Maker gunning for fourth consecutive McKnight victory on Pegasus World Cup undercard
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Preceding the two Pegasus World Cup events, there will be seven other stakes on a sensational 12-race Saturday card at Gulfstream Park, including four graded events.
First post is 11:30 a.m. Eastern, with the $3 million Pegasus and $1 million Pegasus Turf ending the program as races 12 and 11, respectively.
In reverse order, here’s a quick rundown of those supporting events:
W.L. McKnight (race 10)
Trainer Mike Maker, who has two starters in the Pegasus Turf, will be looking to win the Grade 3, $200,000 McKnight for the fourth straight year when sending out four of the 12 older horses in this 1 1/2-mile turf race – Apreciado, Carom, Cross Border, and Temple.
Red Knight, with Joel Rosario riding for Bill Mott, could be a slight favorite after ending his 2019 with a runner-up finish in the Red Smith at Aqueduct, although there seem to be another half-dozen or so viable contenders.
Inside Information (race 9)
Spiced Perfection, a two-time Grade 1 winner, figures as a clear-cut favorite in a field of 12 fillies and mares in this Grade 2, $200,000 race at seven furlongs on the main track. Javier Castellano will be aboard Spiced Perfection for trainer Peter Miller when breaking from post 7.
Other notables in a deep lineup include Pink Sands, a last-out winner of the Rampart at Gulfstream, along with Blamed and the unbeaten J P’s Delight.
La Prevoyante (race 8)
Lady Paname will make her long-awaited comeback for Chad Brown when facing nine other fillies and mares in this Grade 3, $200,000 race at 1 1/2 miles on the turf. The gray 6-year-old French-bred is unbeaten in two start in the U.S. but has not raced since Nov. 2018.
Her main threats figure to include Kelsey’s Cross, Simply Beautiful, and the Graham Motion pair of Mean Mary and Touriga.
Fred W. Hooper (race 7)
In what might well be the deepest race of the day, a field of 14 older horses was entered in this Grade 3, $150,000 race at a mile on the main track. Gray Magician, trying to rebound from a poor effort in the San Antonio, is among a terrific lineup that also includes Phat Man, Tale of Silence, and an ascending Brown trainee making his stakes debut, Free Enterprise. Dale Romans sends forth the trio of Seven Trumpets, Dak Attack, and Rare Form.
South Beach (race 6)
An oversubscribed field of fillies and mares going 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf in the $150,000 South Beach ought to make for another terrific wagering event. Mitchell Road, a last-out winner of the My Charmer for Mott, figures prominently in a race that drew 13, including one also-eligible.
Ladies’ Turf Sprint (race 5)
The speedy Girls Know Best, who won this five-furlong race two years ago, will waste no timing clashing early with Jean Elizabeth, a winner of her last five starts, when nine fillies and mares go postward in this $150,000 race.
World of Trouble Turf Sprint (race 3)
Jason Servis, who trained the now retired World of Trouble, stands an excellent chance in this $150,000 turf dash with Shekky Shebaz, who could be the heaviest favorite among all the Saturday stakes. A field of eight also includes 10-year-old Pay Any Price.
