Fahan Mura to face males in Pegasus World Cup Turf
ARCADIA, Calif. – Catch her, if you can.
Santa Anita-based front-runner Fahan Mura will ship next week to Gulfstream Park, where she is likely to set the pace in the $7 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational on Jan. 26.
Trainer Vladimir Cerin is finalizing details this week for the 5-year-old mare, who rose from the claiming ranks to become one of the top female turf runners in California. In her most recent start, on Dec. 29, Fahan Mura won the Grade 3 Robert J. Frankel at 1 1/8 miles.
Fahan Mura’s odds will be high, but her influence on the 1 3/16-mile Pegasus Turf is significant due to a shortage of pace. That was a factor in the decision by Cerin and majority owner Michael Mellen (Bran Jam Stable) to take a shot and face males for the first time.
“She has a unique running style which on occasion has a chance of prevailing, even against horses that are much more accomplished,” Cerin said. “I think we have a chance to hit the board, and maybe hit it really hard.”
Fahan Mura, whose rider is Edwin Maldonado, has won seven races and $365,665 from 11 starts for Cerin in California. Her career record is 9 for 23, with earnings of $431,815.
Beyond a potential pace advantage, Fahan Mura is training enthusiastically, according to Cerin.
“She trains with greater interest than ever,” he said. “I think she’s just a lot more confident.”
Fahan Mura is nominated to the Grade 3, $100,000 Megahertz on Monday at Santa Anita, but is scheduled to work a day earlier on Sunday. Fahan Mura likely will ship next week on a flight expected to include Santa Anita-based Pegasus World Cup favorite Accelerate and Pegasus Turf contenders Next Shares and Catapult.
The date of the Pegasus Turf is exactly one year from Fahan Mura’s first start for Cerin, a $32,000 claiming victory at Santa Anita on Jan. 26, 2018.
