Mott brings strong hand to Pegasus Turf

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Bill Mott had a decision to make for Saturday’s Pegasus World Cup program at Gulfstream Park that should have made all his peers envious. The question was whether to run Yoshida for a $9 million purse on dirt in the Pegasus World Cup or a mere $7 million in the Pegasus World Cup Turf, secure in the knowledge that his versatile star is talented enough to be considered among the leading contenders in either event.

In the end, Mott opted to enter Yoshida in the inaugural running of the Turf. Yoshida is one of two Grade 1 winners he’ll send out in the 1 3/16-mile race, along with Channel Maker. Although the Turf did not live up to field-size expectations, attracting just 10 of the 12 starters it was designed to accommodate, the race figures to be wide open from a wagering standpoint while still offering a $3 million payday to the winner.

Yoshida was a Grade 1 winner on both grass and dirt in 2018, having captured the Turf Classic over yielding ground last spring at Churchill Downs and the Woodward at Saratoga on Sept. 1. He closed out the campaign finishing fourth, beaten less than two lengths by Accelerate, in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Accelerate is the 9-5 morning line favorite on Saturday in the Pegasus World Cup.

“We weighed our options and thought maybe the turf was the spot to go this time,” said Mott. “The ownership group has another horse in the dirt race, and this way they can split them up and have a horse in both ends.”

Yoshida is owned by WinStar Farm and China Horse Club, who will be represented by Audible in the Pegasus World Cup.

“We gave him a short break out of the Breeders’ Cup but kept him jogging and training easily, and once we made the decision to run in the Pegasus, we started cranking him up and he’s been doing well since then,” Mott said. “He seems like with every work he’s been picking up in condition, and he’s very happy with himself right now.”

Mott said if all goes well on Saturday, Yoshida could find himself back on the dirt March 30 in the Dubai World Cup.

Channel Maker upped his game in New York during the second half of the season, winning both the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont Park and the Grade 2 Bowling Green over soft turf at Saratoga. He also finished second after chasing Glorious Empire throughout in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer. He closed out the year finishing far back after showing early speed over the softer going at Churchill Downs in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Yoshida will share high weight of 124 pounds with several others in the Pegasus Turf, while Channel Maker will carry only 117 pounds, taking advantage of a provision in the conditions that allows for a seven-pound allowance for horses not racing on Lasix.

Trainer Chad Brown will bring a fresh horse into the Pegasus Turf, with Bricks and Mortar making just his second start since October 2017 and first since rallying to an impressive allowance win here going a mile on Dec. 22.

Bricks and Mortar had last raced in the Grade 3 Hill Prince at Belmont as a 3-year-old, finishing third, three-quarters of a length behind Yoshida.

“He had a couple of different things going on that happened back to back, so he ended up having two breaks that combined into one,” said Brown when asked about the 14 1/2-month layoff. “Jay Brennan at Stonestreet did a fantastic job rehabbing the horse and getting him back to the races. I thought he ran super in his first start back and he definitely exited the race a lot fitter than he went in. The extra distance Saturday is an unknown, but I’m comfortable the horse will be able to do it.”

Catapult has not finished worse than second in his last six starts dating back to the summer of 2017 at Saratoga. He posted back-to-back Grade 2 wins for trainer John Sadler this summer at Del Mar and exits a second-place finish behind Expert Eye in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

“He had a little foot issue after the Del Mar Mile and we trained him right into the Breeders’ Cup,” said Sadler. “But he’s been perfect out of the Breeders’ Cup and I think he’s in top, top shape now. He won’t have any problem with the distance, he’s a big, strong horse, and he won the Eddie Read at a mile and one-eighth.”

Three females are in the field, including European-raced Magic Wand, and the Japanese invader Aerolithe, whose presence will make the inaugural Pegasus Turf truly an international event. Fahan Mura is the third distaff member of the field and likely pacesetter on Saturday.

Grade 2 winner Delta Prince, who runs without blinkers Saturday, is another legitimate contender in the well-matched lineup. Grade 1 winner Next Shares and outsider Dubby Dubbie complete the field.