1/29/22

  10   GP   The Pegasus World Cup Turf (GI)

           $1,000.000   4yo&Up   1 1/8m  Turf    124lbs

The Green Card once again nailing down winners… handing out exactas.  I’m not sure if it was the time off or the change of jocks… perhaps even something different in his training, but one things stays constant… Mb Stables wins big races.  Immoral has been close in a number or recent races, but hadn’t won since May at CD, but on a huge stage, the 5yo gelding made a bold turn move and went on to take The Pegasus World Cup Turf (GI) by a length.  The final running time was 1:45 flat for the mile and an eighth over the firm GP turf course.  Iron Nation did the heavy lifting, setting the pace to deep stretch, but couldn’t hold off the winner, settling for the place as the 4/1 luke-warm, post-time favorite.  Nakamura Stables took most of the minor placings with Nevada Silver another three-quarters of a length back in third, then a (mandatory) dead-heat for fourth between Sunlander and Smokey Stover’s’ La Terrifiant. 

The full field of fourteen loaded into the starting gate and were away with Iron Nation on the early gas, but he had company… City Watch, Nevada Silver and La Terrifiant, then our standard trio merry-go-round, Last Way To The Beac, Evergreen and Immoral, Sunlander from the rail, Found Peace between horses and Cherokee Surprise three wide made-up the next lot, then a gap to Winter Solstice, Plyrannical, Bubba Kush and Lets Do It Big Boy. 

Under the wire the first time by, moving thru the clubhouse turn nearing the backside with six furlongs to travel, Iron Nation continuing to show the way.  Stable-mate Nevada Star on his flank, City Watch on his outside and La Terrifiant widest of all.  Back down to the rail for Last Way to The Beac, Evergreen between horses and Immoral next to that one, another gap to Found Peace on the outside of Sunlander, a length and a half to Plyrannical, Cherokee Surprise towards his outside, then a gap to the trailing trio of Lets Do It Big Boy, Winter Solstice and Bubba Kush. 

Now making their way down the backside and headed into the far turn with a bit more than three furlongs to run and Iron Nation had skipped away to lead by two lengths, Nevada Silver losing some ground but still in the second spot, City Watch and La Terrifiant from the outside, back down to the rail for Last Way To The Beac, Evergreen next to that one, Immoral.  Another gap of two, Sunlander on the rail, Found Peace next to him, then a gap to Plyrannical, Cherokee Surprise on his flank, and Winter Solstice, Lets Do It Big Boy and Bubba Kush were at the rear. 

They made their way around the far turn and to the top of the lane with a bit more than a furlong to run and Iron Nation continued to show the way.  Nevada Silver still chasing the leader as Immoral moved up widest of all in a burst, La Terrifiant between that pair, then City Watch, Evergreen and Last Way To The Beac.  Sunlander looking for running room, Found Peace down the middle of the track, back towards the inside for Plyrannical, Winter Solstice out wide, back towards the rail for lets Do It Big Boy, Cherokee Surprise next to that one and Bubba Kush was the trailer.

Deep stretch and to the finish, in a blink of an eye, Immoral moved up and past Iron Nation to take the lead, and just like that, this race was over as the big bay just ran away to go under the wire in front by a length.  Iron Nation continued on well to secure the second spot, Nevada Silver was third, then a dead-heat between Sunlander and La Terrifiant in fourth.  Evergreen was sixth, Plyrannical seventh, a nose to City Watch in eighth, Winter Solstice was ninth, just in front of Lets Do It Big Boy in tenth, Last Way To The Beac was eleventh Found Peace was twelfth, Bubba Kush thirteenth a    nd Cherokee Surprise closed this one out.

Immoral is a 5yo bay gelding by No Doubt About It – Noble Moment, by Moment Of Madness, and he was bred by his owner, Mb Stables, in Ca.  He now shows ten wins from twenty-four starts and a staggering $4,961.260 in lifetime earnings.  Six of those wins have been turf victories.  Congrats to the connections!

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Firm      Time: :46⁴  1:09³  1:33¹  1:45
$1 Exacta: 10 – 6 Paid 41.90        $1 Trifecta: 10 – 6 – 11 Paid 247.30
Scratched: Butter Ball, Plucky Flash

Immoral settled mid-pack 3p, remained there until midway of the far turn, fanning widest for the drive, advanced into the lane, continued to press forward to take over with a sixteenth to run, pulled away late.  Iron Nation broke alertly, set the pace to the sixteen pole, headed, could not go on with the winner.  Nevada Silver was forwardly placed throughout, evenly late.  Sunlander raced mid-pack saving ground, found running room 3p, best foot too late, dead-heat.  La Terrifiant showed good speed, wide trip, weary late, dead-heat.  Evergreen raced evenly throughout, out-kicked late.  Plyrannical rated back, lacked room into the lane, shifted out then in, evenly from there.  City Watch showed good speed tracking the pace to the lane, tired.  Winter Solstice was not involved, passed tiring rivals.  Lets Do It Big Boy passed tiring rivals late.  Last Way To The Beac good early speed, steady retreat.  Found Peace was no factor.  Bubba Kush was never involved.  Cherokee Surprise was outrun. 

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES