Harpers First Ride faces toughest test in Pegasus World Cup

Harpers First Ride emerged as the Mid-Atlantic’s top handicap horse in 2020. Bred by Sagamore Farm, the 5-year-old Paynter gelding won seven of 11 last year, including the Grade 3 Pimlico Special.

On Saturday, Harpers First Ride faces his toughest test in the Grade 1, $3 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park. Harpers First Ride got his first taste of the surface last Saturday when he breezed a half-mile in 52.95 seconds.

“He looked good on the track. He’s training good,” trainer Claudio Gonzalez said from South Florida on Tuesday. “We’ll see if we get lucky. You know it’s a tough race with the best horses in the country almost.”

“In Maryland, it’s really cold, and the good thing here is it’s not too hot.”

Harpers First Ride was claimed for $30,000 by Gonzalez out of a winning maiden race at Churchill in 2019. He’s earned triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in three of his last four appearances. Following the Pegasus, he will he will be sent to trainer Robertino Diodoro after being sold by MCA Racing to GMP Stables, Arnold Bennewith, and Cypress Creek Equine.

Perhaps Harpers First Ride’s best asset is his versatility. He won the Pimlico Special on the lead, prompted the pace in last month’s Native Dancer Stakes at Laurel, and has won from mid-pack.

“We’ll try to be in the middle of the group and then we’ll see what happens because there’s going to be a big difference with no Lasix for everybody,” Gonzalez said.

Harpers First Ride is one of two Maryland-bred Pegasus entrants along with presumptive favorite Knicks Go, also a son of Paynter.