Stellar Wind still on target for Pegasus World Cup

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – All systems are still go for Stellar Wind to make the final start of her career in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup here Jan. 27.

Stellar Wind worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Palm Meadows on Sunday in company with stablemate Shagaf. It was her fifth work since joining trainer Chad Brown’s barn at Palm Meadows after being purchased by Coolmore as a broodmare prospect at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

“She worked a strong five-eighths, galloped out three-quarters, and came out in good shape,” Brown said earlier this week. “Everything is still on target to run her in Pegasus.”

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Stellar Wind, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2015, is a five-time Grade 1 winner with earnings of more than $2.2 million. She won three of her four starts in 2017, all Grade 1 stakes, when she was trained by John Sadler. Stellar Wind concluded the campaign by finishing last of eight in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. She is scheduled to be bred to American Pharoah this spring.

Brown said he still has not firmed up a rider for Stellar Wind in the Pegasus World Cup. Victor Espinoza has been Stellar Wind’s regular jockey since the start of her 3-year-old campaign.

Brown also said that Mask came out of his scintillating 6 1/4-length triumph in Saturday’s one-mile Mucho Macho Man in good order. He added that Mask will stretch out around two turns in his next start, which will probably come in the Grade 2 Risen Star on Feb. 17 at Fair Grounds or the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth here March 3.

“I thought his performance was excellent – I was very pleased – and he’s ready for the next step, the next challenge,” Brown said.

Shagaf is progressing nicely toward his return following his work in company with Stellar Wind on Sunday, Brown said. Shagaf began his career with three consecutive wins, including the Grade 3 Gotham at Aqueduct in 2016. He was pulled up in the stretch and did not finish in the Kentucky Derby and has not started since finishing fifth against allowance horses last April 23 at Aqueduct.

“He’s still on the comeback trail and has a little ways to go,” Brown said. “He had nothing serious wrong, just some little physical issues, but he seems to have himself in good health now.”

◗ Two other riding commitments for the Pegasus World Cup were fulfilled this week. Jockey Javier Castellano made the decision to ride West Coast rather than Sharp Azteca. Castellano guided West Coast to his third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and also was aboard Sharp Azteca for his victory in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile.

The connections of Sharp Azteca wasted little time finding a suitable replacement for Castellano, giving the call to Irad Ortiz Jr., according to his agent, Steve Rushing.