Sticksstatelydude more likely for Poseidon than Pegasus
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
Sticksstatelydude, who closed out his 3-year-old campaign with an impressive victory over Neolithic in the Grade 3 Discovery last month at Aqueduct, is being pointed for a race here on Jan. 28. Whether that race is the $12 million Pegasus or $400,000 Poseidon is still to be determined.
Sticksstatelydude worked Friday for the first time since shipping to Palm Meadows, going four furlongs in 49.59 seconds before galloping out in 1:03, according to Daily Racing Form.
“He worked well, just a maintenance move today,” said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “We’ll keep working weekly. Right now we’re pointing for a race on Jan. 28, with the Poseidon a more likely option than the Pegasus, although we’re open for offers. So far we’ve had one serious inquiry from one of the slot holders, but did not come to any agreement.”
McLaughlin was obviously quite pleased with Sticksstatelydude’s 3-year-old finale, and that Neolithic returned to win an allowance race by nine lengths.
“He went to the lead, although I don’t think he has to be in front,” said McLaughlin. “But there wasn’t a lot of pace in there. He ran very well, finished strong, did everything right. And it was good to see the runner-up come back with such a big effort here the other day. We realize our best chance to win on the 28th is the Poseidon, that we’re definitely a longshot in the Pegasus. We’ll just have to wait and see what develops.
“The one thing I would like to see going down the road in regards to the Pegasus would be to increase the distance to a mile and three-sixteenths. There’s such a short run to the first turn going a mile and one-eighth here. I think it might give people more incentive to run in the race with a little extra room to run into that turn.”
McLaughlin is in the rebuilding stages this winter after having four of his top horses retired at the end of the year, a group led by Frosted. The others are Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Tamarkuz, Lady Shipman, and Sentiero Italia.
“It’s good to see all these horses moving on to a new career,” said McLaughlin. “Now we have to look for some new ones.”
McLaughlin said he intends to run Cavil in the Mucho Macho Man on Jan. 7, and Dickinson in the Marshua’s River Jan. 14.