Intriguing rematch on Pegasus card

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – As if the two Pegasus World Cup events weren’t enough, a full slate of supporting stakes also will be part of a blockbuster Saturday card at Gulfstream Park.

Foremost among the seven stakes is an alluring rematch between Stormy Liberal and World of Trouble, who earned Beyer Speed Figures of 119 and 118, respectively, as the 1-2 finishers in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in November. They’re the principals in the Gulfstream Turf Sprint at five furlongs.

Here follows a quick overview of the Saturday undercard stakes, which include four Grade 3 events. Entries for the entire Pegasus card are to be drawn Tuesday.

Grade 3, $200,000 W. L. McKnight: A big field of older horses was expected for this 1 1/2-mile turf race, including the Mike Maker duo of Soglio, a recent runner-up in the two-mile Allen Jerkens, and Zulu Alpha, winner of the Sycamore at Keeneland in October. Other notables are Can’thelpbelieving, Canessar, Highland Sky, Hunting Horn, and Village King.

Grade 3, $200,000 La Prevoyante: The filly-mare counterpart to the McKnight, it also has shaped up nicely, with the 2017 Queen’s Plate winner, Holy Helena, among a prospective lineup also expected to include English Affair, Tricky Escape, Si Que Es Buena, and possibly Santa Monica.

Grade 3, $150,000 Fred W. Hooper: Copper Town will be looking to rebound off a disappointing run in the Cigar Mile when he tries to give Todd Pletcher his third win in the last four runnings of this one-mile dirt race, following Tommy Macho in 2016 and 2018. The opposition is expected to include Breaking Lucky, Conquest Big E, and another five or six older horses.

Grade 3, $150,000 Hurricane Bertie: Shamrock Rose, whose 25-1 upset in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint made her an Eclipse finalist in that division, will make her 4-year-old debut in what is expected to be a deep field for this seven-furlong race. Blamed, a winner in 6 of 8 starts, also was likely, along with Awestruck, Dream Pauline, and Stormy Embrace.

$150,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint: The two favorites both have had interim races since their epic BC efforts: Stormy Liberal was second on Jan. 1 in a down-the-hill stakes at Santa Anita for Peter Miller, and World of Trouble was an easy winner versus fellow Florida-breds in a Dec. 15 dirt race at Tampa Bay Downs for Jason Servis. Only a few challengers to the two favorites were expected.

$150,000 Ladies’ Turf Sprint: Likely starters for this five-furlong race include Morticia, Smiling Causeway, Blue Bahia, and either of the Peter Miller pair of Surrender Now or Way to Versailles.

$125,000 South Beach: Officials were looking for a field nearing the 14-horse capacity fillies and mares for this 7 1/2-furlong turf race, led by Road to Victory, who defeated Monomoy Girl when both were 2-year-olds.