Stakes Action Aplenty at Gulfstream Park, Sam Houston
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Photo: Benoit Photo
After the scratches of Spun to Run and Omaha Beach, Higher Power, shown winning the Pacific Classic, is the headliner for the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park
The graded action across North America is centered mostly in Florida and Texas this weekend, with the NTRA and BloodHorse providing a one-stop guide to the day's graded stakes races, through capsule looks and entries.
The fourth running of the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1) headlines a loaded Jan. 25 card at Gulfstream Park featuring six graded stakes. Then the next day at Sam Houston Race Park, the Houston Ladies' Classic (G3) Jan. 26 features three grade 1 winners, including 2019 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine Serengeti Empress in her seasonal bow.
The Pegasus World Cup is the centerpiece of a 90-minute broadcast Saturday on NBC from 4:30-6 p.m. ET, a telecast that will also feature the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1T).
All listed post times are Eastern. Click on the race names for BloodHorse race previews.
Saturday January 25
2:31 p.m. $150,000 Grade 3 Fred Hooper Stakes at Gulfstream Park on TVG
Wachtel Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber's Gray Magician will be an imposing foe to 13 rivals in the Fred W. Hooper, a one-mile race for 4-year-olds and up. Gray Magician will make his 4-year-old debut in the one-turn Hooper following a productive 3-year-old season that included a start in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). Although he finished far back in the Run for the Roses, Gray Magician came right back to finish second in the Indiana Derby (G3), win the Ellis Park Derby Presented by Kruckemeyer and Cohn Jewelry, and finish second in the Smarty Jones Stakes (G3) before winning an optional claiming allowance at Keeneland.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, January 25, 2020, Race 7Entries: Fred W. Hooper S. (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Storm Advisory (PA)
Tyler Gaffalione
120
Peter R. Walder
30/1
2
2Zenden (KY)
John R. Velazquez
118
Todd A. Pletcher
8/1
3
3Eye of a Jedi (KY)
Jairo Rendon
122
Steve Budhoo
30/1
4
4Rare Form (KY)
Flavien Prat
118
Dale L. Romans
5/1
5
5Phat Man (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
122
J. Kent Sweezey
10/1
6
6Seven Trumpets (KY)
Lanfranco Dettori
122
Dale L. Romans
6/1
7
7Tale of Silence (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
118
Barclay Tagg
10/1
8
8Free Enterprise (KY)
Javier Castellano
118
Chad C. Brown
4/1
9
9Olympic Village (FL)
Jose A. Bracho
118
Robert B. Hess, Jr.
20/1
10
10Gray Magician (KY)
Joel Rosario
122
Peter Miller
6/1
11
11Epic Dreamer (KY)
Paco Lopez
118
Kelly J. Breen
10/1
12
12Gran Omero (VEN)
Santiago Gonzalez
124
Oscar M. Gonzalez
30/1
13
13Chewing Gum (KY)
Julien R. Leparoux
118
William I. Mott
15/1
14
14Dak Attack (KY)
Luis Saez
118
Dale L. Romans
20/1
3:03 p.m. $200,000 Grade 3 La Prevoyante Stakes at Gulfstream Park on TVG
On Saturday, Kelsey's Cross will try the 1 1/2-mile distance for the first time in the Grade 3 La Prevoyante on Gulfstream's Pegasus World Cup card. Lady Paneme is the slight 3-1 program favorite in the 1 1/2-mile turf fixture for fillies and mares. But Kelsey's Cross could have a say in the outcome if she proves she can handle the distance.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, January 25, 2020, Race 8Entries: La Prevoyante S. (G3T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1La Australiana (KY)
Emisael Jaramillo
118
Juan Carlos Avila
20/1
2
2Simply Beautiful (IRE)
Ryan L. Moore
118
Aidan P. O'Brien
9/2
3
3Kelsey's Cross (FL)
Romero Ramsay Maragh
118
Patrick L. Biancone
8/1
4
4Mean Mary (KY)
Luis Saez
118
H. Graham Motion
8/1
5
5Touriga (BRZ)
John R. Velazquez
122
H. Graham Motion
6/1
6
6Lady Paname (FR)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
118
Chad C. Brown
3/1
7
7War Cabinet (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
118
Claude R. McGaughey III
12/1
8
8Latest Version (KY)
Joel Rosario
118
Victoria H. Oliver
20/1
9
9Raining Lemons (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
118
Michael R. Matz
12/1
10
10Get Explicit (KY)
Edgard J. Zayas
118
Barbara J. Minshall
7/2
3:36 p.m. $200,000 Grade 2 Inside Information Stakes at Gulfstream Park on TVG
Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable and Peter Deutsch's multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Spiced Perfection goes after her eighth stakes victory and second straight in the Inside Information over seven-furlongs. Based in California with trainer Peter Miller, Spiced Perfection will be making her South Florida debut, but she is no stranger to coming east. Last year she won both the Madison Stakes (G1) in the spring and Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2) in the fall at Keeneland. She also captured the Go for Wand Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, January 25, 2020, Race 9Entries: Inside Information S. presented by Runhappy Matchmaker Series (G2)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Liza Star (FL)
Miguel Angel Vasquez
120
Peter R. Walder
15/1
2
2Wildwood's Beauty (FL)
Julien R. Leparoux
122
Scott Becker
12/1
3
3Baccarat Fashion (KY)
Roberto Alvarado, Jr.
118
Peter R. Walder
20/1
4
4J P's Delight (FL)
Jairo Rendon
122
Kathleen O'Connell
10/1
5
5Blamed (MD)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
120
William I. Mott
6/1
6
6Nonna Madeline (KY)
John R. Velazquez
118
Todd A. Pletcher
8/1
7
7Spiced Perfection (CA)
Javier Castellano
124
Peter Miller
8/5
8
8Bronx Beauty (PA)
Emisael Jaramillo
122
Anthony R. Margotta, Jr.
12/1
9
9Heavenhasmynikki (OH)
Jose A. Bracho
122
Robert B. Hess, Jr.
15/1
10
10A Bit of Both (FL)
Paco Lopez
122
Jason Servis
12/1
11
11Pink Sands (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
124
Claude R. McGaughey III
8/1
12
12Our Super Freak (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
122
Cherie DeVaux
20/1
4:12 p.m. $200,000 Grade 3 W.L. McKnight Stakes at Gulfstream Park on TVG
Trainer Mike Maker will go after his fourth-straight victory with many arrows in his quiver—he trains four of the 12 horses entered in the McKnight: Justice Racing's Apreciado; a pair from Paradise Farms and Mad Dog Racing, Carom and Temple; and Three Diamonds Farm's Cross Border, who could scratch to race Sunday at Sam Houston Park in the John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes (G3T). One of Maker's strengths is turning horses he has claimed into graded stakes winners, usually in distance races on turf. All three of his McKnight winners were claimed earlier in their careers. Prior to being claimed by Maker in 2019, Apreciado, Carom and Temple had no stakes experience.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, January 25, 2020, Race 10Entries: W. L. McKnight S. (G3T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Red Knight (NY)
Joel Rosario
122
William I. Mott
3/1
2
2Prince of Arabia (KY)
Luca Panici
118
Patrick L. Biancone
30/1
3
3Apreciado (KY)
Paco Lopez
118
Michael J. Maker
8/1
4
4Carom (KY)
Javier Castellano
118
Michael J. Maker
15/1
5
5Salute the Colonel (FL)
Luis Saez
120
Joseph F. Orseno
12/1
6
6Dubby Dubbie (KY)
Jose A. Bracho
120
Robert B. Hess, Jr.
20/1
7
7Cross Border (NY)
Jose L. Ortiz
120
Michael J. Maker
9/2
8
8Pumpkin Rumble (PA)
Tyler Gaffalione
120
Kevin Attard
6/1
9
9Shazier (MD)
Joe Bravo
118
Carlo Vaccarezza
20/1
10
10Temple (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
118
Michael J. Maker
12/1
11
11Spooky Channel (KY)
Julien R. Leparoux
122
Brian A. Lynch
20/1
12
12American Tattoo (ARG)
John R. Velazquez
120
Todd A. Pletcher
7/2
4:49 p.m. $1,000,000 Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park on NBC
Rather than have Zulu Alpha try for a repeat win in the W.L. McKnight, owner Michael Hui is opting for a far bigger prize later that afternoon in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1T). Hui said that when trainer Mike Maker laid out the possibilities for the 7-year-old's first start of 2020 it was an easy decision. Though the McKnight launched a great 2019 season for Zulu Alpha, who won three graded stakes and $1.1 million in purses, Hui was eager to pursue a larger prize.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, January 25, 2020, Race 11Entries: Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. presented by Runhappy (G1T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Zulu Alpha (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
124
Michael J. Maker
12/1
2
2Arklow (KY)
Luis Saez
124
Brad H. Cox
6/1
3
3Without Parole (GB)
Lanfranco Dettori
124
Chad C. Brown
4/1
4
4Sadler's Joy (KY)
Javier Castellano
124
Thomas Albertrani
8/1
5
5Channel Cat (KY)
John R. Velazquez
124
Todd A. Pletcher
10/1
6
6Instilled Regard (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
124
Chad C. Brown
10/1
7
7Admission Office (KY)
Flavien Prat
124
Brian A. Lynch
30/1
8
8Henley's Joy (KY)
Julien R. Leparoux
124
Michael J. Maker
30/1
9
9Next Shares (KY)
Jose Valdivia, Jr.
124
Richard Baltas
30/1
10
10Mo Forza (KY)
Joel Rosario
124
Peter Miller
5/1
11
11Sacred Life (FR)
Jose L. Ortiz
124
Chad C. Brown
12/1
12
12Magic Wand (IRE)
Ryan L. Moore
119
Aidan P. O'Brien
7/2
5:34 p.m. $3,000,000 Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park on NBC
With the defections of Grade 1 winners Omaha Beach and Spun to Run, the Pegasus World Cup figures to be a wide-open affair with 10 horses set to go to post. Hronis Racing LLC and trainer John Sadler will send out Higher Power, who has blossomed into a grade 1 winner since being purchased for $250,000 in April at Keeneland's Horses of Racing Age sale. In his fourth start for his new connections, the 5-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro offered a commanding 5 1/4-length victory in the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic (G1), defeating Pegasus World Cup contenders Tenfold, War Story, and Seeking the Soul. Trainer Bob Baffert, who saddled Arrogate for his Pegasus World Cup victory has sent Mucho Gusto to Gulfstream for Saturday's race. The 4-year-old son of Mucho Macho Man will be seeking his first grade 1 victory, but the multiple graded-stakes winner has fared well in top-class company, finishing second behind Maximum Security in the TVG.com Haskell Invitational (G1).
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, January 25, 2020, Race 12Entries: Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. presented by Runhappy (G1)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1True Timber (KY)
Joe Bravo
124
Kiaran P. McLaughlin
15/1
2
2Tax (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
124
Danny Gargan
8/1
3
3Diamond Oops (KY)
Julien R. Leparoux
124
Patrick L. Biancone
15/1
4
4Seeking the Soul (KY)
John R. Velazquez
124
Dallas Stewart
30/1
6
6Higher Power (KY)
Flavien Prat
124
John W. Sadler
6/1
7
7War Story (KY)
Joel Rosario
124
Elizabeth L. Dobles
30/1
8
8Mr Freeze (KY)
Luis Saez
124
Dale L. Romans
20/1
10
10Mucho Gusto (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
124
Bob Baffert
9/2
11
11Tenfold (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
124
Steven M. Asmussen
30/1
12
12Bodexpress (KY)
Emisael Jaramillo
124
Gustavo Delgado
30/1
7 p.m. $200,000 Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes Santa Anita Park on TVG
Trainer John Sadler's talented 6-year-old gelding Flagstaff, idle since Nov. 2, heads a field of six older horses going six furlongs in the Palos Verdes Stakes (G2). A game nose winner of the seven furlong Damascus Stakes, Flagstaff, a lightly raced son of champion Speightstown , will be making his second start in graded stakes competition Saturday.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, January 25, 2020, Race 8Entries: Palos Verdes S. (G2)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Ax Man (KY)
Drayden Van Dyke
120
Bob Baffert
5/2
2
2Captain Scotty (KY)
Abel Cedillo
120
Peter Miller
8/1
3
3Flagstaff (KY)
Victor Espinoza
120
John W. Sadler
2/1
4
4Grinning Tiger (OR)
UMBERTO RISPOLI
120
Anthony K. Saavedra
15/1
5
5St. Joe Bay (FL)
Rafael Bejarano
122
John W. Sadler
7/2
6
6Speed Pass (KY)
J.C. Diaz, Jr.
120
Bob Baffert
5/2
Sunday January 26
6:20 p.m. $300,000 Grade 3 Houston Ladies Classic Stakes at Sam Houston on TVG
Six fillies and mares will compete in this year's Houston Ladies Classic, led by Serengeti Empress. Trained by Tom Amoss, Serengeti Empress had an impressive run last year, winning the 2019 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in the winter prior to her victory in the Kentucky Oaks. The bay filly completed her 3-year-old season with a third-place finish in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) last November at Santa Anita Park.
Sam Houston Race Park, Sunday, January 26, 2020, Race 8Entries: Houston Ladies Classic S. (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Serengeti Empress (KY)
Flavien Prat
120
Thomas M. Amoss
7/5
2
2Out for a Spin (VA)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
120
Dallas Stewart
10/1
3
3Saracosa (KY)
Corey J. Lanerie
118
Brendan P. Walsh
15/1
4
4Lady Apple (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
123
Steven M. Asmussen
9/2
5
5Mylady Curlin (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
123
Brad H. Cox
7/2
6
6Street Band (KY)
Sophie Doyle
123
J. Larry Jones
5/2
7 p.m. $200,000 Grade 3 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes at Sam Houston on TVG
A field of 12, including turf specialists from Maker, are slated to go to post in the John B. Connally Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles on turf. Maker has several excellent prospects this year, including Cross Border, owned by Three Diamonds Farm. Sired by English Channel , he last competed in the Ft. Lauderdale Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park. He is cross entered in the McKnight Saturday.
Sam Houston Race Park, Sunday, January 26, 2020, Race 8Entries: Houston Ladies Classic S. (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Serengeti Empress (KY)
Flavien Prat
120
Thomas M. Amoss
7/5
2
2Out for a Spin (VA)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
120
Dallas Stewart
10/1
3
3Saracosa (KY)
Corey J. Lanerie
118
Brendan P. Walsh
15/1
4
4Lady Apple (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
123
Steven M. Asmussen
9/2
5
5Mylady Curlin (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
123
Brad H. Cox
7/2
6
6Street Band (KY)
Sophie Doyle
123
J. Larry Jones
5/2