Life Is Good heads to Dubai off brilliant work
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Life Is Good began his final work for his role as the favorite in the $12 million Dubai World Cup early Saturday morning at Palm Beach Downs. And while there was no truth to the rumor he was still galloping out later that afternoon, even trainer Todd Pletcher was at a loss for superlatives to describe how well his star has done since his eye-catching victory in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational here earlier this winter.
“Dynamite, super,” were the first words Pletcher uttered when queried about Life Is Good’s latest work. “He’s such a terrific work horse, but maybe the tail end of the gallop-out today was more impressive than some of the ones before. It was kind of a ‘wow’ breeze.”
Life Is Good, working solo, was officially credited with an easy five furlongs in 1:00.22 before continuing on full of run for at least another half-mile past the wire. The breeze was Life Is Good’s fifth drill since his 3 1/4-length victory over 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 29. Pletcher postponed the work one day due to wet track conditions at Palm Beach Downs on Friday.
“Knock on wood, everything has gone according to plan,” said Pletcher, who added Life Is Good would just gallop up to the World Cup following his arrival at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.
Life Is Good was scheduled to fly Monday to the Middle East, joined on the plane by his stablemate Colonel Liam, among the key contenders for the $5 million Dubai Turf, and the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Drain the Clock, who’ll be among the major players in the $2 million Golden Shaheen.
Colonel Liam, who successfully defended his title in the Pegasus World Cup Turf on Jan. 29, also had his final work prior to leaving for Dubai on Saturday at Palm Beach Downs, going five furlongs in 1:00.21 in company with Vindictive.
“He worked very well,” Pletcher said. “Everything has also gone smoothly for him since the Pegasus Turf.”
Drain the Clock has been nothing short of sensational himself in the morning since being upset by Miles Ahead in the Gulfstream Park Sprint in his 2022 debut. His latest work here Sunday was perhaps his best yet, a half-mile in 47.04 with his final three-eighths in 34.35 under wraps. He also sustained huge momentum on the gallop-out, pulling up after six furlongs in 1:12.86.
Drain the Clock, who defeated 2021 sprint champion Jackie’s Warrior in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens last spring at Belmont Park, earned a career-best 102 Beyer Speed Figure despite dropping a neck decision to Miles Ahead in his last start.
“He got beat last time but all the numbers say it was his best race yet,” said Joseph, who noted Drain the Clock might have an easy blowout at Meydan prior to the six-furlong Golden Shaheen.