Higher Power Leads Busy Day of Pegasus Works

Higher Power impressed clockers Jan. 18 at Santa Anita Park when he worked five furlongs in :59 3/5, second-fastest at the distance on the day. The John Sadler trainee had Flavien Prat in the irons, as he will Jan. 25 in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1) at Gulfstream Park.

Higher Power, who won the $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) and was third last out in the Nov. 2 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), reeled in stablemate Best Chance with a sharp move off the turn in Saturday's work. The son of Medaglia d'Oro  runs for Hronis Racing. 

Across the country in Florida at Gulfstream Park, Dale Romans sent Mr Freeze through five furlongs in 1:00.12, the fifth work for the son of To Honor and Serve since he ran third in the Nov. 29 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (G1) at Churchill Downs for owners Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister. 

Over at Palm Meadows Training Center, trainer Danny Gargan tuned up grade 2 winner Tax with an easy four-furlong move in :51 2/5 in company with Voodoo Zip. The Arch gelding races for R. A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch, and Corms Racing Stable. Calumet Farm's True Timber was another Pegasus contender on the work tab Saturday at Palm Meadows, where the Kiaran McLaughlin trainee went four furlongs in :49 3/5. A son of Mineshaft , True Timber was third in the Dec. 7 Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) in his most recent start and seeks his first stakes score. 

Also at Palm Meadows, but on the lawn, Chad Brown sent out a flight of contenders for the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1T). 

John and Tanya Gunther's homebred Without Parole, third last out in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T), worked five furlongs in 1:00.50, fastest of 18 at the distance. The winner of the 2018 St. James's Palace Stakes (G1) geared up for his second stateside start in company with fellow Pegasus Turf contender Sacred Life, who was clocked in the same time. Sacred Life, a son of Siyouni campaigned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables, and Bethlehem Stables, comes off a runner-up finish in the Nov. 30 Seabiscuit Handicap (G2T) at Del Mar.

Pegasus Turf Cup invitee Instilled Regard was on the Palm Meadows tab for Brown as well, where he worked five furlongs in 1:04. OXO Equine's son of Arch comes off a victory in the Dec. 14 Ft. Lauderdale Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream.

Amerman Racing's Admission Office also stretched his legs on the Palm Meadows lawn, where he was clocked for five furlongs in 1:02 1/5. The homebred son of Point of Entry  was second in the Ft. Lauderdale last out for trainer Brian Lynch.