1/23/21

  1  GP     The Pegasus World Cup Turf (GI)

              $300.000     4yo&Up     1 3/16m  Turf         124lbs

She might be an Uptown Girl but Billy Joel knows how to bring the money home.  No, not the Piano Man, the La Canada Roacehorses owned gelding that has put another feather in his cap, taking Saturday’s Pegasus World Cup Turf (GI) by a half length in a final time of 1:51³ for the mile and three sixteenths turf stakes.  He pressed the pace throughout, took over into the lane and held clear Sunlander, another that was forwardly placed throughout and who took the runner-up spot.  It was another quarter length back to the closing post-time favorite, Immoral, and Lets Do It Big Boy took home the minor money.

We had a full field of twelve load into the gate and as the doors sprung open they were away with Darth Invader showing speed from the far outside, towards his inside Sunlander, Dead Madness and Billy Joel showing good early speed, Wired Up just behind that trio, then the foursome of Anoush Command, Immoral, Lets Do It Big Boy and Chayse, then the trailing trio of Annihilator, Charlemagnes Command and Iron Nation. 

Past the stands the first time by, dashing around the clubhouse turn and nearing the back stretch, they had six furlongs to run and Darth Invader continued to show the way between horses with a three-quarters of a length lead, Billy Joel on his inside, Sunlander on his outside, then a length and a half back to Dead Madness, Wired Up on his outside, another length and a half back to Immoral on the rail, Anoush Command next to that one and Lets Do It Big Boy in the three path, then a gap back to Chayse, three side, Annihilator on the rail, Iron Nation between that pair and Charlemagnes Command was the trailer.

The field made their way down the backside and moved into the far turn with three furlongs left to run and Billy Joel was inching up on the inside to stick a head in front of Darth Invader with Sunlander moving closer three wide.  Another two and a half lengths back to the trio of Dead Madness between horses, Wired Up on his outside and Immoral continuing to save ground.  Another gap to Anoush Command, Lets Do This Big Boy on his outside and Chayse even further out, then Annihilator, Iron Nation and Charlemagnes Command.

Around the far turn and into the lane, they were nearing the furlong marker and Billy Joel was now in front by a length as Sunlander continued to track that one, Immoral using his inside position to cut the corner and trying to inch up, Darth Invader appeared to have used his best in the pace and was drifting back, Wired Up with a clear path, Dead Madness on his inside and the rest had a lot of work to do and an eighth of a mile to get it done.

Deep stretch and to the wire, Billy Joel in front, Sunlander trying to dig in, Immoral between then and looking for more as the closers, including Lets Do It Big Boy Wired Up and Chayse were trying to push forward from the extreme outside… but as they hit the wire, Billy Joel stayed on to take the win by a half length.  Sunlander continued on well for the place, a half length in front of Immoral in third with Lets Do It Big Boy in fourth.  Chayse and Wired Up ended up in a dead-head for fifth, Dead Madness in seventh, Anoush Command eighth, Darth Invader tiring to be ninth, Annihilator tenth, Iron Nation eleventh and Charlemagnes Command closed this one out.

Billy Joel is a 4yo bay gelding by El Gran Broomstick – Steel Laff, by Mistropper, and he was bred by Broken Spoke Stables in LA.  Acquired by La Canada Racehorses via Private Purchased for $20.000, prior to his racing career, he now shows seven wins from fourteen starts and earnings of $3,034.480, and has put himself at the top of the older male turf charts. 

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Firm              Time: :47³  1:10³  1:33⁴  1:51³
$1 Exacta: 6 – 9 Paid 94.50             $1 Trifecta: 6 – 9 – 1 Paid 500.30
Scratched: Activate The Dragon

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES