Rick Dutrow's brother will be trainer of record for Master Piece in Pegasus Turf

Sydney “Chip” Dutrow will be the trainer of record of Master Piece when he runs in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park. Chip Dutrow is the assistant to his brother Rick, who has trained Master Piece since May.

Rick Dutrow has not run a horse in Florida since he returned from a 10-year suspension handed him by the New York State Gaming Commission (née Racing Commission) last April. Dutrow is not licensed in Florida, but is not barred from applying for one and is not expected to be denied if and when he does.

“To go through an administrative process could take a long time and it has in the past,” said Mike Lakow, vice president of racing for Gulfstream Park. “Sydney has been with Rick, he has been his assistant, he knows the horse. Rick just transferred the horse to Sydney’s name so there are no hiccups. Rick will be fine to be licensed, but we didn’t want to hold up the owner, hold up the horse, hold up the race, so this is the way we decided to move on it.”

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Rick Dutrow’s last starter at Gulfstream Park was Associate, who finished seventh in the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope Stakes on Jan. 13, 2013. Chip Dutrow has not started a horse in his name since 2015.

Master Piece, who won the Grade 2 Red Smith at Aqueduct in November, has remained in New York ever since. Rick Dutrow has said that Master Piece prefers the cool weather to the heat. On Monday, at chilly Belmont Park, Master Piece worked a half-mile in 49.45 seconds over the training track.

Master Piece was scheduled to ship to Florida by plane Tuesday.

In last January’s Pegasus Turf, when trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Master Piece finished seventh, beaten three lengths by Atone. He came back to run third in both the Mac Diarmida and Pan American at Gulfstream.

Dornoch back on work tab

Dornoch, winner of the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct, returned to the work tab Monday at Palm Meadows in South Florida, breezing a half-mile in 51.95 seconds.

“First work, nice and easy, looked good doing it,” trainer Danny Gargan said. “He’s doing good. I’m happy with him.”

Gargan said he is pointing Dornoch, a full brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, to the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth on March 2 at Gulfstream.

Gargan said he gave Dornoch about three weeks off following his Remsen victory, his fourth start of the year.

“I think when you win the Remsen, if you train through, they never get a chance to unwind for a minute,” Gargan said. “Horses that run in the Breeders’ Cup, they get a month off, they can still make a race like the Withers” on Feb. 3 at Aqueduct.

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