Several contenders tuned up Jan. 16 for the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) coming up Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park, with the majority working in South Florida and one in Louisiana.
The Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go signaled he's on "go" for the Pegasus with his final work for the 1 1/8-mile event. The Nov. 7 Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner worked a bullet five furlongs at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Saturday morning. His time of 1:00 3/5 was the fastest of 35 at the distance.
Brad Cox, a finalist for the Eclipse Award for outstanding trainer, definitely liked what he saw.
"He was really good—well, well within himself," Cox said. "He galloped out (six furlongs) in 1:14. The rider was very, very happy with him; we were happy with him. He's as ready as he's going to get."
Knicks Go will fly from New Orleans to South Florida Jan. 19. Joel Rosario has the mount in the Pegasus.
At Palm Meadows Saturday, Grupo 7C Racing Stable's Jesus' Team also breezed a half-mile in preparation for the Pegasus World Cup. The Jose D'Angelo trainee was timed in :48.50. Regular exercise rider Simon Rodriguez was aboard for the workout at Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.
"'Jesus'' work today was perfect. I think, with this work, he will be ready for the Pegasus World Cup," D'Angelo said.
Jesus' Team, who broke his maiden for a $32,000 claiming price at Gulfstream last March, was second to Knicks Go in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and was third in the Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes (G1). He most recently captured the Dec. 5 Claiming Crown Jewel Stakes at Gulfstream.
Jim Bakke and Gerry Isbister's Mr Freeze , who finished second behind Mucho Gusto in last year's Pegasus, breezed five furlongs for trainer Dale Romans in :59.83 Saturday at Gulfstream for his second Pegasus start. The work was the fastest of 40 at the distance. Romans also sent Albuagh Family Stables and Helen K. Groves Revocable Trust's Pegasus also-eligible Coastal Defense to the Gulfstream track for a half-mile breeze. His time of :47.11 topped 101 works at the distance.
Calumet Farm's True Timber breezed five-furlongs in 1:01 at Palm Meadows Saturday for a third start in the Pegasus. The Jack Sisterson-trained 7-year-old is coming off a 5 1/2-length victory in the Dec. 5 Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
True Timber, who was transferred to Sisterson's stable upon the retirement of Kiaran McLaughlin last spring, finished seventh and eighth, respectively, in his first two Pegasus tries.
Trainer Todd Pletcher sent his three candidates for the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) to the Palm Beach Downs track for final five-furlong tune-ups for the 1 3/16-mile turf feature. Twin Creeks Racing Stables and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Largent, winner of the Dec. 12 Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream, and The Elkstone Group's multiple graded-stakes winner Social Paranoia, who came off a 5 1/2-month layoff to win a Dec. 16 optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream, were timed in 1:01.49. Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam , who captured the Dec. 26 Tropical Park Derby, was clocked in 1:01.19.
