The Rest of the World

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Hallandale, FL–The initial idea behind the GI Pegasus World Cup was rooted in the notion that horses running in Gulfstream Park's marquee race for older horses attract the nation's top competitors to run for a lot of money before launching a championship racing season or heading off to the breeding shed. Of course, there was more nuance behind the earliest concept of the race, not to mention that others Pegasus Day events have been added since the initial renewal was run in 2017. However, the basic framework seemed to lend itself to offering the leading stallion prospects a place to propel them into something greater. With only eight runnings in the rearview mirror, the Pegasus appears to have accomplished just that. Case in point: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm's Locked (Gun Runner), who perfectly encapsulates the early vision of the race was established the 5-2 morning line choice for the nine-furlong contest. One of two Pegasus runners trained by Todd Pletcher, who previously won the race with Life Is Good in 2022, the chestnut is by Gun Runner, who famously took the second installment of the race in 2018 before earning the 2017 Horse of the Year title. “That's what we're always hoping for [developing stallion prospects],” said trainer Todd Pletcher when asked about the race's relevance when structuring the careers of future stallions. “It's Gulfstream's premier race for older horses. Historically, it replaced the Donn which was a significant race. We won [the Donn] with Constitution, who has gone on to be a really good stallion [at Win Star]. Harlan's Holiday also won it and went on to have a remarkable stallion career [initially standing at Airdrie before moving to Win Star].” While Locke's flashy sire was promptly retired to Three Chimneys Farm following his Pegasus victory, the 4-year-old appears to just be getting started after missing much of 2024 following a (left) knee injury last spring. “He went to Stonestreet Ocala and convalesced there,” confirmed Pletcher. “He had an unusual ligament injury in his knee that knocked us off the Classic trail, so we had to give him time off. We are fortunate that he came back well during the fall. It was frustrating not to have him ready for the spring Classics because he always presented himself as that type of horse.” A first out third behind subsequent stakes winner Just Steel (Justify) at Saratoga in 2023, he rebounded to score by a resounding 7 1/4-lengths while earning 'TDN Rising Star' status during the Spa's closing week action. Back on top, albeit narrowly, in Keeneland's GI Breeders' Futurity, the chestnut concluded his juvenile season with a third behind barn mate Fierceness (City of Light) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita. Given plenty of time to recover after a Triple Crown campaign was dashed, the $425,000 Keeneland September purchase has proven unbeatable since, winning an optional claiming allowance by 7 1/2 lengths at Aqueduct last October before closing out the year with a 1 1/2-length score in the GII Cigar Mile at that venue Dec. 7. “In the Cigar Mile, he was stepping up against older horses for the first time and I thought he handled that assignment really well. I thought it was a big performance,” he said. He continued, “He also ran really well in the seven-furlong allowance and actually showed more tactical speed than he had shown in his 2-year-old races. I think that was important because I think that compromised his chances in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile when he got shuffled back a bit. He was closing well, but I think [Pletcher-trained] Fierceness [subsequently named Ch. 2yo of 2023] and Muth got away from him at the top of the stretch. He just missed second even though he was closing really well.” While Locked is likely to be mixing things up on the front end, stablemate Crupi (Curlin) will have to work out a trip from off the pace. Third behind National Treasure (Quality Road) in last season's Pegasus, the chestnut failed to fire when 10th in the G1 Dubai World Cup before annexing the 10-furlong GII Suburban at Saratoga. Finishing runner-up in both the GII Brooklyn and GI Whitney, the Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables runner was a distant third behind another stablemate, Tapit Trice (Tapit), in the GII Woodward. In his most recent trip to post, he was a troubled fifth under the wire in the Nov. 29 GII Clark at Churchill but was promoted to fourth for interference. “It's all about trip with Crupi,” he said. “Crupi ran in Dubai last year and, unfortunately, caught a speed-favoring track which wasn't to his liking. He's a horse that comes from off the pace and he's shown that he needs a good solid pace up front. He also doesn't love a lot of kickback so that might be a little tricky with him. It's really just about working out the right trip with him.” As for Pletcher's expectations for the 5-year-old in this year's Pegasus, he added, “He ran well in this race last year, and he was a solid third. If he can improve a little bit on that and he can get the pace up front, we can see him getting a piece of it.” Armed with a pair of entrants of contrasting styles, Pletcher explained that 'the luck of the draw' or the lack-there-of, threw the team a bit of a curveball in Saturday's race. However, he feels the morning-line favorite's recent form gives the colt the ammunition to overcome the disadvantage. “It's unfortunate that Locked drew post 11, that can be a disadvantage going 1 1/8-miles at Gulfstream, so it is critical that he get away cleanly and get into the first turn with some position without, hopefully, losing too much ground,” Pletcher explained. “We were encouraged with the effort that he showed going seven furlongs that he has enough tactical speed to overcome the post.”   Champion Building Race In addition to Locked's sire Gun Runner, who also earned the Eclipse for the leading older dirt male of 2017, several others have used the Pegasus to either cement or propel them to a championship season. Arrogate, the winner of the inaugural event, earned the champion 3-year-old colt title of 2016 as well as being named the highweighted older horse at 4 in the UAE free handicap at 9 1/2 – 11 furlongs after taking that season's Dubai World Cup. Gun Runner winning the 2018 Pegasus | Susie Raisher Knicks Go kicked off his championship season with a victory in the 2021 Pegasus before capping off the year with a score in GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Named champion older male and Horse of the Year for 2021, the grey was retired after finishing runner-up to Life Is Good in the 2022 Pegasus. While not earning a title in the U.S. after a season that Life Is Good won a trio of Grade Is, including the Pegasus, the son of Into Mischief was named the highweighted older horse at four in the UAE after a fourth-place finish in that season's Dubai World Cup. As recent as 2024, the most recent Pegasus victor, National Treasure, has been named a finalist for the Eclipse Award as last season's leading older male in the nation. When asked if it's the seasonal placement or large payday that keeps the Pegasus as a primary early-season objective for many, Pletcher opined, “I think it's a combination of both. But the thing that is interesting the [G1] Saudi Cup [Feb. 22] has come along the last couple of years and the timing of the Pegasus is a little bit close to the Saudi race. I wish they could separate them, timing wise, the Pegasus, Saudi Cup and Dubai [World Cup] a bit more space. It's difficult to make all three. Each one is so lucrative that you'd love to be in a position that you could run in all three. But as Gulfstream's most important older horse race, the Pegasus definitely stands on its own.” The post Locked Aims to Follow In Gun Runner’s Hoofsteps With Pegasus Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

So what's your point? Hardly third tier more like 2nd. The elite are aiming for the Group races leading up to and around the Slipper.

Horses hate strong winds especially at the barriers.  Instinct rules over training.

Too true, Micky always on FB grizzling. I remember a few years back he was moaning that he was getting out of the harness game as no money in it, concentrate on gallops🤣🫣