Cyberknife, Proxy Lead Final Works for Pegasus

Gold Square's Cyberknife   worked five furlongs in 1:01 in company Jan. 21 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, turning in his final serious preparations for the Jan. 28 Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park.

His clocking was third-fastest of 41 works at the distance on the morning, with 5-year-old stakes-placed Roman Centurian , timed in 1:01 1/5, along for the drill. The Brad Cox-trained Cyberknife galloped out to six furlongs in 1:13 2/5 under jockey Florent Geroux.

"It was a good work," Geroux said. "He's always been a good work horse. So for him, it was just a maintenance work and keeping him busy and fit. He's had plenty of time to get ready and now we're a week from the race."

Cyberknife comes into the Pegasus off a second in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), in which he couldn't quite hold off Cody's Wish . That defeat by a head cost the 4-year-old son of Gun Runner   a third grade 1 victory in 2022 after previously taking the Arkansas Derby (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1).

"It was a tough beat (in the Breeders' Cup)," Geroux said. "We wanted to finish up the year strong, and we thought it was a good spot. We had a great trip, just couldn't hold off the winner, who is a terrific miler. I think the mile and an eighth is more to (Cyberknife's) liking."

After Saturday's start, Cyberknife will retire to Spendthrift Farm to stand the 2023 breeding season. His connections are hoping the lone start of his 5-year-old season will put a bow upon an accomplished career.

"The horse is definitely maturing now," said Geroux, who has ridden Cyberknife in 10 of 12 starts. "He's stronger physically. I think he put on some weight. He's developing very nicely and made another step forward over the winter, physically and mentally. So we're hoping he's better than he was last year."

Proxy Tunes Up With Big Finish

Godolphin's Proxy , winner of the 2022 Clark Stakes (G1) in November in his last start, put in his final tune-up for the Pegasus when he was clocked for five furlongs at Fair Grounds Saturday morning. If the move in 1:01 4/5 wasn't quite as fast as his previous two, trainer Michael Stidham was unbothered.

Working by himself at the New Orleans track, Proxy breezed to the wire in :49 2/5 for a half-mile under exercise rider Arturo Aparicio, but since that gallop out was so strong, clockers classified it as a five-furlong work, Stidham said.

"The two important works were the last two," Stidham said. "This was important, but we weren't looking for anything special. We were just looking for maintenance here. He handled it well. He always is a big gallop-out horse, and the best part of the work was the finish and the gallop out. That's what we were looking for, and we got it. He cooled out well, and all is a go as of right now."

Proxy will ship travel in the evening of Jan. 22 to Gulfstream, arriving Monday.

The Clark, Proxy's first try at the grade 1 level, was also his first stakes score, though he'd never been worse than fourth in eight prior stakes attempts.

"I feel like the Pegasus is going to come up tougher overall, a tougher race, so we have to pick our game up from the Clark," Stidham said. "I don't think we can run the same race we ran in the Clark and expect to win. I think we need to do a little bit better, and I'm hoping my horse will move forward from the Clark. That's what we need to see.

"He's had plenty of time from the Clark. He's done well here at the Fair Grounds since that race. He'll get to Gulfstream Monday, and he'll have time to settle in. Barring any issues between now and then, we're ready to go."

Skippylongstocking, Simplification Drill

In Florida, Skippylongstocking  and Simplification  breezed Saturday morning.

Daniel Alonso's Skippylongstocking worked a half-mile in :50.45 at Palm Meadows Training Center. The 4-year-old son of Exaggerator  comes off a victory in the Dec. 31 Harlan's Holiday Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

Tami Bobo's Simplification, who captured the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream last season and was third in the Harlan's Holiday last out, breezed a sharp five furlongs in 1:00.22 at Gulfstream. The Antonio Sano trainee's clocking was the second-fastest of 44 workouts recorded at the distance.

California, Arkansas Contenders Prep

Meanwhile, in California, Defunded , Get Her Number , and Stilleto Boy  put in their final pre-Pegasus works Saturday morning.

Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman's Defunded, an impressive winner of the Awesome Again Stakes (G1) and Native Diver Stakes (G2) in his two most recent starts, both in 2022, breezed five furlongs in :59 2/5 at Santa Anita Park. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert won the Pegasus in 2017 with Arrogate  and in 2020 with Mucho Gusto  (2020).

Work of the Day from @santaanitapark—Defunded worked 5 Furlongs in 59.40 on January 21st, 2023, for trainer Bob Baffert. Defunded is expected to make his next start in the @PegasusWorldCup. pic.twitter.com/HEt6f8oigE

— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) January 21, 2023

Gary Barber's Get Her Number, second to Mind Control   in the Dec. 3 Cigar Mile (G1) at Aqueduct Racetrack last out, breezed five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 for trainer Peter Miller at San Luis Rey Training Center.

Steve Moger's Stilleto Boy worked five furlongs in 1:04 3/5 over the synthetic Tapeta surface at Golden Gate Fields. The Ed Moger Jr.-trained son of Shackleford  finished third in last year's Pegasus and was second in the San Antonio Stakes (G2) in December.

In Arkansas, Willis Horton Racing's Last Samurai  fired a bullet at Oaklawn Park, where the D. Wayne Lukas trainee was clocked five furlongs in :59 2/5. The 2022 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) winner comes off a second in the Tinsel Stakes in December at the Arkansas oval and was fourth in the Clark a start prior.