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‘It Did Not Disappoint’: Belinda Stronach On ‘Different Circumstances’ of 2021 Pegasus World Cup

On Saturday, the fifth running of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series was held at Gulfstream Park in South Florida. Gulfstream Park was transformed by 1/ST into a socially distant entertainment experience welcoming 1,500 fans (15% of typical Pegasus World Cup capacity) to the race track for the first time since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Belinda Stronach, Chairman and President, 1/ST, hosted celebrity guests including, Amar'e Stoudemire (Six-time NBA All-Star Player and NBA's Brooklyn Nets Assistant Coach), Tyga (Rapper, Singer & TV Personality), Jasmine Sanders (Sports Illustrated Cover Model), Denis Savard (NHL Hall of Famer), Brian Poli-Dixon (Artist & Former NFL Player), David Grutman (Groot Hospitality Founder) and Isabela Rangel Grutman (Model).

Colonel Liam owned by Robert and Lawana Low, ridden by the Award-winning Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. and trained by Todd Pletcher, won the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1). Odds favorite, Knicks Go owned by Korea Racing Authority, ridden by Award-winning jockey Joel Rosario and trained by Brad Cox, won the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and an automatic entry into the 2021 $20 million Saudi Cup. Belinda Stronach presented the winning owners of the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational and Pegasus World Cup Invitational with crystal Pegasus trophies provided by the official trophy partner, Baccarat. The winning trainers and jockeys from the Pegasus World Cup Championship Series races were presented with Championship Rings designed by local Miami jeweler, BooDaddy Diamonds.

Despite the limited crowd in attendance, total handle for the 2021 Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series topped $40.7 million dollars, the third highest handle in the race's history, due in part to the success of the 1/ST Bet app. Part of the 1/ST Technology suite of handicapping and betting products, 1/ST Bet uses AI-technology to deliver a user-friendly mobile wagering experience that suits everyone from the experienced horseplayer to the first-time bettor.

“The 2021 Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series was held under much different circumstances then all those that have come before it, but it did not disappoint,” said Belinda Stronach. “Today, thanks to the cooperation of the horsemen, our many partners, guests in attendance and the 1/ST team, the Pegasus World Cup successfully blended a day of safe, world-class Thoroughbred horse racing with a socially distant entertainment experience setting a new standard for events in our sport during the COVID-19 era.”

This year, 1/ST again teamed up with Groot Hospitality to create a socially distant Pegasus Swan Garden pop-up offering guests an exclusive VIP experience in a “Tulum meets Swan” setting. 1/ST also teamed up with Red Rooster Overtown to curate a menu of Southern classics and elevated sips for the racing connections in Gulfstream Park's Flamingo Room. Notorious Pink Rosé, Evian Natural Spring Water and Ferraelle Naturally Sparkling Water kept guests cool under the race day sunshine.

Musical performances took place both at the track and off-site. At Gulfstream Park, Yoli Mayor, the Miami-born semi-finalist on Season 12 of America's Got Talent on NBC, performed the national anthem, and Jakissa Taylor Semple, aka DJ Kiss, provided the beats in the trackside Pegasus Swan Garden. As part of NBC's Pegasus World Cup in-broadcast performance Aloe Blacc, the singer-songwriter of hits including “I Need a Dollar,” “The Man,” and “Wake Me Up,” performed live from Red Rooster Overtown as a tribute to Miami's diverse and vibrant culture.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, 1/ST has developed and implemented industry-leading COVID-19 safety measures at its tracks and facilities across the United States. The 2021 Pegasus World Cup implemented strict social distancing protocols and new health and safety guidelines for riders and spectators. On premise attendance for this year's event was reduced to 15% to allow all guests to socially distance accordingly. Thermal sensing cameras at all entrances checked guest temperatures, and masks were required. Cleaning protocols provided regular sanitizing of public spaces, and cashless wagering via 1/ST Bet eliminated the handling of currency.

The medication-free format, for both the 2021 Pegasus World Cup Invitational and Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, is consistent with the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities (IFHA) standards and reflects the commitment that 1/ST made in April 2019 to eliminate Lasix in all graded stakes races in 2021.

As part of 1/ST's mission to prioritize the care and safety of Thoroughbred racehorses before, during and after their careers, the 2021 Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series recognized the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance as a charitable partner of choice with a $50,000 donation.

Keep up with the Pegasus World Cup on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter: @PegasusWorldCup #PegasusWorldCup #RunWithUs.

The post ‘It Did Not Disappoint’: Belinda Stronach On ‘Different Circumstances’ of 2021 Pegasus World Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Knicks Go Never Headed Winning Pegasus World Cup Invitational

Breaking smoothly from the number four post position under Joel Rosario, Knicks Go sped to his fourth consecutive victory for trainer Brad Cox – and his richest to date – taking the Grade 1, $3-million Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Saturday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Owned by the Korea Racing Authority, the Maryland-bred 5-year-old by Paynter won the Pegasus in wire-to-wire fashion, setting fractions of :22.90, :46.16, 1:09.91 and 1:34.82 en route to a final clocking of 1:47.89 for 1 1/8 miles on a fast track. He paid $4.60 as the 6-5 favorite.

Jesus' Team, who chased Knicks Go while second to him in the G1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland on Nov. 7, finished second again under Irad Ortiz Jr. Independence Hall finished third, with Sleepy Eyes Todd fourth and Code of Honor fifth in the field 12.

This was the fifth running of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, which was renamed from the G1 Donn Handicap in 2017 when Bob Baffert-trained Arrogate defeated Shaman Ghost to earn the winner's share of a $12-million purse that was put up by the owners of each horse competing. Subsequent winners were Steve Asmussen-trained Gun Runner in 2018 when the purse was increased to $16 million; Michael McCarthy-trained City of Light in 2019, when the purse was $9 million; and Mucho Gusto, also trained by Baffert, in 2020, when the purse was $2,944,600.

The post Knicks Go Never Headed Winning Pegasus World Cup Invitational appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Weekend Lineup Presented By The Maryland Jockey Club: Pegasus Races Anchor Gulfstream Card

The $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational and $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational are among the seven graded-stakes worth $4.725 million on a blockbuster 12-race program at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Both Pegasus races will be part of NBC's live national telecast from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Expanded coverage of the Pegasus World Cup will anchor TVG's weekend coverage as the network is live from Gulfstream Park with exclusive behind-the-scenes features, interviews and expert analysis. TVG's weekend broadcast will also feature opening weekend from Oaklawn Park including the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on Friday which will offer points towards a berth in the Kentucky Derby.

In addition to the Pegasus World Cup coverage, NYRA-produced America's Day at the Races resumes its regular weekend schedule on Jan. 22. Presented in 2021 by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, the show on FS1 and FS2 will feature racing from Aqueduct, Oaklawn Park, Fair Grounds, and Tampa Bay Downs in the coming weeks.

Saturday, Jan. 23

1:05 p.m.—$125,000 G3 Fred W. Hooper Stakes at Gulfstream Park on TVG

Graded stakes winner Performer will make his seasonal bow and first start outside of New York when he heads up the field in the one-mile Fred W. Hooper Stakes. Trained by Shug McGaughey, Performer has five wins from seven starts and has not finished worse than third in his career. The son of Speightstown most recently ran third in the G1 Cigar Mile Handicap on Dec. 5.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/GP012321USA4-EQB.html

2:38 p.m.—$125,000 G3 Marshua's River Stakes at Gulfstream Park on TVG

Stakes winner Vigilantes Way seeks her second win over the Gulfstream Park turf course when she headlines a field of 10 in the one-mile Marshua's River Stakes. The 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro comes into Saturday's test off a victory in the Tropical Park Oaks at Gulfstream on Dec. 26. That outing marked the first stakes win for the Phipps Stable homebred in eight career starts.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/GP012321USA7-EQB.html

3:09 p.m.—$125,000 G3 La Prevoyante Stakes at Gulfstream Park on TVG

Regally-bred Always Shopping has shown an affinity for the Gulfstream Park turf in recent months and aims to keep that momentum going in the 12-furlong La Prevoyante Stakes on Saturday. Out of Stopshoppingmaria – the runner-up in the 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf – Always Shopping has won two of her last three starts with both of those victories coming over the Gulfstream turf. The daughter of Awesome Again took the Monroe Stakes on Sept. 7 and enters Saturday's race off a victory in the Via Borghese Stakes on Dec. 19.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/GP012321USA8-EQB.html

3:40 p.m.—$200,000 G2 Inside Information Stakes at Gulfstream Park on TVG

2W Stables' Bronx Beauty, an eight-time stakes winner over her first four seasons of racing, continues the pursuit of her elusive first graded triumph in Saturday's Inside Information. Bronx Beauty owns 10 wins and $618,070 in purse earnings from 25 career starts, all for owners Richard and Marie Woll, for whom Margotta purchased the now 6-year-old mare as a yearling. Twenty-two of Bronx Beauty's starts have come in stakes, six of them graded, including a head loss to Lady's Island in the Dec. 12 G3 Sugar Swirl at Gulfstream, a race where the winner survived a jockey's objection for interference to earn her second straight win in the six-furlong sprint.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/GP012321USA9-EQB.html

4:13 p.m.—$150,000 G3 W. L. McKnight Stakes at Gulfstream Park on TVG

Veteran G1 winner Sadler's Joy will try and notch his first victory in more than a year when he takes on 10 challengers in the 1 ½-miles W.L. McKnight. Trained by Tom Albertrani, Sadler's Joy last visited the winner's circle in November 2019 when he took the Grade 3 Red Smith Stakes. The son of Kitten's Joy most recently finished fourth in the 2020 edition of the Red Smith Stakes and was third in the 2020 Mac Diarmida Stakes last February over the Gulfstream course.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/GP012321USA10-EQB.html

4:59 p.m.—$1,000,000 G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park on NBC

Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam, making just his sixth career start and first in graded company, figures to garner plenty of support in the third running of the 1 3/16-mile Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational. Colonel Liam was made the narrow 7-2 program favorite over stablemate Largent (9-2) in a field of a dozen stakes winners, 10 of them graded, including G1 winners Aquaphobia, Next Shares, Say the Word and Storm the Court, the 2-year-old male champion of 2019. Colonel Liam and Largent are part of trainer Todd Pletcher's triple threat that includes Social Paranoia, also among the five horses listed at less than double-digit odds.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/GP012321USA11-EQB.html

5:44 p.m.—$3,000,000 G1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park on NBC

Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go is scheduled to seek the biggest payday of his career in Saturday's $3 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational. Knicks Go will enter the fifth running of the Pegasus off three straight victories in as many starts in 2020, including a track record-breaking triumph under Joel Rosario in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland. Installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite in a field of 12, Knicks Go will have to prove himself by trying to carry his abundant speed beyond 1 1/16-miles, the longest distance he has run during his 17-race career.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/GP012321USA12-EQB.html

6:57 p.m.—$200,000 G3 Palos Verdes Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Veteran gelding Captain Scotty is back to defend his title as he heads a field of eight older horses going six furlongs in Saturday's Palos Verdes Stakes. A 7-year-old son of Quality Road, Captain Scotty gives trainer Peter Miller a strong one-two punch as he'll be joined by stablemate Shashashakemeup, who comes off a big second place finish in his first start off a $50,000 claim at Churchill Downs. Jay Em Ess Stables' California-bred Take the One O One shortens up out of a close third at 29-1 in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes while Ax Man, idle since fourth in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles July 25, looms dangerous off the bench for Bob Baffert.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA012321USA7-EQB.html

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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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