Sharp Azteca among Pegasus contenders putting in works

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – While Gun Runner was sent through an easy gallop during his second morning at Gulfstream Park, a handful of his opponents for the $16 million Pegasus World Cup had their final prerace breezes at various Florida venues on a busy Saturday morning.

Sharp Azteca, War Story, and Gunnevera worked just across town at Gulfstream Park West, while Stellar Wind worked at the Palm Meadows training center and Fear the Cowboy worked at the Oak Ridge Training Center near Ocala, Fla.

Here at Gulfstream, longshot Singing Bullet breezed some three hours after Gun Runner galloped about a mile under regular exercise rider Angel Garcia just before the sun came up over the Atlantic Ocean.

Scott Blasi, the Steve Asmussen assistant who accompanied Gun Runner here Thursday on a flight from New Orleans, once again oversaw the routine exercise.

Gun Runner, a virtual lock for 2017 Horse of the Year, is expected to be a heavy favorite when making his final career start next Saturday in the second running of the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus. The 5-year-old horse is scheduled to have his final breeze Monday.

At Gulfstream West, Sharp Azteca went the fastest among the Saturday workers, getting five furlongs in 58.40 seconds and galloping out six furlongs in 1:10.40. His Jorge Navarro-trained stablemate, the late-running War Story, went five furlongs in 1:01.80.

Gunnevera went five furlongs in 1:01 in company with stablemate Cometin before galloping out six furlongs in 1:15.40.

“He worked very, very good in company and galloped out very good,” said trainer Antonio Sano. “I’m very excited for my horse to run in the race.”

Stellar Wind, who will be making her first start since being sold at auction and turned over to Chad Brown, went a half-mile in 49.60 seconds. The 6-year-old mare will be the only female runner in the lineup.

Fear the Cowboy, trained by Efren Loza Jr., went a very easy five furlongs in 1:04.60. The 6-year-old horse won the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday here last month.

Singing Bullet, trained by Dale Romans, came out after the second harrow break at about 9:15 a.m. Eastern, getting five furlongs in 1:01.97 with a strong gallop-out of 1:13.87, according to Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch.

From Miami, Toast of New York was expected to arrive late Saturday afternoon at Gulfstream after clearing quarantine following his Thursday overseas flight.

Post positions for the Pegasus will be drawn here Wednesday at 11:30 a.m.

These are the confirmed Pegasus starters, with jockeys: Gun Runner, Florent Geroux; West Coast, Javier Castellano; Collected, Mike Smith; Sharp Azteca, Irad Ortiz Jr.; Seeking the Soul, John Velazquez; Stellar Wind, Joel Rosario; Giant Expectations, Gary Stevens; Toast of New York, Frankie Dettori; War Story, Jose Ortiz; Fear the Cowboy, Tyler Gaffalione; and Singing Bullet, no rider.

Seven other stakes will be on the Pegasus card, including four Grade 3 events. The Pegasus will be telecast live on NBC Sports (4:30-6 p.m.).