Gulfstream

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Joel Rosario, who was aboard and will be again, spent the final sixteenth looking back for competition. Cox said Knicks Go, the early 5-2 favorite from post four, is at the top of his game. “His last work was his best ever.”

The potential pitfall for Knicks Go is he has not run as far as the mile and an eighth of the Pegasus. He has won at a mile and a sixteenth, about a football field short of the Pegasus. Cox noted the Gulfstream strip is famously kind to horses with early speed. There are other speed horses in the Pegasus but none with the devastating speed Knicks Go has shown. He could be on an easy lead.

Distance is not an issue with early second choice Code of Honor. His credit sheet includes wins in the prestigious Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup, both at a mile and a quarter. His No. 10 post position could be a factor. Davie native Tyler Gaffalione might have to be use him hard early to get position in the short run to the first turn.

Code of Honor has competed at the highest levels his entire career. As a 3-year-old, he won the Fountain of Youth and ran third in the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby (he was placed second when Maximum Security was disqualified.) He won his 2020 debut but that was the only time his day’s work ended in the winner’s circle. He ran four more times, all stakes, garnering a pair of seconds and a third.

Knicks Go and Code of Honor will dominate the betting, but most of their 10 rivals have credentials that give them a shot at a price. Tax won the Harlan’s Holiday last month. Jesus’ Team beat lesser in the Claiming Crown Jewel and has competed well against more formidable competition, running second to Knicks Go at the Breeders’ Cup. Harper’s First Ride has won four of his last five in Maryland. Kiss Today Goodbye has backto-back wins in Southern California, including Santa Anita’s Grade 2 San Antonio. Sleepy Eyes Todd stretches out off a pair of sprint victories but he has won at the Pegasus distance. Mr. Freeze was second in last season’s Pegasus. Last Judgment galloped in the Sunshine Classic last Saturday but he didn’t get into the Pegasus until the last minute when True Timber scratched.

Coastal Defense, Independence Hall and Math Wizard each would have to have a major form reversal to be a factor.

The co-featured $1 million Pegasus World Turf also drew a full field of 12 headed by three from the Todd Pletcher barn — Colonel Liam, the early 7-2 favorite, Largent, the 9-2 second choice and Social Paranoia at 8-1. All are coming off stakes wins over the Gulfstream grass.

Five other stakes support the two features. First post is an unusually early 11:40 a.m. Tickets can be purchased at gulfstreampark.com.