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History Astride As Pegasus Card Promises Once Again To Slay Graded Weekend

Named for the owner, an immigrant from Scotland who realized a Carnegie-kind of American Dream, it began as a 12-furlong turf race. Five years later in 1964 it was cut back to nine and moved to the dirt.

The roll call of Donn H. winners through 2016 at Gulfstream Park reflects a roster of unique equine and human personalities, which is peppered with some magnificent performances that shouldn't be forgotten.

Hall of Fame jockey Braulio Baeza won his first of three victories in 1969 aboard Funny Fellow and took home his last Donn with Foolish Pleasure in 1976.

One of the greats, Forego, captured the 1974 race. There was Deputy Minister in 1983. The legendary Cigar grabbed back-to-back races starting in 1995 for a trainer with the last name of Mott, who is still collecting accolades and giving sound speeches without notes.

And who could forget the haul by Todd Pletcher with his first Donn win in 2003 which was authored by Harlan's Holiday.

Speaking of sires, futures breeding shed stars like Medaglia d'Oro, Quality Road and Constitution, all got their picture taken after winning the Donn.

As we know, the race was renamed and its history placed on a dusty shelf. Instead of drawing from the near and visceral past, it was time to extract strength from a famous mythological winged horse slaying a dragon. Second in size stateside to only the Statue of Liberty, the completed 2014 edifice ominously guards the entrance of Gulfstream, presides over the Donn's demise and welcomes those attending Pegasus World Cup Day.

On Saturday, another edition arrives as the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. anchors a card which sports six other graded events. Looking to join the likes of Arrogate (who won the first Pegasus), Gun Runner and Life Is Good, are a dozen suitors and an also-eligible.

National Treasure schooling | Lauren King

Out of these, National Treasure (Quality Road) is the clear class leader. The Bob Baffert trainee won last year's GI Preakness S. and ended his 3-year-old campaign as the runner-up in the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile to newly-minted Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin).

One of National Treasure's primary rivals, who is drawn right next to him, is Godolphin homebred GSW First Mission (Street Sense). Trained by Brad Cox, the dark bay missed last year's Triple Crown, but he has the potential to be a major player within the 2024 Classic division.

“It couldn't have gone better so far,” said Cox assistant Trace Messina. “He shipped in here early Tuesday morning and had a good gallop over the track Wednesday and another good gallop Thursday.”

First Mission was second in the GII Clark S. at Churchill Downs last November. Both the winner of that race, Trademark (Upstart), and the third-place finisher, Il Miracolo (Gun Runner), also received a Pegasus invite.

Il Miracolo's trainer Antonio Sano said, “The horse has been doing very well after the [last] race. Right now, the horse is very excited and in good condition. He worked two times with [jockey Javier] Castellano and I hope to run well. I think there are four horses that show speed in the race. I hope we can find room behind the speed for the horse to close.”

As for the rest of the field, it includes Mineshaft's own GISW Hoist the Gold and MGSW Senor Buscador (who ran first and second in the GI Cigar Mile), plus the Iavarone's MGSW O'Connor (Chi) (Boboman) and that 7-year-old's Saffie Joseph stablemate MGSW Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator).

The Undercard Takes to the Turf

The rest of the Gulfstream slate has an intriguing lineup. In the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S., trainer Aidan O'Brien sends GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf runner-up Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) back to America. Since missing by a neck to newly-crowned champion female turf horse Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the filly was third in the G1 Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in mid-December.

Warm Heart workout | Ryan Thompson

Last year's winner, Atone (Into Mischief) returns, along with the undefeated MGSW Integration (Quality Road), who picks up rider Tyler Gaffallione for Kendrick Carmouche.

West Point Thoroughbreds executive vice president Tom Bellhouse said about Integration's development, “He's as exciting a horse as we've had. He's just a super exciting horse. It took him a while to really get rolling and find his stride. If you look back, he had a lot of works and a lot of base. Shug [McGaughey] was always, 'I like this horse.' He's rewarded all the confidence Shug had in him. To win the race at Colonial [Downs] first time out and to come back a little less than four weeks later and win the Virginia Derby the way he did, it was spectacular. I was lucky enough to be at Aqueduct for the Hill Prince S. and it was one of those races that was never in doubt. It was really an amazing performance.”

A trio of graded turf races help to round out the Pegasus Day card. First among them is the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf, which moved up a spot to become a Grade II race. Star Fortress (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), the market leader at 5-2 here, made her U.S. debut a winning one by 10 lengths for trainer Cherie DeVaux in the GIII Cardinal S. at Churchill Downs last November. Chief among her rivals will be veteran 6-year-olds like GISW Queen Goddess (Empire Maker), MGSW/MGISP Fluffy Socks (Slumber {GB}) and MGSW/GISP Didia (Arg) (Orpen).

As an ode to the Donn's origins, also on the docket are a pair of grass distance tests at 12 furlongs–the GIII La Prevoyante S. and the GIII W.L. McKnight S.

Graded dirt races do make an appearance with the GII Inside Information S. for older females at seven furlongs, which is led by local favorite GSW/GISP Maryquitecontrary (First Dude). Also, older males traveling a mile in the GIII Fred Hopper S. will look to challenge morning-line favorite Hejazi (Bernardini), who was the runner-up in the GI Malibu S.

Heading West

Finally, the graded train also makes Saturday stops at Sam Houston Race Park and Santa Anita Park. H-Town hosts the GIII Ladies Houston Classic S. and the GIII John B. Connally Turf Cup, while the 'Great Race Place' has its own nine-furlong test on the dirt in the GII San Pasqual S.

 

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‘Rising Star’ Nash Faces Track Phantom In Lecomte Rematch Headlining Saturday Graded Races

Like one of those old split-flap mechanical signs at train stations, everyone knows that in the new year the 'Run for the Roses' leaderboard will fluctuate. Week-to-week, the top points begin to compound–from 20 to the winner Saturday and going as high as 100 to the winner come April.

The trail to Derby 150 begins a much steeper ascent on Saturday at Fair Grounds in New Orleans as the GIII Lecomte S. offers 3-year-old colts 20-10-6-4-2 that can be applied to Bank of Churchill.

This year's edition pits a field of eight against one another with the central question being: what happened to Nash (Medaglia d'Oro) in the December running of the Gun Runner S.?

The heavy favorite was unable to build on his Nov. 12 'TDN Rising Star' performance under the Twin Spires at second asking when he powered to the lead, torched a field of maidens by 10 1/4 lengths and posted a 97 Beyer for trainer Brad Cox.

The race shape in the Gun Runner was nothing of the sort for the Godolphin homebred, as he was forced to watch Track Phantom (Quality Road) take control towards the end of the backstretch and never relinquish the lead.

Track Phantom (center) with Nash (along the rail) | Hodges Photography/Amanda Hodges Weir

“It was great to see him [Track Phantom] win the race against a talented field, but especially with going as fast as they did early and showing enough quality to still respond,” said the winner's trainer Steve Asmussen. “I love how he's doing, very happy with him and how he's trained since the Gun Runner. I feel good about the draw and excited to run him again. Past success from there so we'll see what we can do.”

Of course, the pair will have others to contend with in this spot and chief among them is Lat Long (Liam's Map). The dark bay trained by Ken McPeek was never out of the money in all five of his juvenile starts against maiden special weight company starting at Churchill back in September. Facing the likes of GSW Dornoch (Good Magic) and Track Phantom himself, Lat Long broke through at Oaklawn Dec. 17 against his stablemate and next-out winner Common Defense (Karakontie {Jpn}).

“[Lat Long] has been a horse who is still trying to figure it out a bit,” McPeek said. “He's not all there yet. But we're going to try him at a higher level and see how he handles tougher company.”

Also after points is Can Group (Good Samaritan), who was last seen running fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita for trainer Mark Casse. Joining him will be two more Cox runners in Ethan Energy (Uncle Mo), who broke his maiden by 5 1/4 lengths at second asking over this surface Dec. 23, and Awesome Road (Quality Road). Bred by Claiborne Farm, the latter was a $600,000 Keeneland September purchase by Albaugh Family Stables and Donegal Racing.

 

Saudi Crown Kick Starts His 4-Year-Old Campaign

Preceding the Lecomte is the GIII Louisiana S. for 4-year-olds and up going 1 1/16th on the main track. This race marks the return of Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming). Now a 4-year-old, the gray debuted a winner by 4 3/4 lengths at Keeneland last April, then won against allowance company at Churchill Downs a month later.

Saudi Crown | Sarah Andrew

Finishing over the summer as the runner-up by a nose in the GIII Dwyer S. at Belmont Park and in the GII Jim Dandy S. at Saratoga, the Brad Cox trainee set the pace en route to the winner's circle in the GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx in September. A popular pick in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, the colt finished a well-beaten 10th to close out his year.

“I'm not treating it like he has to be on the lead,” Cox said. “He's a smart horse. He's capable of sitting off. When he broke his maiden, he sat off horses. I really don't think he has to be on the lead. It probably will be a situation where he will have to take a breath at some point, you can't just run all-out throughout.”

After Cox watched Saudi Crown drill five furlongs behind Nash Jan. 13 (1:00.20, 3/51), the trainer said, “It didn't quite set up as well as we expected. There were other horses out there and we got caught up with a little more company than we wanted. I was very, very happy with the breeze. He was a little wide through the lane and around the turn. Plenty fit. He had a good work the week before last. We just wanted him to cruise along the other day and he did. I think he's set up for a big spot.”

Opposing him in New Orleans are a number of seasoned challengers looking to set the tone for their own campaigns. Smile Happy (Runhappy) has not been seen since he ran fifth in the GI Stephen Foster S. at Ellis Park in July. The 'TDN Rising Star' has a resume which includes a pair of Grade II wins in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. as a juvenile and in last year's Alysheba S.–both at Churchill Downs.

Making the gate is deep closer GSW Red Route One (Gun Runner), defending winner and GISP Happy American (Runhappy) and GII Rebel S. hero Confidence Game (Candy Ride {Arg}).

 

Midnight Memories Faces Desert Dawn Once Again

Swinging out to Santa Anita Park on Saturday afternoon, the GIII La Canada S. has MGSW Midnight Memories (Mastery) taking on MGISP Desert Dawn (Cupid). The last time these two met as 4-year-old fillies in the GIII Bayakoa S. at Los Alamitos Dec. 15, it was Midnight Memories who got the best of her rival by a length. Favored at 6-5 on the morning line, the Bob Baffert trainee will also have to contend with, among others, GISP Musical Mischief (Into Mischief) and Coffee in Bed (Curlin).

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Making Waves: Daughter Of Ten Sovereigns Strikes At Gulfstream

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Kalispera at Gulfstream Park.

 

Ten Sovereigns Filly Delivers In Florida

William Werner's Kalispera (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) won her American debut at Gulfstream Park for trainer Brian Lynch earlier this month (video).

A product of the storied Annemarie O'Brien breeding programme, the 3-year-old rattled off a trio of group placings at two in her colours when third in both the G2 Debutante S.,–and G3 Newtownanner Stud S., and second in the G3 Prix d'Aumale for former trainer Joseph O'Brien in September. Sold privately to these connections, the filly is a half-sister to G2 Ridgewood Pearl S. second Emphatic Answer (Ire) (No Nay Never) and G3 Silver Flash S. third La Dolce Vita (Ire) (Caravaggio). The trio are out of placed runner Ask Me Nicely (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who is a half-sister to G1 Dewhurst winner Beethoven (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}).

Kalispera is one of two winners from five (40%) to race in America for her Coolmore sire whose eldest foals are now 3-year-olds. The winner Irish Gent (Ire) was second in the Listed Atlantic Beach S., while the placed Loterie (Ire) was runner-up in the Listed Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf S.

 

By Any Other Name

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and MyRacehorse's Forever Rose (Ger) (Cracksman {GB}) won at Tampa for trainer Greg Sacco this month (video).

Making her third start, the Gestut Etzean-bred bay was a €49,000 Baden-Baden yearling turned €420,000 Arqana May 2-year-old when picked up by Stephen Hillen. Her dam Forever Beauty (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}), a winner at two and listed placed over a mile in Germany at four, has a juvenile filly named Fabulous (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) and a yearling colt called Fawkes (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}) still to come. Forever Beauty is a half-sister to a trio of stakes winners led by G1 Deutsches Derby winner Feodora (Ger) (Lord Of England {Ger}).

Darley's Cracksman is now best known as the sire of French wunderkind Ace Impact (Ire), an undefeated Classic-winning victor of the 2023 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. However, Cracksman is not a one-horse sire, as he has six other stakes winners worldwide including G2 Premio Dormello victress Aloa (GB). In the U.S., Forever Rose is the first winner from two to race for her sire.

 

Long Live The King

Boardshorts Breeding and Racing's King Julien (Kingman {GB}) graduated at Gulfstream Park at second asking on Jan. 7 (video).

Trained by Brian Lynch, the Glen Hill Farm-bred dark bay sold for $300,000 as a Keeneland September yearling when picked up by Taylor Creek. Dam Deer Valley (Speightstown), who won Monmouth's Crank It Up S., is already responsible for stakes winner Wide West (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), and she was covered by Good Magic last spring. Crisp (El Corredor), a half-sister to Deer Valley and a winner of the GI Santa Anita Oaks, is the dam of star Japanese dirt performer Danon Pharoah (Jpn) (American Pharoah).

Juddmonte's Kingman has sired 36 winners from 59 runners (61%) in the US and Canada. His eight stakes winners are anchored by Domestic Spending (GB), a winner of three Grade I races; and Grade II winners Technical Analysis (Ire), who was second in the GI Diana S. and GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, and Serve The King (GB), who was second in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic S.

 

 

Repeat Winners

Cheyenne Stable's Ozara (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) added a first listed victory to her resume in the Ginger Brew S. at Gulfstream Park at the beginning of the year for trainer Christophe Clement (video). She first featured in this column after a win at Saratoga in August.

Another repeat winner is Zoustar (Aus) filly Lunar Impact (GB), who races for D K Racing, LLC, Qatar Racing, LLC, Radley Equine, Inc., Rick Gold and Dave Odmark. She won her second race at Santa Anita near the start of January for trainer Dan Blacker (video).

 

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Muth Takes San Vicente with Style

Announcer Frank Mirahmadi said it best: friends in the morning, but rivals in the afternoons. Muth (Good Magic) put away stablemate Pilot Commander (Justify) en route to an authoritative victory in the GII San Vicente S. to open his 2024 season.

First or second for all four starts in his juvenile season, including victory in the GI American Pharoah S. two back and a runner-up effort behind fellow Eclipse finalist Fierceness (City of Light) in the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile, the betting public heralded this contest as Muth's to lose.

Sent off the overwhelming 2-5 favorite, he was content to track Slider and Pilot Commander as that pair stepped out fastest to his inside. Still widest of all as :45.27 and 1:09.76 splits floated by, he challenged his stablemate coming off the bend from four wide, and cleared the embattled dup with a furlong to go. He was ridden out to a 2 3/4-length victory as Pilot Commander go the best of the photo with Slider.

“I was happy with their performance. I thought Muth was going to be up there early like he was at Del Mar, but the other horse (Pilot Commander) was quicker away from there. I thought he would be stalking but Juan, he just took back and rode Muth with a lot of confidence. He knows his horse really well. I'm just glad it worked out,” said Bob Baffert.

He added, “Zedan Racing, he gives us all this ammo to work with. He handles the wins and the losses the same way and he let me name this horse after my good friend Aaron Muth, so it is fun for him.”

Pedigree Note

Muth is the first offspring to the races for the winning Hoppa, who has since produced two half-sisters to the Eclipse finalist–a 2-year-old by Violence and a yearling by Tacitus. She is due this spring with a full-sibling to the victor.

While his pedigree is quiet immediately up front as he and MSP March to Victory (Dixieland Band) are the only black-type earners, Muth does hail from the extended female family of GSW Wandering Star, who herself went on to produce G1SW-Eng War Command (War Front) and GSW-Fr Naval Officer. That extended family also includes New Zealand champion G1SW-NZ Rollout the Carpet (Aus) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).

Saturday, Santa Anita Park
SAN VICENTE S.-GII, $200,500, Santa Anita, 1-6, 3yo, 7f, 1:23.01, ft.
1–MUTH, 124, c, 3, by Good Magic
                1st Dam: Hoppa, by Uncle Mo
                2nd Dam: Handoverthecat, by Tale of the Cat
                3rd Dam: Frayne, by Red Ransom
($190,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $2,000,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $120,000. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-3-2-0, $716,600. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Pilot Commander, 120, c, 3, Justify–Rebuke, by Carson City. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($145,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEEJAN; $700,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR). O-CSLR Racing Partners LLC; B-AR Enterprises, Inc. (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $40,000.
3–Slider, 124, c, 3, Jimmy Creed–Days Like This, by Congrats. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($240,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Hall Racing LLC, Pearl Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds; B-Jason Hall, Stephen Baker, Herschel Martindale, and Mike Riordan (KY); T-John W. Sadler. $24,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, HD, 5 3/4. Odds: 0.40, 2.90, 8.00.
Also Ran: Boltage, Moonlit Sonata, Formidable Man.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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