Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Castellano picks City of Light as Pegasus mount
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Riding assignments are set for all but Audible among the 11 older horses confirmed to race Jan. 26 in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park.
Javier Castellano, who rode both Audible and City of Light to victory on Breeders’ Cup weekend at Churchill Downs, will ride BC Dirt Mile winner City of Light, leaving the mount open on Audible. Todd Pletcher, trainer of Audible, said Friday a decision is still pending. Entries for the Pegasus will be drawn Jan. 22.
In all, 12 horses will make up the Pegasus lineup, and Gulfstream officials are still awaiting word from trainer Bob Baffert as to whether McKinzie, winner of the Dec. 26 Malibu at Santa Anita in his latest start, will become the final entry. Baffert told Santa Anita publicity Thursday: “We’re just waiting and don’t want to get in a rush with him. It’s a long year.”
Mike Smith would have the mount on McKinzie, if he runs. If McKinzie is declared out, there are one or more alternative horses to take his place, according to a Gulfstream spokesman. An also-eligibles list may be employed to ensure a full field of 12.
In alphabetical order, these are the Pegasus starters with confirmed jockeys:
Accelerate, Joel Rosario; Bravazo, Luis Saez; City of Light, Castellano; Gunnevera, Irad Ortiz Jr.; Kukulkan, Frankie Dettori; Pattern recognition, Jose Ortiz; Seeking the Soul, John Velazquez; Something Awesome, Edgar Prado; Tom’s d’Etat, Shaun Bridgmohan; and True Timber, Joe Bravo.
A number of Pegasus hopefuls were sent through serious drills Friday morning ahead of threatening weather at Santa Anita, led by Accelerate, who surely will be favored in the 1 1/8-mile race off his sensational 2018 campaign. Accelerate went seven furlongs in 1:27.20, after which City of Light went five furlongs in 1:00.80 and McKinzie went a half-mile in 47.80 seconds.
Meanwhile, the field for the $7 million Pegasus Turf continues to take shape, with Channel Maker and Delta Prince being the latest additions to a list of eight confirmed starters. At this early juncture, Yoshida and the Coolmore filly Magic Wand look like the favorites in a 1 3/16-mile race also expected to get Aerolithe, Bricks and Mortar, Catapult, and Next Shares. Track officials are intent on filling the field to the 12-horse maximum.
Sunshine Millions up next
The 18th running of the Sunshine Millions will serve as the highlight of the coming weekend at Gulfstream, with four stakes restricted to Florida-breds being run on Saturday Jan. 19.
Defending winners in three races are expected back, those being Jay’s Way for the $200,000 Classic; Starship Jubilee for the $150,000 Filly and Mare Turf; and X Y Jet for the $100,000 Sprint. The remaining race is the $150,000 Turf.
Entries for Saturday will be drawn Wednesday.
McPeek heading to Dubai
Trainer Kenny McPeek is scheduled to leave Sunday for Dubai to rejoin a foursome of horses – Senior Investment, Harlan Strong, Honorable Treasure, and Grecko – who were flown overseas earlier this week ahead of upcoming races at Meydan.
Before departing, McPeek was scheduled to oversee comeback works at Payson Park for Eskimo Kisses, winner of the Grade 1 Alabama last summer, and his top two prospects for the Kentucky Derby, both of them graded winners already at Churchill Downs – Signalman, winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club in late November, and Cairo Cat, winner of the Iroquois in September.
“They’re all doing as well as I could ask for,” McPeek said.
◗ Jockeys Albin Jimenez and Marcos Meneses both are expected back riding Wednesday at Gulfstream after missing recent cards. Jimenez was scheduled to return Tuesday to the United States from his native Panama, where he has been spending time with his gravely ill grandmother. Meneses is recovering from a Wednesday spill that required several stitches just below his eye. Meanwhile, Robby Albarado took off all mounts here Thursday and Friday because of a stomach ailment.