Regal Glory Rallies to Win Inaugural Pegasus F&M Turf
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Ryan Thompson
Regal Glory overcomes a challenging trip to win the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Regal Glory went to post favored in the inaugural running of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational Presented by Pepsi (G3T) and got the job done. But she had to work for it.
The 6-year-old Animal Kingdom mare normally runs on or at least near the lead. But in the Pegasus, she was off a beat behind rivals from post 3, shut off a few strides later, and relegated to a spot near the back of the 10-horse field.
From there, jockey Jose Ortiz confidently bided his time. He started to pick off rivals on the turn, swung wide around the leaders, and got Regal Glory to the front when it mattered, winning by 2 1/2 lengths.
"The '5' horse (Gift List ) broke really sharp and took my position," Ortiz said. "At the three-eighths pole, I had a lot of horse and decided to go around everybody. You could see I had a lot of horse under me. She was just the best in the race."
Trainer Chad Brown concurred.
"Thankfully, Jose knows her so well and she's so good that she was able to overcome it. He rode a beautiful 'Plan B' type of race."
Alms was second, followed by Shifty She and Gift List , another neck and a head back, in the race formerly known as the Marshua's River Stakes before being given a purse boost from $125,000 last year to $500,000 for inclusion in the Pegasus program.
"I had a perfect trip," said Alms' jockey, Joel Rosario. "She dragged me up to the lead and it looked like she gave everything she got, just the winner came right by us. But she ran well."
Lady Speightspeare , who had figured as a pace factor in the 1 1/16-mile event, was scratched the morning of the race by trainer Roger Attfield.
Regal Glory finished her 2021 season first by running second, beaten just 1/2 length, in the First Lady (GIT) at Keeneland, and then winning the Matriarch (G1T) at Del Mar. She now has 10 wins from 17 starts.
Bred by Paul Pompa, Regal Glory was purchased by Peter Brant for $925,000 out of Pompa's dispersal as part of the Lane's End consignment to the 2021 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale.
"It was time," Brant said of the purchase. "It's very meaningful to me."
Regal Glory's sire won the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) in 2013 but Brown said there is no thought of sending her overseas.
"She's scheduled to be bred (to Into Mischief ). So this may it for her," Brown said, before adding, "It's not out of the question that she will run at 6. Ultimately, Mr. Brant will decide."
Runner-up Alms, a Godolphin homebred 5-year-old daughter of City Zip , outran her odds to get home second for trainer Michael Stidham.
Alms had not won since February 2020 and was out of action for 15 months before returning at Keeneland in October. Most recently she was seventh in the Dec. 18 Suwanee River Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park.