Knicks Go Tops Field of 12 in Pegasus World Cup

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/20/2021 - 10:21
Link: 
Knicks Go Tops Field of 12 in Pegasus World Cup
Image: 
Description: 

Photo: Skip Dickstein
Knicks Go wins the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland

A collection of 24 of the best dirt and turf horses in the U.S. were entered Jan. 20 to pursue grade 1 laurels and a combined $4 million in purse money in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) and the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park.

The $3 million Pegasus World Cup, a 1 1/8-mile race on dirt, attracted 12 starters led by Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Knicks Go. Owned by Korea Racing Authority and trained by Brad Cox, the 5-year-old Paynter  horse was installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite and will break from post four.

Will Farish's homebred 2019 Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Code of Honor was pegged as the 9-2 second-choice and landed post 10 for trainer Shug McGaughey in a race with a short run to the first turn.

The full field for the Pegasus, in post position order with morning line odds, includes Sleepy Eyes Todd (8-1) on the rail followed by Coastal Defense (15-1), Independence Hall (20-1), Knicks Go (5-2), Jesus' Team (8-1), Kiss Today Goodbye (10-1), Tax (5-1), Harpers First Ride (10-1), Last Judgment (20-1), Code of Honor (9-2), Mr Freeze (15-1), second in last year's Pegasus, and Math Wizard (20-1).

The winner of the Pegasus will receive an automatic entry into next month's $20 million Saudi Cup.

Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) winner True Timber was not entered after being "slightly off" following training on Wednesday, trainer Jack Sisterson tweeted.

The $1 million Pegasus Turf, at 1 3/16 miles on Gulfstream Park's grass course, also closed with a field of 12, topped by Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the Liam's Map  4-year-old won the Tropical Park Derby in his last start and was set as the 7-2 morning-line favorite. He drew post five.

The full field for the Pegasus Turf, in post position order with morning line odds, features Next Shares (20-1), Breaking the Rules (10-1), Storm the Court (12-1), North Dakota (10-1), Colonel Liam (7-2), Largent (9-2), Aquaphobia (20-1), Anothertwistafate (5-1), Cross Border (15-1), Pixelate (15-1), Say the Word (6-1), and Social Paranoia (8-1).

Pletcher will send out a trio of starters in Colonel Liam, Largent, and Social Paranoia.

Both Pegasus stakes will be contested without race-day Lasix and will air on NBC during a 4:30-6 p.m. ET show.

First race post time for Saturday's card is 11:40 a.m.

 


Entries: Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. (G1T)

Gulfstream Park, Saturday, January 23, 2021, Race 11

  • Grade IT
  • 1 3/16m
  • Turf
  • $1,000,000
  • 4 yo's & up
  • 4:59 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Next Shares (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Drayden Van Dyke 123 Richard Baltas 20/1
2 2Breaking the Rules (KY) John R. Velazquez 123 Claude R. McGaughey III 10/1
3 3Storm the Court (KY) Julien R. Leparoux 123 Peter Eurton 12/1
4 4North Dakota (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 123 Claude R. McGaughey III 10/1
5 5Colonel Liam (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Irad Ortiz, Jr. 123 Todd A. Pletcher 7/2
6 6Largent (VA)Keeneland Sales Graduate Paco Lopez 123 Todd A. Pletcher 9/2
7 7Aquaphobia (KY) Joe Bravo 123 Michael J. Maker 20/1
8 8Anothertwistafate (KY) Joel Rosario 123 Peter Miller 5/1
9 9Cross Border (NY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Tyler Gaffalione 123 Michael J. Maker 15/1
10 10Pixelate (KY) Edgard J. Zayas 123 Michael Stidham 15/1
11 11Say the Word (ON) Flavien Prat 123 Philip D'Amato 6/1
12 12Social Paranoia (KY) Luis Saez 123 Todd A. Pletcher 8/1


Entries: Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. (G1)

Gulfstream Park, Saturday, January 23, 2021, Race 12

  • Grade I
  • 1 1/8m
  • Dirt
  • $3,000,000
  • 4 yo's & up
  • 5:44 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Sleepy Eyes Todd (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Jose L. Ortiz 123 Miguel Angel Silva 8/1
2 2Coastal Defense (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Corey J. Lanerie 123 Dale L. Romans 15/1
3 3Independence Hall (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Flavien Prat 123 Michael W. McCarthy 20/1
4 4Knicks Go (MD)Keeneland Sales Graduate Joel Rosario 123 Brad H. Cox 5/2
5 5Jesus' Team (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Irad Ortiz, Jr. 123 Jose Francisco D'Angelo 8/1
6 6Kiss Today Goodbye (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Mike E. Smith 123 J. Eric Kruljac 10/1
7 7Tax (KY) Luis Saez 123 Danny Gargan 5/1
8 8Harpers First Ride (MD) Angel Cruz 123 Claudio A. Gonzalez 10/1
9 9Last Judgment (FL) Paco Lopez 123 Michael J. Maker 20/1
10 10Code of Honor (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Tyler Gaffalione 123 Claude R. McGaughey III 9/2
11 11Mr Freeze (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate John R. Velazquez 123 Dale L. Romans 15/1
12 12Math Wizard (KY) Edgard J. Zayas 123 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 20/1