HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Elliott Walden had to be reminded that WinStar Farm has owned one Kentucky Derby winner and partnered in another, so he was asked to calmly reconsider his extraordinary claim that “I don’t think I’ve had a better weekend” than last weekend. “Well, yes, I guess that’s right,” Walden, president of WinStar in Versailles, Ky., said with a laugh. “Anyway, it was a weekend you’ll never forget.” Walden’s latest round of phenomenal success came not only with WinStar winning the $3 million Pegasus World Cup on Saturday with Life Is Good and a Sunday allowance at Tampa Bay Downs with Derby contender Emmanuel, but in other sports, too. Walden, who turns 59 next week, is a lifelong supporter of both the University of Kentucky Wildcats, who emerged as NCAA basketball title contenders with a blowout win Saturday at Kansas, and the Cincinnati Bengals, who won their way into the Super Bowl on Sunday. “Usually the Cats and Bengals, they don’t do things together like that,” he said. Emmanuel, who like Life Is Good is trained by Todd Pletcher, could go next in the Fountain of Youth on March 5 at Gulfstream or the Tampa Bay Derby on March 12, Walden said. Unbeaten in two starts, the More Than Ready colt is among the promising 3-year-olds in which WinStar has partnered with Siena Farm in looking to add to its Kentucky Derby collection. WinStar, owned by Kenny Troutt, won the 2010 Derby with Super Saver and was a partner in Justify, the 2018 Triple Crown winner. :: For the first time ever, our premium past performances are free! Get free Formulator now! WinStar and Siena also are the owners of American Icon, a Gun Runner colt who runs Friday at Gulfstream in the ninth race feature after earning an 84 Beyer Speed Figure in a flashy 8 1/2-length debut win at seven furlongs here Dec. 26. “We’re really looking forward to seeing him run against a better group of horses and see where he takes us,” Walden said. “He’s been training well. He breezed alongside Emmanuel a couple works back and went head-and-head with him. Hopefully, he’ll run a big one again.” American Icon, with Luis Saez back riding, figures as a solid favorite when he breaks from post 3 in a field of 10 3-year-olds in the $61,000 first-level allowance going a one-turn mile. First post is 12:30 p.m. Eastern, with the ninth race going at 4:42. Pletcher might have the top opponent for American Icon in Iron Works (post 6, Irad Ortiz Jr.), who won Jan. 8 at first asking, getting a 79 Beyer at six furlongs. He is owned by for My Racehorse and Spendthrift Farm. Outside possibilities include Graphic Detail, In Due Time, Skippylongstocking, and Souper Legacy. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports Pletcher once again is loaded with Derby prospects, as five of the 23 separately listed entries in the latest Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool (Jan. 21-23) are in his barn, led by Emmanuel and Mo Donegal, the likely favorite Saturday in the Holy Bull at Gulfstream. The others are Commandperformance, Major General, and Varatti. The Friday feature is part of a 20-cent Rainbow 6 (races 5-10) expected to offer a pool of about $100,000, assuming a new jackpot is not swept Wednesday or Thursday after being forced out Sunday. Sunshine and a high near 80 are in the local forecast.