Phat Man's repeat bid in Fred W. Hooper aided by one-turn distance

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Third as the favorite behind Tax in the 1 1/16-mile Harlan’s Holiday at Gulfstream last month, Phat Man will be on a slight turn-back Saturday as the defending champion in the Grade 3 Fred W. Hooper, one of five graded stakes to be run in addition to the two Pegasus events. The Hooper is a one-turn mile.

On Sunday, Phat Man breezed three furlongs in 36 seconds at the Palm Meadows training center.

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“The two turns probably just got to him,” said Kent Sweezey, trainer of Phat Man, referring to the Harlan’s Holiday. “He came out of the race really well, and he breezed super. We’re excited about running him on Pegasus Day again.”

Phat Man earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the 2020 Hooper under Irad Ortiz Jr., who will be back aboard Saturday. The 7-year-old gelding could be favored when he faces Eye of a Jedi, Shivaree, and probably another five or six older horses.

Besides the Hooper, the other Pegasus supporting events are the Grade 2 Inside Information, the Grade 3 W.L. McKnight, the Grade 3 La Prevoyante, and the Grade 3 Marshua’s River. All will be drawn Wednesday.