The Pegasus World Cup Turf (Grade 1)- $300.000 Purse
GP- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and Three Sixteenths on the Turf
January 26, 2019

A big win for Lunar Blaze. About time I have said that! I have covered this horse in probably half of its races for the last two years, and he has never been able to pick up that win. He always represents himself well, and finishes decently, but its been a while. One thing we do know about him is that he can put together a streak, and now he has won two in a row, after backing up his open allowance win. Perhaps 2019 will be a “change the script” type year for him, one in which John Henry is rewarded for his perseverance with many more big wins. Winning the Pegasus World Cup Turf is a big start. I am treating this race like the first edition of the stake, so am not going to look at the GP Turf Handicap history which is attached to that. My simple inquiry about that was not technical enough for the game, I guess. Congratulations to John Henry, as well as to jockey J R Velazquez on the big win! The second story of the race is what the heck happened to Early Retirement? Was it just the soft turf? We shall see. The winning time for the race was 1:57.31. Let’s take a look!

(½ Mile- :48.30)- Lunar Blaze, our eventual winner from John Henry, wastes no time getting out in front. He breaks well and quickly assumes a length advantage, and he would extend that two about two lengths while going around the first turn. The Force Awakens, from Diablo Diablo, considered running with him for a moment, got close, then tucked back in towards the back. It was then another length and a half to the third place Sezarchai, out of Ekli Stable, who led a cluster of horses right behind him. A four wide group had Awesome Indeed (TwinTowersRacing) on the rail, Spanish Showboat (Mb Stables) next over, then Lets Do It Big Boy (RNP Stables) and Its Geek To Me (Nakamura Stables). Another length and a half back to another threesome, with Going Gone (John Henry) a bit ahead, running between Devil Six (D J C Racing Stables), who was on the inside, and Coco (Joshua Stables), on his outside. At the back of the pack was Early Retirement (Mb Stables), even with the great L H Colon aboard.

(3/4 Mile- 1:12.59)- Lunar Blaze is still looking good on the front end, extending his advantage to three lengths as no one is sent to challenge him. The Force Awakens was in the catbird seat if Lunar Blaze began to tire, as he was second, trailing by three, but a length over the rest of the field, which seemed to be running tightly with one another. Sezarchai backed off a little bit, and this caused Lets Do It Big Boy to lose contact with the three he had been running with before, as Sezarchai now assumed that position. Awesome Indeed, Spanish Showboat, and Its Geek To Me remained unhurried. Towards the back, Coco looked like he was exploring options, but it would likely require a wide move in the turn at this point. Going Gone and Devil Six maintained their position, while those supporting Early Retirement were hoping this was just part of the plan, and he would look like Backwaters just did in the La Prevoyante, the prior race.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- It’s all Lunar Blaze. While rounding the turn, no one really made a move to try and get him, and Lunar Blaze made them pay for that. He extends his lead to four lengths, and nearly five lengths around the turn. There was a battle for second shaping up, as The Force Awakens dropped out of it. Its Geek To Me went five wide and took over second for the top of the stretch, but even now you had to realize this was just a move for second. Honestly, after him, I didn’t see much else in the way of moves forward, even at this point. Sezarchai and Spanish Showboat ran together, but neither of them were advancing, and you know Spanish Showboat would be at this point if he had it in him. Coco was looking wide with Lets Do It Big Boy to advance. Devil Six and Early Retirement were way out of it, still.

(Finish- 1:57.31)- Remember this race. Lunar Blaze is still in front, and getting away from the rest of the field. They have spotted him a lead, and there is no sign of him tiring out. Remember this effort, when threads get made about pacesetters not being allowed to take an early lead, not set crazy fractions, and holding on at the end (of course the soft turf will be used in the argument against it). Lunar Blaze goes on to win, and was never challenged for this entire race. Its Geek To Me ran very well in the stretch to get second, a strong effort for him, but Lunar Blaze’s win was never in doubt. Neither was Its Geek To Me running second once the stretch run began. Spanish Showboat proves a little better then those near him for an uneventful third place, and Lets Do It Big Boy and Going Going dead heat for fourth. Coco and Awesome Indeed were in the picture with the pack, as Sezarchai tired out late. The Force Awakens was disappointing, but did beat Devil Six. Last of them all was that horse who looked so dominant in his last race, the BC Turf, Early Retirement.

About The Winner- Lunar Blaze, trained by John Henry, and ridden to victory by J R Velazquez, is a six year old gelding by Peppermint Moon, and is out of Hearts On Fire. He was bred in California by Allinthegate as a third quarter two year old, and acquired by John Henry, via Australia Wide in December 2016, in private sales for $500.000. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his ninth in 31 starts, and his seventh stake win, but just his second while with John Henry. His career earnings are now $3,218.300.

Track: Soft
Time: :48¹  1:12²  1:37³  1:57¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 11 – 7 Paid 248.40
$1 Trifecta: 11 – 7 – 5 Paid 1,530.80

Scratched: Lucky Phooey, Thoughtful Idea

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES