With a clean trip, Papilio can upset Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Papilio is a frustrating horse to wager on. More often than not, she finds trouble, whether it be a stumble at the start or traffic at various points of a race.
In those rare instances when she can run trouble-free, more often than not she fires. And if she can avoid trouble in Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Gulfstream Park, she just might be able to surprise at a price.
On paper, the Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf, run at 1 1/16 miles, appears wide open. Morning-line favoritism fell to Raqiya at 4-1 based on her win in last November’s Grade 3 Goldikova at Del Mar. The 9-2 second choice is Sacred Wish who came out of a third-place finish in the Goldikova to upset the Grade 1 Matriarch at 12-1.
Papilio is a mare who needs pace, and she should get some in the Filly and Mare Turf. Part of that pace figures to be supplied by In Our Time, who, along with De Regreso, will draw into the field from the also-eligible list as Ocean Club and See You Around are to scratch and run in next week’s Endeavour at Tampa Bay Downs.
Papilio, trained by Mark Casse, is coming out of a runner-up finish to Be Your Best in the Grade 3 Suwannee River going one mile here Dec. 21. Papilio was receiving a ground-saving trip under Javier Castellano when she had to steady at the quarter pole. Blocked for a good part of the stretch, Papilio was able to get up for second after finding room late.
Papilio’s 90 Beyer Speed Figure was a career best, and a repeat of that effort in her second start off a layoff should put her in the mix here.
“She’s gotten better,” Casse said “Some of these horses, especially the fillies, cycle, meaning they go through times when they’re better than at other times.”
Casse also runs Pounce, who won twice at Gulfstream in the winter of 2024 and is coming off a second-place finish in the Mrs. Revere at Churchill Downs in November. Casse said Pounce would benefit from a covered-up trip by jockey Dylan Davis.
When Raqiya won the Goldikova it was her first start in the United States and first since July. Trained by Owen Burrows then, she is now in the barn of Todd Pletcher. Raqiya shows a trio of bullet workouts at Palm Beach Downs.
“She’s come in and trained really well. Physically, she’s put on some weight and we’re happy with that,” Pletcher said.
Though Raqiya won the Goldikova on the lead, Pletcher said “I don’t think she had to have the lead. I wouldn’t expect her to have the lead in here, we’ll let Frankie [Dettori] see how it unfolds.”
Pletcher also sends out Bless My Stars, a South African-bred mare who came off a nine-month layoff to run sixth, but only beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Be Your Best, in the Suwannee River.
“I thought she ran deceptively well,” from the outside post in a 10-horse field, Pletcher said. “She closed strongly, ran out of time, it was a great effort.”
Bless My Stars has to overcome another outside draw as she now has post 10.
Be Your Best has won 2 of 3 starts since being transferred to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. She won the Grade 3 Long Island at 1 3/8 miles, then was successful cutting back to a mile in the Suwannee River.
“I was glad she showed that kind of speed going a mile,” Joseph said.
Joseph anticipates Be Your Best being in a stalking position while his other entrant, In Our Time, should be on or near the lead.
Sacred Wish, trained by George Weaver, has been very consistent since being moved to the turf in the fall of 2023. She figures to be a stalking presence under John Velazquez.
Trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Correas IV won this race last year with Didia, the 3-1 favorite. With Didia sidelined due to injury, Correas is going to run the Chilean-bred Dona Clota, who has won two Group 1s in Chile going a marathon distance. Correas said he’s only had Dona Clota here since Jan. 10.
“She was as good as you can be in Chile,” Correas said. “We hope for a big year from her. My theory is you can run them off of the plane or give them the time. We’re going to try off the plane. It’s doable, I don’t know if it’s ideal or not.”
The 7-year-old mare Fluffy Socks finished fourth in this race last year. She has won five stakes and finished second in eight others.
Minoushka has run well in both of her U.S. starts for trainer Brendan Walsh, overcoming a slow start to win an allowance at Keeneland last October and then finishing a fast-closing fourth in the Mrs. Revere.
“She didn’t have the greatest trip in the world, got rolling late,” Walsh said. “I think on her best form she would be in with a chance.”
Watchtower, in from California for Richard Baltas, won the Grade 3 Autumn Miss in October before finishing fifth in the Grade 1 American Oaks at 1 1/4 miles in December.
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