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Pegasus Turf Contender Flavius Joins Mike Maker’s Barn

To trainer Mike Maker, you can never have enough horses for Gulfstream Park's $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1), so imagine his delight when owner Michael Iavarone called and told Maker that he'd purchased Flavius for $230,000 at Keeneland's November sale.

Maker said Flavius is his kind of horse, but one that just dropped into his shedrow out of the blue.

“I had nothing to do with it. They called me up and asked if I'd like to take him. That was it,” he said, adding cheerfully, “Good day for me.”

While owned by breeder Juddmonte Farms and trained by Chad Brown, the 6-year-old Flavius won four of 14 starts, with three seconds and two thirds, earning $737,673. After starting out in Ireland, he won his first U.S. stakes in Kentucky Downs' $750,000 Tourist Mile. Flavius finished fifth as the favorite in his attempt to repeat at Kentucky Downs, where the stakes now is the $1 million WinStar Mint Million Mile (G3). His only start since that Sept. 6 race was a third in Aqueduct's $150,000 Artie Schiller before being sold.

Flavius had his first recorded workout for Maker Dec. 11, powering five-eighths of a mile in 59.44 seconds, the fastest of 20 works at the distance that morning. He recorded another 'bullet' work Saturday, going five furlongs in 1:00.11. The horse has raced once before at Gulfstream Park, finishing fourth by a length in the 2019 Fort Lauderdale (G2) in his second U.S. start.

The Maker-trained Field Pass earned the right to pursue the Pegasus Turf by capturing Del Mar's Sea Biscuit (G2). Field Pass, owned by Three Diamonds Farm, has raced all over the country but only once before at Gulfstream, winning the 2020 Dania Beach.

“He's a model of consistency, sound, danced every dance,” Maker said. “Travels all over.”

Three Diamond Farms' Atone and Cross Border, both owned by Three Diamonds Farm, also are possible for the Pegasus Turf, Maker has said. Atone finished second Saturday in the Fort Lauderdale (G2). Cross Border, third in the 2021 Pegasus Turf, captured Saratoga's Bowling Green (G2). The 7-year-old horse won the Prairie Bayou Saturday at Turfway.

Maker said the Pegasus Turf fills an important void on the stakes calendar by offering a big-money Grade 1 grass race in January.

“There aren't very many options on the grass in the winter,” he said.

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Colonel Liam Works In Preparation For Return In Pegasus Turf Title Defense

Robert and Lawana Low's millionaire Colonel Liam, unraced since June 5, continues to progress toward an anticipated title defense in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Colonel Liam breezed three furlongs Friday over the main track at Palm Beach Downs in 37.67 seconds, his second work since arriving in South Florida after going the same distance in 38.26 Dec. 2. His last previous move was July 24 at Saratoga.

“I'm really happy with him so far. Everything's going right on schedule. He looks terrific. He's moving well and we couldn't be more pleased,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He had a good break and he's come back really well. He's mature now and looks fantastic.”

Shortened from 1 3/16 miles to 1 1/8 miles for 2022, the Pegasus Turf was the second of four consecutive victories for Colonel Liam and first of three straight graded-stakes wins, capped by the May 1 Turf Classic (G1). He has not raced since finishing eighth in the 1 ¼-mile Manhattan (G1) at Belmont Park.

“He needed some time after that race,” Pletcher said. “He was kind of jarred-up after that, so we decided to freshen him with this in mind. Everything's going to schedule.”

Colonel Liam is a son of Liam's Map, a winner of more than $1.3 million in purses over two seasons also trained by Pletcher. Among his victories, Liam's Map won the 2014 Harlan's Holiday at Gulfstream and the 2015 Woodward (G1) and Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

“It's always cool to have offspring of horses you trained,” Pletcher said. “[Colonel Liam] is a horse that we thought could be a horse that we might put on the dirt at some point. He's trained well on it. He's obviously found a home on turf. He's a multiple Grade 1 winner. Maybe we'll step out and try the dirt some time.”

Pletcher said Life Is Good will likely work next week at Palm Beach Downs, either Tuesday or Wednesday. Dominant winner of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) Nov. 6, he is being pointed to a possible showdown with Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Knicks Go in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1).

“He's a very impressive horse to watch train. He's a very willing horse, and because of that, we should have him ready to go,” Pletcher said. “I was impressed [with the Dirt Mile] but not surprised. He's a horse, when you watch him race train and breeze, he does things that very few horses will do.”

Pletcher captured Friday's co-featured third race at Gulfstream with the Lows' My Prankster ($2.20), a 2-year-old son of Into Mischief who pressed Little Vic before edging past the stubborn pacesetter late and win the optional claiming allowance by a half-length as the 1-9 favorite in 1:09.02 for six furlongs. June 5 Woody Stephens (G1) winner Drain the Clock ran the same distance two hours later in 1:08.63.

My Prankster, a $600,000 yearling purchase last September, broke his maiden by 10 lengths in debut Aug. 21 at Saratoga and finished fourth in the Oct. 2 Champagne (G1) in his second start. He ran second by less than a length in the Bowman Mill Oct. 30 at Keeneland last time out.

“I was really happy with My Prankster. It was a tough race and he ran very well,” Pletcher said. “I thought for 2-year-olds to run in 1:09.02 when a Grade 1 winner later on the card went in 1:08.63 was pretty impressive to run that fast. We were kind of hoping to land in a cozy spot and ended up running into a really nice horse. We're pleased that he kept coming and got the job done.”

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‘Optimistic That He’ll Continue To Stretch Out’: Pletcher Aims Life Is Good At Pegasus World Cup

A year after adding the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) to his Hall of Fame resume, trainer Todd Pletcher is targeting the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) for his next conquest during the upcoming 2021-2022 Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park.

The Pegasus World Cup and the Pegasus World Cup Turf will co-headline a program with seven graded stakes Jan. 29 during Gulfstream's annual celebration of World Class Thoroughbred racing, entertainment, fashion and dining. The Championship Meet will get underway Friday and run through April 3.

Pletcher, the defending 18-time Championship Meet titlist, is preparing Life Is Good for a start in the Pegasus World Cup, as well as planning for a defense of the Pegasus World Cup Turf by Colonel Liam.

Life Is Good is fresh off a dazzling front-running victory in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Del Mar by 5 ¾ lengths

“He's an extremely impressive horse to watch train. What everybody saw in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile is what we've grown accustomed to seeing in his training,” Pletcher said.

CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm LLC's 3-year-old son of Into Mischief is on course for a clash with Pegasus World Cup defending champion Knicks Go, who captured the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) in front-running style by 2 ¾ lengths over Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Medina Spirit.

Life Is Good has set the pace in all six of his career starts, including his first three races that included dominating victories over Medina Spirit in the Sham (G3) and San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita for former trainer Bob Baffert. The Kentucky-bred colt, who was sidelined with an unspecified injury, came up a neck short of holding off Jackie's Warrior in his first start for Pletcher in the seven-furlong H Allen Jerkens (G1) at Saratoga off a 5 ½-month layoff. He came back to score a 5 ½-length victory in the one-turn mile Kelso before carrying his speed around two turns in the Dirt Mile.

“He's got a lot of brilliance. He's got speed and the ability to carry it over a route of ground. He's just a very, very talented, impressive horse,” said Pletcher, whose best finisher in the Pegasus World Cup thus far was 2017 third-place finisher Neolithic. “We're optimistic that he'll continue to stretch out. He certainly trains like a horse that wants to go further. We're excited about getting him back for next year.”

Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam surged from off the pace to defeat Pletcher-trained Largent by a neck in last year's Pegasus World Cup Turf, which the son of Liam's Map used as a springboard for victories in the Muniz Memorial (G2) and Churchill Downs' Turf Classic (G1). He has been idle since finishing off the board in the Manhattan at Belmont in June.

“He's at Palm Beach Downs now and training really well. We're looking forward to having him defend his Pegasus World Cup Turf title,” Pletcher said. “Hopefully, everything goes smoothly. He's doing well at the moment.”

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Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said Sunday that Noble Damsel (G3) winner Shifty She will prep for the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G3) in the Dec. 18 Suwannee River (G3) at Gulfstream.

“She is going to run here on the 18th in the Grade 3,” said Joseph of the 5-year-old mare, owned and co-bred by Chris Pallas and co-owned by Harvey Rothenberg. “We're going to use that hopefully as a prep for the Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf.”

“She came out of her last race really well. We gave her a little freshening. We thought about going straight to the Pegasus race, but there's too much time between races. We figured we'd get a race here and then go into it.”

“She's a gutsy horse with a will to win. Even if she doesn't win, she tries hard and always shows up.”

Earlier this year Shifty She won the Ginger Punch and Powder Break at Gulfstream. The daughter of Gone Astray has won six of 10 lifetime starts.

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Gulfstream Releases Championship Meet Stakes Schedule Worth $14.26 Million

A major race will be inaugurated, and a significant purse increase for a tradition-rich Triple Crown prep will be introduced in Gulfstream Park's 2021-2022 Championship Meet stakes schedule released Friday afternoon.

A total of 76 stakes (37 graded) worth $14.26 million, more than $1 million than the previous year, will be run during the prestigious winter meet that will get underway Dec. 3 and run through April 3.

The $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G3) will debut on the Jan. 29 program that will be co-headlined by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), a 1 1/8-mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up, and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), a 1 1/8-mile turf race for 4-year-olds and up on turf. The 1 1/16-mile turf event for older fillies and mares, which will replace the Marshua's River (G3) on the new schedule, will be one of seven graded stakes worth $5.2 million on a World Class Thoroughbred racing program that will be supported by high-end entertainment, cutting-edge fashion, and fine dining.

For more information on Pegasus tickets and festivities for Pegasus World Cup visit pegasusworldcup.com the week of Oct. 11.

Purses for all 3-year-old stakes on Gulfstream Park's Road to the Triple Crown have been increased, most notably the 70th running of the Curlin Florida Derby (G1) on April 2. The historic 1 1/8-mile stakes, which has produced the winners of 60 Triple Crown races, will be renewed for a purse of $1 million, a $250,000 increase over last season. The Florida Derby will be supported by six graded stakes, including the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), a 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies, and the $200,000 Kitten's Joy Pan American (G2), a 1 ½-mile turf event for older horses. Total purses for 10 stakes races on Florida Derby Day will be $2.2 million.

The Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) will be renewed for $400,000, up from last season's purse of $350,000, on a March 5 program that will feature nine graded-stakes. The 1 1/16-mile key prep for the Florida Derby, will be supported by three other Grade 2 stakes, including the $200,000 Davona Dale, a mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies; the $200,000 WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile (G2), a mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up; and the $200,000 Mac Diarmida, a 1 3/8-mile turf event for older horses.

The Mucho Macho Man, a mile race for 3-year-olds, will kick off Gulfstream's Road to the Triple Crown Jan. 1 with a $50,000 purse increase to $150,000. The Holy Bull (G3), a 1 1/16-mile stakes for Florida Derby and Triple Crown hopefuls, will be renewed Feb. 5 with a $400,000 purse, a $50,000 increase over last season. The Holy Bull will be supported by the $100,000 Claiborne Swale (G3), a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds; the $100,000 Forward Gal (G3), a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies; the $100,000 Kitten's Joy (G3), a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds; and the $100,000 Sweetest Chant (G3), a 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies.

The Claiming Crown, the nine-race event for the blue-collar horses that have run for claiming prices, will be held for the 10th consecutive year at Gulfstream Park Dec. 4. The $125,000 Jewel, the 1 1/8-mile headliner for 3-year-olds and up, was won last season by Jesus' Team, who went on to finish second behind Knicks Go in the Pegasus World Cup.

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The first multi-graded-stakes program is scheduled for Dec. 13, featuring the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2), a 1 1/8-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up. The card with five graded stakes will also include the $150,000 Harlan's Holiday (G3), 1 1/16-mile event for 3-year-olds and up that received a $50,000 purse increase; the $100,000 Rampart (G3), a mile race for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up; the $100,000 Sugar Swirl (G3), a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up; and the $100,000 Suwannee River (G3), a mile turf event for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up.

In addition to the Pegasus World Cup, Pegasus World Cup Turf, and the Pegasus F&M Turf, the Jan. 29 program will offer four other graded stakes – the $200,000 Inside Information (G2), a seven-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares; the $150,000 William L. McKnight (G3), a 1 ½-mile turf race for 4-year-olds and up that received a $50,000 purse boost; the $150,000 La Prevoyante (G3), a 1 ½-mile turf race for older fillies and mares; and the $150,000 Fred W. Hooper (G3), a mile event for 4-year-olds and up.

The Florida Derby Day program will offer 10 stakes for a total of $2.2 million in purses. In addition to the Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park Oaks and the Kitten's Joy, graded-stakes action will include the $100,000 Ghostzapper (G3), a 1 1/8-mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up; the $100,000 Appleton (G3), a mile turf race for 4-year-olds and up; and the $150,000 Orchid (G3), a 1 ½-mile turf event for older fillies and mares that received a $50,000 purse boost.

There are no stakes scheduled for the newly installed Tapeta course, but the all-weather racing surface will be employed in the event stakes are transferred from the turf due to inclement conditions.

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