Castellano to ride City of Light in Pegasus
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; Patternrecognition, 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.