The Pegasus World Cup Turf – Grade I

1 1/8 Mile Turf Stake Purse $1,000.000 Open 4 Year Olds And Up.

With an eight-year-old winning and two seven-year-olds third and fourth it is no wonder I keep going on about the four-year-olds struggling to make their mark at this time of year. It has been the same for a few seasons now that for some reason a majority of very good three-year-olds struggle to make their mark at this time of year and the only explanation I can come up with is the development curve. Just a month and more ago these horses were getting weight off their older rivals but as the year changed so they lost that advantage and, for the most part, haven’t managed to catch up yet in development terms to such an extent that some don’t until next year. We saw the same in all the world cup races today so there has to be something in it. However, if you are the owner of a four-year-old that excelled at three, do not pull out that gun just yet. Give it another few months and I am sure that a majority of these older horses will be struggling to contain the best of the fours.

This is how they finished in the World Cup Turf this year:

1st        Chagrin Falls Mo Mentum Farm       Curtis B             1/2        1:44.70

Well, if ever there was a definition for a late developing code here at HRP this one would be top and centre. He took ten starts and almost two seasons of racing to even break his maiden and when he did could only manage it in a $5.000 maiden claimer at LAD. He didn’t win again for the trainer that claimed him or even the next one but finally got a second win as a five-year-old in a little starter allowance, again at lowly LAD. So, at that point he was a five-year-old with 17 starts and just two wins at the almost the lowest level. Now wind forward to 2026 and as an eight-year-old in his last two starts he has taken the BC Turf and now the World Cup turf.

The joys of racing at HRP means that no less than 6 trainers have had the chance to own him but five of them could only manage a win in a cheap claimer.

So on to today’s race and it surprised me that the great old warrior stayed as close as he did to the breakneck pace which saw a strong first half mile clock 46 and 1. He launched at the right time after a comfortable trip on the rail whilst others were being used up from tough draws and got up by a half-length in a race which was similar in many ways to his BC win. In both his last starts the draw monster has been kind enough to give him the ace draw and I am sure his owner will be hoping that relationship continues.

2nd       Killer Instinct Mb Stables      Santana R Jr    1/4        1:44.83

This hasn’t been his favourite race in years gone by but today he ran his heart out. Right on the strong pace he looked to have it sewn up with a furlong to run but all that work he did in finding a stalking position, told in the end. He was very brave and as a horse that has always excelled in November and has been runner up twice in the BC, I am pretty sure he will be there again this year and trying to finally get the win he deserves.

3rd        State Cavier    Diablo Diablo                Pennington F   nk        1:44.92

Surprisingly the closers never made the top three despite the strong pace and this was another that traveled close to the speed and worked really hard to hold on to third. I would have to say, I think this was the best race of his career which will give the trainer some hope for another big year            

4th        Neon Lightning      Nakamura Stables     Bejarano R       1            1:44.97

The first four-year-old home I have a feeling he is going to have a big year. With only around a length to make up on the older horses I think his development will cover that as the year goes on and he will be tough to beat in the Autumn.        

5th        Extravagant      Bigchief Stables         Lopez P              

6th        Derby Dreams    TwinTowersRacing       Davis D               

7th        Edged Out        TwinTowersRacing     Franco M           

8th        Buffalo G           Nakamura Stables      Castillo I            

9th        Moonligtonthewabash    High Voltage   Prat F

10th     Sioux Arrival   High Voltage   Centeno D E                   

11th     Ello Santa         Mb Stables       Gutierrez Mario             

12th     Cochabamba       Riggins Racing               Bridgmohan S X            

13th     Great Vault     Winning Link Stables              Elliott S               

14th     Alydar D J C Racing Stables Velazquez J R

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES