Off Win, Stall Mulls Pegasus World Cup for Tom's d'Etat

Lightly raced 5-year-old Tom's d'Etat continues to impress trainer Al Stall Jr., and after a 3 1/2-length triumph in the Dec. 22 Tenacious Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the conditioner is considering the son of Smart Strike for the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park.

"It could be anything from the Pegasus on down," Stall said of where Tom's d'Etat's next move might take place. "We'll keep our eye on him and see what's going on with him. It's an older horse race going a mile and an eighth on the main track, so you never know."

The 1-mile, 70-yard Tenacious Stakes marked a fourth consecutive victory for G M B Racing's Tom's d'Etat. A winner of a Churchill Downs main track optional-claiming allowance race in November off a 16-month layoff, he won two prior starts against allowance company as well. 

Bred in Kentucky by SF Bloodstock, Tom's d'Etat was a $330,000 purchase at the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Hunter Valley Farm. The Tenacious Stakes was his first stakes win and sixth victory in nine starts. He is out of the Giant's Causeway broodmare Julia Tuttle, whose dam Candy Cane is a full sister to Candy Ride . 

"He went to the track the last two days," Stall said. "He jogged yesterday and galloped this morning. He looks great. It looks like he's put on a little weight since the race, actually. He has a little more muscle tone. He certainly needed the race."

"It definitely would be exciting and is definitely under consideration," G M B Racing manager Greg Bensel added of a possible Pegasus start. "We're looking into it and there is no guarantee we're doing it, but it's under consideration. We'll see what options we have. He came out of the race well and he's sound. Who knows how much longer we have with him, so maybe Pegasus fits in with him."

The excitement did not end with Tom's d'Etat. G M B Racing's owner, Gayle Benson, is the owner of the NFL's New Orleans Saints, who clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers Dec. 23. G M B Racing found the Fair Grounds winner's circle twice more Dec. 26 with Stuart Hall and Tom Management, the latter trained by Stall. 

“We came off a really strong Churchill meet and we almost had a shot at the owner’s title,” said Bensel, who noted that G M B Racing won four of their seven starts at the Louisville oval this fall. “We got off to a hot start here with Tom’s d’Etat winning and the two back to-backs. It looks good and we’re really pleased with everything right now, and hopefully we maintain this ride because it’s been a lot of fun.”

For Tom Management, a juvenile son of Lemon Drop Kid , the win over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course going 1 1/8 miles was his career debut. He is the first foal out of the Empire Maker  mare Comme Chez Soi, a daughter of grade 1 winner Downthedustyroad. Tom Management was purchased for $100,000 from Summerfield's consignment to the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. 

"That was a pedigree play. We knew the further the better," Stall said.