Grade 3 turf stakes top stellar undercard

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A pair of longstanding turf fixtures, the Grade 3 W.L. McKnight and Grade 3 La Prevoyante, are among the seven stakes that will precede the $16 million Pegasus World Cup on a sensational Saturday program at Gulfstream Park.

Fields for the entire 12-race card were drawn Wednesday, with both the McKnight and La Prevoyante drawing competitive fields of older turf horses going 1 1/2 miles. First post is 11:30 a.m. Eastern.

The Rainbow 6, which began with more than $3.1 million in the jackpot at the outset of racing Wednesday, will begin with the Grade 3 Fred W. Hooper (race 7). The sequence is composed entirely of stakes races culminating with the Pegasus (race 12). A mandatory dispersal of the Rainbow 6 pool is scheduled for Sunday.

Total handle on the inaugural Pegasus card last January was $40.2 million, an all-time track record.

In ascending order, here is a quick look at the seven supporting stakes:

Grade 3, $200,000 La Prevoyante (race 3, 1:05): Summersault, winner of the Grade 3 Orchid here last April, faces Daring Duchess, Beauly, and Apple Betty in a field of seven fillies and mares.

$125,000 Ladies’ Turf Sprint (race 6, 2:35): Pretty Perfection and Justa Lady are among a full field of 12 in this five-furlong dash.

Grade 3, $125,000 Fred W. Hooper (race 7, 3:05): Giuseppe the Great and Game Over, both relegated to the also-eligibles list for the Pegasus, can run instead in this one-turn-mile. Tommy Macho and Beasley also are among the 11 older horses entered.

Grade 3, $200,000 W.L. McKnight (race 8, 3:35): Bullards Alley, winner of the Grade 1 Canadian International, is among a field of nine older horses.

Grade 3, $125,000 Hurricane Bertie (race 9, 4:05): Curlin’s Approval was assigned post 7 in a full gate of 12 fillies and mares as a clear-cut favorite in this seven-furlong race.

$200,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint (race 10, 4:35): Richard’s Boy, beaten just a head for the win in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, is here from California for trainer Peter Miller as the one to beat in a field of 11.

$125,000 South Beach (race 11, 5:08): Celestine, making her 6-year-old debut, holds a big class edge over 11 other fillies and mares in this 7 1/2-furlong turf race.