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Jesus’ Team Puts In ‘Bullet’ Workout In Preparation For Jan. 23 Pegasus

Grupo 7C Racing Stable's Jesus' Team tuned up for a planned start in the $3-million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (Grade 1) with a 'bullet' five-furlong workout Saturday morning at Palm Meadows Training Center.

The 4-year-old son of Tapiture who most recently captured the $150,000 Claiming Crown Jewel Dec. 2 at Gulfstream, was timed in 59.75 seconds for five furlongs at Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.

“He was very sharp. It was an amazing workout and an amazing gallop out too,” trainer Jose D'Angelo said. “I am very happy with the work today. I think we will have a big chance in the Pegasus World Cup.”

The Pegasus World Cup and the $1-million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) will co-headline the Jan. 23 program at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

“He will have two more breezes, six furlongs next week and four furlongs the next week. Then, he will be ready for the Pegasus,” D'Angelo said.

Jesus' Team, who broke his maiden for a $32,000 claiming price at Gulfstream last March, has been stakes-placed in his last five starts, including a third-place finish in the Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes (G1) and a second-place finish in the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland.

Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner King Guillermo breezed a half-mile in 47.66 seconds at Gulfstream Park Saturday morning. The son of Uncle Mo finished fourth in the Dec. 5 Cigar Mile (G1) at Aqueduct while coming off a seven-month layoff.

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Jockey Calls on Guild, Fans for Help Changing Rule for Married Riders

Jockeys Trevor McCarthy and Katie Davis received a surprising wedding “present” earlier this week. The couple, who were married in mid-December, were stunned to learn that due to New York State Gaming Commission rules their horses must be coupled in the wagering whenever they ride in the same race at New York Racing Association tracks.

Recently Claimed Hembree Takes Joe Hernandez Stakes With Last-To-First Move Under Rosario

Claimed for $62,500 out of a one turn mile win at Churchill Downs Nov. 19, 7-year-old Hembree, in his 40th career start, rallied from last to take Friday's Grade 2, $200,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., covering 6 ½ furlongs on turf in 1:13.80. In his first start for trainer Peter Miller and owner Tom Kagele, Hembree, who had routed on turf in 14 consecutive starts prior to his one turn dirt mile Nov. 19, collected his second career graded stakes win.

Last, about 6 ½ lengths off the lead heading to the three-furlong pole, Rosario hugged the rail and slipped through a narrow opening three sixteenths of a mile out and unleashed a powerful stretch run while repelling a stout late challenge from runner-up True Valour.

“Brilliant, it really was just a fantastic ride by Joel, that's why he's one of the world's best,” said Miller. “He's a very fast horse, he runs fast figures and fast Beyers. The question to me was, whether the six and a half was too short for him, but he answered that question today.”

Off at 5-1 in a field of seven older horses, Hembree paid $12.40, $6.20 and $3.60.

A Grade 2 stakes winner going six furlongs on turf at Woodbine at age 4, Hembree picked up $120,000 for the win, increasing his earnings to $927,371 while improving his overall mark to 40-8-10-8.

“Pete told me to let him be early and try and make one run with him,” said Rosario, who had ridden Hembree on four other occasions in New York, Florida and Kentucky, with his most recent partnership coming seven starts back on March 28 at Gulfstream Park. “He broke well and I thought we were in a good spot, not too far off the lead. He made a nice move around the turn and when that other horse came to him, he tried very hard.”

Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, Irish-bred True Valour ran too good to lose as he rallied four-wide through the stretch to finish 3 ¼ lengths in front of Blitzkrieg. Off at 7-1, True Valour paid $7.40 and $5.00.

Blitzkrieg, who had been routing on turf in five out of his last six starts, made the lead briefly a furlong out and checked in third, a half length clear of Texas Wedge. Off at 4-1 with Victor Espinoza, he paid $4.00 to show.

Fractions on the race were 21.56, 44.13 and 1:07.95.

The Joe Hernandez is named in honor of the original Voice of Santa Anita, who called 15,587 consecutive races from the track's opening on Dec. 25, 1934, until he collapsed while calling what would be his final race on Jan. 27, 1972.

First post time for a nine-race card on Saturday is at 12:30 p.m. All of Santa Anita's races can be watched free of charge at santaanita.com/live and fans can watch and wager at 1^st.com/Bet.

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Imprimis Stays Perfect On Gulfstream Turf; One Of Five Winners On Day For Irad Ortiz Jr.

Breeze Easy LLC's Imprimis made a triumphant return to action at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., Friday, following up a troubled trip in the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) with a gutsy victory over Extravagant Kid in the $75,000 Janus.

The Janus, a five-furlong turf sprint for 4-year-olds and up, was the first of three stakes on the New Year's Day card, including the $75,000 Cash Run, and the $75,000 Abundantia. Imprimis' jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. also rode Gulf Coast to victory in the Cash Run and guided Hear My Prayer to win the Abundantia to finish the 11-race card with five victories.

Imprimis, the 4-5 favorite, ran his career record to 5-for-5 over the Gulfstream Park turf course, providing a measure of comfort for the disappointment his trainer felt following the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland.

“I even said, 'I'm feeling more pressure today that I did at the Breeders' Cup, and today he's supposed to win,” trainer Joe Orseno said.

Imprimis, who had to be checked hard by Ortiz after his stretch bid was shut off at Keeneland, didn't have another horse in his path while making his wide drive to the finish line, enabling him to finish a neck ahead of Extravagant Kid, who was beaten by only a length while finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

“He ran down a credible horse. When Extravagant Kid got the jump on him, I thought I was in trouble, because he's a good horse. The horse made about a million dollars,” Orseno said. “I'm very pleased to get a good trip.”

Imprimis did experience a little crowding following the break, settling in fifth along the backstretch as The Critical Way showed the way into the homestretch while setting swift fractions of 21.09 and 43.22 seconds for a half-mile. Extravagant Kid, who rated fourth on the backstretch, made a three-wide move on the turn into the homestretch to get the jump on the favorite, who quickly joined him to his outside. The Critical Way, ridden by Paco Lopez, held gamely while tiring but was unable to hold off his two more high-profile rivals, finishing just a head behind runner-up Extravagant Kid, the 5-2 second choice.

The multiple graded-stakes winner Imprimis ran five furlongs on a firm turf in 54.82 seconds.

“Last time it was a little sad after the trip I had in the Breeders' Cup. I feel like it's one of those races that you probably could have won, and those races don't come back. It's one time the whole year, so I was so sad for them because he worked so hard and he deserved it. I probably made a bad decision, so I feel bad,” Ortiz said “But thank God, today I was able to ride him back, and to be able to be in the winner's circle is very special for me. Moving forward after this race, he's a nice horse and he's doing so good right now I think he's doing better than ever. I expect a good year for him.”

The $100,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint (G3) Feb. 13 is a possibility for the 7-year-old son of Broken Vow's next start.

“The horse will tell me. The plan is to go to it. The plan was to go to the next one, not this one, but he was doing so well. It was hard to pass up. When they're hitting the ground like this and doing this well and feeling this good, you're afraid they're going to do something to hurt themselves. So, I took advantage and ran him in this race,” Orseno said “We'll see about the next one. If he's doing like this and is 100 percent, then yes.”

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