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Withers, Toboggan, Ruthless Pegasus World Cup works Eclipse Awards Year in Review Santa Anita opening day |
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 Florent Geroux and Dashman after winning the 2025 W.L. McKnight Stakes (G3)
Pegasus World Cup results |
Pegasus World Cup (G1) day at Gulfstream Park was conducted under typical racing conditions for south Florida in late January -- partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 70's, with the 1 1/8 mile main track rated fast and the turf course firm.
A field of 12 older horses contested the $215,000 William L. McKnight Stakes (G3) presented by Visit Lauderdale at 1 1/2 miles around 3 turns of the turf course. Sycamore (G3) runner-up Bold Act was sent off as the 9-5 favorite over 3-1 second choice Limited Liability, 2nd in the Red Smith (G2), and 13-2 third choice Anglophile, fifth in the Kentucky Turf Cup (G2).
Jockey Jose Ortiz sent 12-1 Cathkin Peak to the lead first time by through fractions of 23.35, 47.11, 1:11.26, 1:36.32, and 2:01.02 while pressed by Limited Liability and stalked by 19-1 Dashman. Turning for home Cathkin Peak tired allowing Limited Liability to gain a short lead but Dashman under Florent Geroux rallied late to win by a nose over late-running 10-1 Cash Equity in 2:24.58. It was a neck back to Limited Liability third, and another 1 1/4 lengths back to favorite Bold Act fourth.
Left: Dashman in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Brian Lynch said, "I had put him on the van at about 7:30 this morning, just hoping that he'd get in and it wasn't a wasted van ride down here [from Palm Meadows]. I had just put him on the van and they called to say he was going to scratch in. And I said, 'He's on the way' as the van left. He kind of got to sit in the old catbird's seat and stalk them. Fortunately, he had enough horse to finish like he did. What a photo. Look at that. He's a lightly raced 4-year-old that can get the marathon trip, so he's got a lot to look forward to. He had to step up in competition today. He had never run against these kinds of horses. But evidently, he was ready for it."
Right: Dashman circles after the race. Winning jockey Florent Geroux said, "We had a beautiful trip. I was able to sit behind the two horses, I looked up at the screen and saw the fractions, and I wanted to be sure I was not too far ahead of the group of horses behind me. I wanted to keep my horse in a good rhythm. The horse was very brave, very tough. He was able to fight down the lane. But no, I was not sure we had won."
The $165,000 La Prevoyante Stakes (G3) presented by Stella Artois featured a field of 12 older fillies and mares also going 1 1/2 miles on the turf. Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) fourth place finisher Beautiful Love was sent off as the 2-1 favorite over 9-4 second choice Chop Chop, winner of the Dowager (G3), and 9-2 third choice La Mehana, winner of the Via Borghese.
Jockey Luis Saez sent 39-1 Shiloh's Mistress to the lead first time by through fractions of 23.57, 48.34, 1:13.18, 1:38.58, and 2:02.34 while pressed by 22-1 Marksman Queen and stalked by 14-1 Whatlovelooklike. Turning for home the pacesetters tired as Chop Chop, 4th early, gained a short lead midstretch. 11-2 fourth choice Forever After All, 10th early under Tyler Gaffalione, came out 8 wide and rallied to win by a nose in 2:26.06. It was a neck back to late-running La Mehana thid.
Left: Forever After All heads to the winner's circle. Winning trainer Brendan Walsh said, "If ever there was a horse that deserved the win, it was her. This is great for Mr. Shively, for everyone at Dixiana. She's been on the go since she came to us last year and she has held her form. You love to see her win on the big day. I didn't know if she got it, they were all on top of each other in the stretch. It might have been a cleaner trip than last time, but some horses like that, being covered up. At the quarter pole, it looked like [Tyler] had a ton of horse, you just don't know if she will be able to get through. She'd be a nice filly to keep going, but they might want to retire her. It's probably 50-50, but I think she's just starting to get good."
Right: Forever After All heads back to the barn. Winning jockey Tyler Gaffalione said, "I didn't want to make it that close, but I just had to wait a little bit longer than I would have liked to. As soon as I got her out, she found another gear. I'm so proud of her and so happy for the connections. Brendan and his team do a fabulous job. I'm so thankful to be part of the team."
The $165,000 Fred W. Hooper Stakes (G3) presented by Ketel One Vodka featured a field of 9 older horses going 1 mile around one turn of the main track. Last year's winner Tumbarumba was sent off as the 6-5 favorite over 3-1 second choice Rocket Can, winner of the Harlan's Holiday (G3), and 11-2 third choice Upstanding, a maiden winner at 5th asking last out.
Jockey Leonel Reyes sent 17-2 Little Vic to the lead out of the chute through fractions of 24.20, 46.78, and 1:11:00 while pressed by 13-2 Cape Trafalgar and stalked by Upstanding and Tumbarumba. Turning for home, Little Vic opened up a 2 length lead through 7f in 1:23.43 and drew off to win by 2 3/4 lengths over late-running 18-1 Implementation in 1:36.52. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to favorite Tumbarumba third.
Left: Little Vic heads to the winner's circle. Winning owner Victor Martinez said, "A lot of things have to go right to win a horse race. I came up during my whole [MLB] career with the bases loaded, game on the line. I was nice and comfortable because I always trusted myself and I know what I can do. This is just different. This is a different feeling. I just can't describe it. You have to experience it to have the feeling. I decided to wait until I was done playing [to own horses] because I didn't want to be missing this while playing baseball. [Horse racing] has given me, so far, more than I ever thought, because my very first horse I bought was King Guillermo and he took us to the Kentucky Derby. Unfortunately, he got sick and we had to scratch him two days before the race."
Right: Little Vic heads back to the barn. Winning trainer Juan Carlos Avila said, "The race before was excellent so that's why we decided to run in this race. The plan was to go to the lead. At the beginning we liked him at one mile, but we want to try and go longer. Look how good he did today with more distance."
After 4 scratches, just 5 older fillies and mares contested the $215,000 Inside Information Stakes (G2) presented by MyRacehorse at 7 furlongs on the main track. Raven Run (G2) winner Emery was sent off as the even-money choice over 2-1 second choice Mystic Lake, winner of the Sugar Swirl, and 5-1 third choice Haulin Ice off an allowance win last out.
Mystic lake and 8-1 longest shot Olivia Darling dueled for the lead out of the chute and down the backstretch through fractions of 22.94 and 45.46 while stalked by Emery. Turnig for home Olivia Darling tired as 7-1 fourth choice Jody's Pride gained a short lead through 3/4 in 1:09.82. Mystic Lake fought back along the rail to win by a neck over Emery in 1:22.59. It was a head back to Jody's Pride third.
Left: Mystic Lake in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said, "I only knew we had it won at the wire - and I had to watch the replay to be sure. [Jody's Pride] kept digging in, [Emery] was coming, but I knew we had horse, and she battled and battled. She showed a different dimension today, she had to battle for the first time, she showed a lot of guts. We gave her time off after the Cotillion. She had a hard campaign, but we wanted to try the Cotillion, the Grade 1, and if she was placed we would have been very happy. She showed a lot of heart to be fourth. Then we gave her a break. We thought about going out to the La Brea, but we would have to ship so far, we decided to stay at home, and that helped us today. It was the right decision."
Right: Mystic Lake returns after the race. Winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. said, "She fought back. She broke so well. That was great. After the good break, I sat and waited and saved something for the end. She responded well."
Kicking off the Saturday stakes action, a field of 12 older horses contested the $165,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes at 5 furlongs on the turf. Coppola was sent off as the 9-4 favorite over 5-2 second choice Nobals and 13-2 third choice Mucho Del Oro.
Jockey Tyler Gaffalione sent Coppola to the lead through fraction of 20.82 and 42.67 while pressed by 37-1 Yes I Am Free and stalked by 22-1 Panther Island. Coppola opened up a 2 length lead midstretch and easily held off late-running 40-1 Capture the Lion to win by 3/4 length in 54.43. It was a neck back to 8-1 Reef Runner third.
Left: Coppola in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Dale Romans said, "He's a fast son of a gun. They go :42 (for the half-mile). I think that's the fastest any horse of mine has ever gone in my life and I've run a lot of horses."
Right: Coppola returns after the race. Winning jockey Tyler Gaffalione said, "If we had the opportunity to go to the front, we were going to take it. He's a big strong horse, and if we can get out of the gate first, it alleviates the worry about being bounced around."
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