Pegasus World Cup (Grade 1)- $500.000 Purse
GP- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
January 26, 2019
The field for the Pegasus World Cup is incredible. This will be the third time that the race is run, though the game also incorporates the Donn Handicap history here. It also continues to incorporate the purse structure of that race, instead of trying to emulate the uniqueness of the race in reality. Many BC Runners are here, including a fascinating battle between the winner of BC Classic, Splash Mountain, and the winner of the BC Distaff, Whispering Nurse. There are seven runners from the Classic here, plus Whispering Nurse, and also we have an entrant from the BC Dirt Mile. Even those who don’t have one of those races on their resume are strong contenders. The gate is full, and this is certainly a race to watch. Enjoy! Here are the participants!
#1- Air Show (Mb Stables, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- Won just one of seven races last year, but that win came in the Grade 1 Foster Handicap, and because of that, he was able to run in the BC Classic. He ran well at CD, too, though just missed out on a payout with a fifth place finish. Though he might not always end up in the winners circle, he is always one or two lengths from the lead, it seems, especially lately. Ran earlier this month on a muddy day at GG in an open allowance, and won.
#2- Trumpomatic (Night Rider Stables, ridden by Ro Maragh)- A strong three year old season saw him win half of the races he entered (four of eight), and be in the money in all but one of them. He’s tried the stake level a few times, but only in his last start was he able to win one of them, taking the CC Jewel last month. His speed figures have been consistent, and he always seems to represent himself well. But he has never run in a field like this.
#3- Kryptonite (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by D E Centeno)- The name is fitting for what he is trying to be against the superhorses in the field here. This is a tough assignment, though, and with just two wins in sixteen career starts, he is tough to get behind. Recently tried a couple of Grade 1’s and was near the rear of the pack at the finish in each. Typically likes to be the near the front, but it would not surprise me if there is a tactical change here.
#4- Centerpiece (Mb Stables, ridden by R M Hernandez)- During 2018, Centerpiece had a couple of races that caught the attention of everyone. In the KYD, he was the runner up to Pretty Ferro, and later on he would win the Travers. Those are significant accomplishments. Otherwise, he was rather ineffective, and if it wasn’t for the Travers, his best run in his last four races is sixth. In the BC Classic, he was a non-factor, running 10th. When he decides to show up, everyone needs to watch out, but will can he be trusted to bring it?
#5- Splash Mountain (John Henry, ridden by J Talamo)- In other sports, you can talk about lopsided trades. It is well known that John Henry and Smokey Stover made a trade involving Splash Mountain and Mortality. Mortality’s three foals have yet to hit the track, though only one is old enough. Splash Mountain, meanwhile, became a BC Classic champion! It was one of two wins in 2018 for the Ned Isakoff gelding, though he was better in terms of hitting the board. Things went his way in the BC Classic, and we’ll see how he follows it up.
#6- Whispering Nurse (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- Right next to the BC Classic winner in the starting gate, is the BC Distaff winner. She was a bit of a surprising entry here, but I like the move. Her 2018 season was one of dominance, not only winning the BC Distaff, but also the Spinster, Phipps, and La Troienne, all of which are Grade 1’s. Another amazing stat: Never in her career, which is now 20 races along, has she finished outside the top three, and 18 of those 20 races saw her finish first or second. Eleven are wins. She gets to carry five less pounds then her rivals here too, which is definitely worth mentioning. Great move, D J C, in putting her here, regardless of the outcome. However, I feel that outcome will be very positive.
#7- State Police (Smokey Stover, ridden by R Bejarano)- The trainer paid a big price to bring this one to his stable, purchasing him from Team 7 Illusions for $1,000.770. Since then, he has raced four times, with the first three all seeing him coming from off the pace to finish in a top three position. This includes a win Grade 1 JC Gold Cup. In the BC Classic, he was at the front, though, and faded late. History shows State Police is better when chasing, then leading. Doesn’t that simply make sense?
#8- Performance Artist (Serenity Stables, ridden by B J Hernandez Jr)- Despite swapping through the hands of several trainers early, Performance Artist went on to have success during KYD prep season, and eventually finished eighth in the KYD itself. Performance Artist has been a part of the cast in several big races, but has yet to have a leading role. His run in the BC Dirt Mile was along those lines, finishing 7th. Likely more of the same here, but could use a signature win.
#9- Pretty Ferro (Estero Farms, ridden by F Pennington)- The four year old season begins for our reigning KYD champion. If you are reading this, you know about everything he has done to this point. His BC Classic performance was a disappointment though, has he never made his presence felt, and finished in the middle of the field. What is interesting here is the return of the great F Pennington to the saddle. Pennington rode him during all three of the TC races, but the trainer switched over to J R Velazquez for the Haskell, a race he won. I’ll venture to say Velazquez chose Whispering Nurse, due to his longer period of success with her. This gives Pennington another chance. It will be fun to watch!
#10- Simple Request (Saratoga Stud, ridden by L H Colon)- The trainer looks for his second consecutive win in the Pegasus World Cup, taking the race last year with Sporty Greyjoy. He will have the astounding services of L H Colon, something that will be of major benefit. Simple Request was part of the KYD, but finished in the double digits. His BC Classic performance was better, where he ran sixth. It will take a career best effort to win, but don’t rule that out.
#11- Sacred Brave (Blushing Meadows, ridden by J Bravo)- Whenever I see this horse in a race to be previewed, he has a double digit post position. That continues here, but I really like his stretch desire. He has shown to be a gritty runner, and picked up his career highlight win, to date, in late June by winning the Queens Plate. After that, he has not really followed that up strongly, but did win a FG allowance at the beginning of the month.
#12- Audioslave (Alydar Stables, ridden by K J Desormeaux)- Finished a strong 2018 campaign by winning the Grade 1 Malibu at SA, giving him five wins in 12 starts for the season. Prior to that, he struggled in Grade 3’s somewhat, making his win at SA even more impressive. Was that because he liked that seven furlong distance a little better then what he sees today? He’s been known to be streaky when he starts winning, so be on the lookout for him.
#13- Stranger (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by I Ortiz Jr)- The now seven year old gelding is just a bit shy of $3,000.000 in earnings for his career. He is getting better with age, so it seems, as over half of that came last year, and that was not completely reliant on the third place run in the BC Classic, either. He also won the Grade 1 Woodward earlier in the year, but he has been a little inconsistent too, seemingly alternating strong runs, and duds. After an 8th place finish in the Clark Handicap, he is due to step up here.
#14- Superbourg (La Canada Racehorses, ridden by M Franco)- Picked up by the trainer in the September auction from Establo Pichon for, $1.000. No, that’s not a typo. La Canada took his auction purchase, and changed just about everything with him, moving him from turf sprints with the prior trainer, to going long on the main track. He is three-for-three in his new colors, with wins in the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap and the Grade 2 San Antonio, where he defeated Performance Artist. A great buy for the trainer, for sure.
Prediction: 6-9-5-7
— NS
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
