Sir Winston carries classic winners' flag in Pegasus World Cup
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Every winner of a Triple Crown event of recent vintage has left the racetrack – except for Sir Winston, the hard knocker set to face Knicks Go and Life Is Good in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup.
“He’s still in there trying,” said Mark Casse, who trains 6-year-old Sir Winston for owner-breeder Tracy Farmer.
It’s something of an unusual distinction. Since Sir Winston posted a 10-1 upset in the 2019 Belmont Stakes, the other six horses to subsequently win a Triple Crown race have retired – or, in the unfortunate case of Medina Spirit, has died. They are, in chronological order, Tiz the Law, Authentic, Swiss Skydiver, Medina Spirit, Rombauer, and Essential Quality. Retired long ago are the winners of the two other jewels in 2019, Country House (Kentucky Derby) and the Casse-trained War of Will (Preakness).
“A lot of credit goes to Mr. Farmer,” said Casse, launching into a detailed account of how Sir Winston “kind of lost his way” when stuck overseas for a lengthy period after the pandemic struck just ahead of the 2020 Dubai World Cup, which wound up being canceled. “We’re very proud of how the horse came back around.”
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Sir Winston has won three of nine starts since his Belmont triumph, which probably qualifies as an above-average record for Belmont winners of the last quarter-century or so. Still, whether it’s reasonable to expect him to mount a serious challenge against the two Pegasus favorites next Saturday at Gulfstream Park is a legitimate question. On paper, the Grade 1 race clearly shapes up as Knicks Go versus Life Is Good, with only bit players filling out what track officials are hoping will be a full gate of 12.
“It is a good question,” said Casse. “He’ll obviously need for there to be plenty of pace and those two to come back to him. He’ll be running at the end. It’s just a matter of how far ahead the others get.”
Life Is Good, trained by Todd Pletcher, was scheduled to have his final pre-race breeze Saturday at Palm Beach Downs, located about an hour north of Gulfstream. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount.
Knicks Go, the 2021 Pegasus winner who is widely expected to be named the 2021 Horse of the Year next month, is scheduled to arrive here late Monday by van from New Orleans after having the final breeze of his illustrious career Sunday at Fair Grounds, according to trainer Brad Cox. Joel Rosario will ride.
Entries for the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus will be drawn Tuesday. The list of invitees has undergone minor tweaks in recent days, and any further revisions are to be made public Sunday. Besides Sir Winston and the two favorites, there are eight more with preference: Chess Chief, Fearless, Law Professor, Happy Saver, Olympiad, Stilleto Boy, Super Stock, and Title Ready.
The Pegasus status of Fearless and Happy Saver, who like Life Is Good are trained by Pletcher, was to be determined after they breeze over the weekend. Meanwhile, the original invitee Ginobili most likely will not be making the trip from California, according to the racing office.
Five more alternates are ready in case of defections: American Theorem, Commandeer, Empty Tomb, Endorsed, and Happy American.
This will be the sixth running of the Pegasus. Here follows a quick preview of the six supporting features on a blockbuster card:
Grade 1, $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf: Colonel Liam, the 2021 winner of this 1 1/8-mile race, will have Ortiz up in seeking a repeat when he returns from a layoff of nearly eight months. The capacity of 12 also is expected here, with these being the other invitees as of Friday: Channel Cat, Cross Border, Doswell, Field Pass, Flavius, Hit the Road, March to the Arch, Never Surprised, Point Me By, Sacred Life, and Space Traveller. As many as five alternates are standing by.
Grade 3, $500,000 Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf: Displacing the long-standing Marshua’s River – which accounts for this 1 1/16-mile race retaining its grade – the inaugural Filly and Mare Turf also has 12 original invitees, led by Regal Glory, Sweet Melania, and Nicest.
Grade 3, $200,000 W.L. McKnight: Mike Maker trains 11 of the 31 nominees, with King Cause and Temple among those he has confirmed. This 1 1/2-mile turf race also should get the 12-horse maximum.
Grade 3, $150,000 La Prevoyante: At least eight fillies and mares are likely for this 1 1/2-mile counterpart to the McKnight.
Grade 2, $200,000 Inside Information: Pacific Gale, the 2021 winner, is among seven confirmed prospects for this seven-furlong race for fillies and mares.
Grade 3, $150,000 Charlatan: Formerly known as the Fred W. Hooper, this one-mile dirt race is expected to get at least seven older horses, including Speaker’s Corner and the Saffie Joseph trio of Ny Traffic, Girolamo’s Attack, and Officiating.