Shaman Ghost does Stronach proud with fine second in Pegasus

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Overshadowed both by the brilliance of Arrogate and the disappointment of California Chrome, Shaman Ghost ran a huge race when finishing second Saturday in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park.

“We were very happy,” trainer Jimmy Jerkens said Monday. “It was just like when Effinex ran second to American Pharoah” in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Classic. “I said to myself, ‘I’ve never been so glad to run second.’ ”

Arrogate, the 9-10 favorite, won the Pegasus by 4 3/4 lengths while California Chrome struggled home ninth as the 6-5 second choice in the final race of his storybook career.

Shaman Ghost, a 19-1 shot under Jose Ortiz, rallied from eighth in the field of 12 to finish 3 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place Neolithic while earning a career-best 108 Beyer Speed Figure.

“They outran us a little early, but then he was able to have a nice, even trip,” said Jerkens. “When the other horses started to back up at the five-sixteenths pole, he made a nice move and finished up real well. It was a big effort.”

Shaman Ghost, a bay 5-year-old horse by Ghostzapper, was bred and is owned by Gulfstream chairman Frank Stronach, the founder of the Pegasus. The inaugural event came off without any serious hitches, much to the delight of those who participated and spectated. Stronach spoke at length at the postrace press conference that featured the winning connections and drew widespread praise for his latest racing innovation.

“I think Frank Stronach deserves a whole lot of credit for putting on such a great show,” said Bob Baffert, the trainer of Arrogate, the 4-year-old colt who earned a record $7 million with the victory.

Stronach was one of the original 12 to spend $1 million for a spot in the race. Shaman Ghost, the winner of the Grade 1 Woodward over Frosted last summer at Saratoga, earned $1.75 million for second, turning a tidy profit for the owner. Neolithic got back Starlight Racing’s $1 million for running third, while the fourth through 12th finishers each got $250,000.

Jerkens said he was unsure what commission he will receive since Stronach had to put up $1 million. Typically, a trainer is paid 10 percent of the owner’s share, which would equate to $175,000 in this case, but with the unusual circumstances of the Pegasus, “I’m going to defer to him and let him tell me what’s fair,” said Jerkens.

Meanwhile, Shaman Ghost was scheduled to return to light training Tuesday at Palm Meadows.

“He came out of it well,” said Jerkens. “As far as the next start, we haven’t even talked about that yet. I’m sure some of the bigger handicap races will be on the table. As far as I know, there’s been no discussion about [the March 25 Dubai World Cup], but since he jumped up and ran this big race, maybe that’ll come up.”

Shaman Ghost won the prestigious Queen’s Plate at Woodbine as a 3-year-old in 2015 when still trained by Brian Lynch. He made his first start for Jerkens last May, finishing third in a Belmont Park allowance, then won the Grade 2 Brooklyn in his next start. He was fifth in the Suburban, won the Woodward, missed the BC Classic at Santa Anita with a slight fever, then finished third behind Gun Runner and Breaking Lucky in the Clark Handicap in November leading into the Pegasus. His career earnings now stand at $3,089,311.