O'Connor among Pegasus-bound horses in Harlan's Holiday
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A spot or three in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational will be up for grabs on Saturday when O’Connor, Skippylongstocking, and Simplification take on five rivals in the $150,000 Harlan’s Holiday. The Grade 3 fixture highlights an 11-race program along with the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale, a prep for the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf. They are two of six stakes, five of them graded, on the final program of the 2022 Gulfstream Park season.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. appears to hold the upper hand in the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday, sending out both O’Connor and Skippylongstocking in the 1 1/16-mile fixture for 3-year-olds and up on the dirt.
O’Connor became an instant local sensation after shipping to the U.S. from his native Chile during the fall, winning his North American debut, a one-mile conditioned allowance event, by a widening six lengths while earning a 99 Beyer Speed Figure here on Oct. 16. O’Connor was a Group 1 winner in Chile earlier in the season, winning the Gran Premio Latinoamerica at the Hipodromo by 7 3/4 lengths on April 2, easily defeating another potential Pegasus candidate, Super Corinto. The latter avenged that defeat when upsetting O’Connor by 1 1/4 lengths when the pair met again in the Group 1 Hipodromo Chile four weeks later.
“O’Connor ran as good as a horse could run in his first start here, and I’m very excited about bringing him back in this race,” said Joseph. “He took a while to come around when I first got him. His first three or four works were very mediocre, but his last three or four before the race were serious works. To be honest, I never expected him to run that well the first time. I thought the distance was too short for him.”
O’Connor won a Group 3 stakes going 1 1/8 miles in Chile while his last three starts in South America came at distances from 1 1/4 to 1 3/8 miles.
“He’s going to step up and face better horses this time, so he needs to come up with a little improvement this time,” Joseph said. “Although I feel If he repeats his race from last time, he’ll be tough.”
Edgard Zayas will again have the mount on O’Connor, who will break from the rail, an advantageous draw considering the short run to the first turn in races run at 1 1/16 miles locally.
Skippylongstocking, who totes high weight of 123 pounds under the allowance conditions of the Harlan’s Holiday, is one of six 3-year-olds in the lineup. He has been freshened by Joseph since a disappointing ninth-place finish in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 24 at Parx. Highlights of his campaign include a victory over a wet track in the Grade 3 West Virginia Derby and third-place efforts in both the Belmont Stakes and Grade 2 Wood Memorial.
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“He had a tough year, so after the Pennsylvania Derby we decided to freshen him up and aim for this race,” Joseph explained. “His best races have been at a mile and an eighth or farther, but I think this distance should be fine for him. It’s a different category, going up against older horses for the first time, but it will give us an idea where we are with him right now and this is a definite prep for the Pegasus. Although he’ll have to prove that he belongs on Saturday.”
Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Skippylongstocking for the first time in the Harlan’s Holiday.
Simplification ran a troubled seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, the first time he faced older horses during a campaign in which he won the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth and finished third in the Grade 1 Florida Derby over his home course, and was fourth in the Kentucky Derby. He also finished a distant third, 6 1/4 lengths behind Skippylongstocking, in the West Virginia Derby.
Junior Alvarado, who has been on Simplification for his last two works, will be aboard for the first time in the afternoon on Saturday.
Pioneer of Medina, Cooks Creek, Strike Hard, and Clapton, all 3-year-olds, along with South Bend complete the lineup.
Rampart Stakes
Only seven fillies and mares signed on to go one mile over the main track in the $125,000 Rampart, the only non-graded stakes on the card.
Joseph sends out Allworthy, who finished third as the 8-5 favorite in this event a year ago and figures among the leading contenders along with 3-year-olds Colorful Mischief and Maryquitecontrary.
Allworthy returns to the main track following a couple of outings on synthetic surfaces, which include a third-place finish in the 6 1/2-furlong Presque Isle Downs Masters on Sept. 19.
Colorful Mischief finished third in the Grade 3 Dogwood behind the Breeders’ Cup-bound Echo Zulu on Sept. 24 at Churchill Downs in her best effort to date.
Maryquitecontrary has won four of five career starts including the restricted Sheer Drama Stakes here on Sept. 10, but must prove her mettle at the distance, having never competed beyond seven furlongs.
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