event. Out of Canadian champion Milwaukee Appeal (Milwaukee Brew), she is a full-sister to MGSW Actress. Fox Hill Farm's Windmill (Street Sense) also makes her first trip to the post for trainer Larry Jones here. She is out of a full-sister to GISW Visionaire (Grand Slam); and a half-sister to GISW Tara's Tango (Unbridled's Song); GSW & MGISP Scarlet Strike (Smart Strike); and GSW Madison's Luna (Tapit). TJCIS PPs

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Trio Of Off-Track Thoroughbreds, Now Police Horses, To Present Colors At Pegasus World Cup

Three retired Thoroughbreds who have excelled at second careers as members of mounted police units in South Florida will help present the colors before the singing of the national anthem Saturday at the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational at Gulfstream Park.

Tizrobertcharles and Guidoinaspeedo, both members of the Davie Police Department's Mounted Patrol Unit, and Rockaway, a member of the City of Coral Gables mounted unit, will help present the colors before the playing of Saturday's anthem on Pegasus World Cup Day featuring the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational (G1) and $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Championship Invitational (G1).

“Gulfstream Park focuses on racehorse aftercare to provide one time competitors a meaningful second career,” said Mike Lakow, Vice President of Racing at Gulfstream Park. “We welcome these athletes back to the track alongside local equestrian law enforcement. The Stronach Group supports accredited programs so these horses can be retrained, rehomed and retired to caring homes.”

Tizrobertcharles, retrained at the Florida Thoroughbred Retirement and Adoptive Care (TRAC), was adopted by the Davie unit by former trainer and Officer Gary Cortolillo. An 11-year-old son of Bwana Charlie who won his seventh and final start, Tizrobertcharles patrols the town daily and has attended several special events. 'Charlie' has a soft eye and a great mind.

Officer Mark Groeneveld, 'Charlie's' partner, has been an officer for 21 years and joined the mounted unit in 2019.

Katie Schmit, farm manager and trainer at TRAC, says retired Thoroughbreds can be retrained for lesson horses, therapy horses, trail, pleasure and show and performance horses.

“What makes OTTBs so incredibly special in my eyes is their impeccable work ethic and desire to please,” she said. “They are meticulously bred to win and thus have an inherent need to feel successful. The exposure they receive at such a young age gives them a huge step up when their racing careers are over. When we match their second careers with their personalities, they truly take it from there. They thrive on learning new things and have a love for adventure. We have seen them graduate from our organization and excel in every area imaginable, from simply bringing a smile to their owner's face each morning, to the most demanding athletic pursuits.”

Guidoinaspeedo is a 9-year-old son of Maryland-bred Meadow Monster who also won once in seven starts while racing in the Mid-Atlantic. 'Buddy,' as he's affectionately called, has been with the mounted unit since 2015.

Officer Richard Spradling, 'Buddy's' partner, has been an officer since 2007 and joined the mounted unit in 2019. Spradling has an equestrian background, having ridden Criollo horses in Argentina.

Rockaway, a retired Thoroughbred who raced 10 times in South Florida, is the first documented police horse in Coral Gables in nearly 90 years. Rockaway, who served as a flag horse at Bergeron Rodeo, enjoys the attention he receives from the public. His partner is Officer Ashley Sheran.

Lt. Dan, a 15-year-old Quarter Horse who has been with the mounted unit since 2018, will join Tizrobertcharles and Guidoinaspeedo. Officer Angela Creel is Lt. Dan's partner and has been with the unit since 2016. Lt. Dan will serve as the flag bearer.

Drako, a 21-year-old Belgian-Quarter horse cross, will also join the group. Sergeant Chad Bishop will partner with Drako, formerly a member of the Miami-Dade mounted unit. Bishop has been an officer since 1997. He is currently the K9 sergeant as well as a mounted unit sergeant.

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Performer Looks to Return to Winning Ways in Fred Hooper

Phipps Stable and Claiborne Farm's Performer (Speightstown) looks to find his way back to the winner's circle Saturday in Gulfstream's GIII Fred W. Hooper S. Opening his 2019 account with a trio of victories in New York, he capped that perfect season with a win in Aqueduct's GIII Discovery S. Nov. 30. Winning a muddy optional claimer at Belmont Oct. 17, the chestnut checked in third as the favorite in a sloppy renewal of Aqueduct's GI Cigar Mile Dec. 5.

The second and third-place finishers from this venue's GIII Harlan's Holiday S. Dec. 12 return in this spot. Runner-up Eye of a Jedi (Eye of the Leopard) won a handicap here June 13 and the Sea of Tranquility S. over this strip July 18 prior to his effort last time. Harlan's Holiday third Phat Man (Munnings) won the GIII Fred Hooper S. in Hallandale Jan, 25 and was second in the GII Gulfstream Park Mile next out Feb. 29. The gelding was sixth in the Lafayette S. at Keeneland Nov. 7 prior to his last-out effort here.

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‘Very Feisty’ Sadler’s Joy Ready For Saturday’s W. L. McKnight Stakes

Woodslane Farm's homebred Sadler's Joy made his career graded-stakes debut in the 2017 W. L. McKnight at Gulfstream Park, and 27 graded-stakes starts later, the Tom Albertrani turf warrior is still going strong.

The resilient 8-year-old son of Kitten's Joy is scheduled to make his 2021 return to Gulfstream Park for the $125,000 W. L. McKnight (G3) on Saturday's 12-race program that will be co-headlined by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1).

“He's training great. He's been very feisty lately, like he always is,” trainer Tom Albertrani said. “He's not showing any signs of wear and tear, that's for sure.”

Sadler's Joy finished second by a quickly diminishing margin of a head in the 2017 McKnight and came right back to capture his first graded-stakes victory in the Pan American (G2) at Gulfstream before going on to capture the Sword Dancer (G1) at Saratoga later that year.

In 27 graded-stakes races, Sadler's Joy has finished in the money 18 times and finished fourth six more times.

“He's a tough horse to place because of his running style. He likes to come from out the back. It's always a matter of getting a good trip and getting the right pace,” Albertrani said. “Sometimes all that doesn't work out, but he always comes with a late run and has been always right there in all his races.”

Sadler's Joy started in last year's Pegasus World Cup Turf, only to have his chances at victory wiped out while being bumped back to last after breaking from the gate. He battled back to finish sixth, beaten two heads for fourth.

“That was only a mile and three-sixteenths, so the distance was against him overcoming the bad start at the break,” Albertrani said. “He still came with a run, like he always does.”

The 1 ½-mile distance of the McKnight should be far more suitable for Sadler's Joy, who has amassed earnings of more than $2.6 million.

Albertrani, who is also scheduled to saddle German-bred Tintoretto for the McKnight, has named Jose Ortiz to ride Sadler's Joy.

Stronach Stables' Sir Sahib, who closed with a rush to finish second in the 1 ½-mile Northern Dancer (G1) at Woodbine; Joseph Allen LL's Doswell, who finished a fast-closing second behind Largent in the 1 1/8-mile Fort Lauderdale (G2) over the Gulfstream Park turf; and Calumet Farm's Channel Cat, a veteran graded-stakes performer who finished off the board in last year's Pegasus Turf, are among the top contenders in the 11-horse McKnight field.

The McKnight, carded as Race 10, will be preceded by two other turf stakes on the card with seven graded stakes – the $125,000 Marshua's River (G3), a mile turf race for older fillies and mares in Race 7; and the $125,000 La Prevoyante (G3), a 1 ½-mile turf stakes for older fillies and mares in Race 8..

Sackatoga Stable's Niko's Dream and Al Shaqab Racing's Tuned, who finished first and second, respectively, in the Dec. 12 My Charmer at Gulfstream, and Heider Family Stable LLC's Zofelle, a Brendan Walsh-trained Irish-bred who raced against Grade 1 company last time out; are among the more prominent entries for the Marshua's River, which is carded as Race 7.

Repole Stable's Always Shopping, who captured the Dec. 19 Via Borghese by three lengths at Gulfstream; Ivan Dalos' Court Return, a close second in the E. P. Taylor (G1) at Woodbine before disappointing in the Via Borghese; and Gary Barber and John Oxley's Heavenly Curlin, winner of the Nov. 7 Maple Leaf (G3) on Woodbine's synthetic surface; are prominent contenders in a field of 12 for the La Prevoyante.

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