Stilleto Boy takes another crack at Pegasus World Cup
Last January, Stilleto Boy was a 26-1 outsider when he finished third behind 4-5 favorite Life Is Good and 9-10 second choice Knicks Go in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park.
On Jan. 28, Stilleto Boy is scheduled to start again in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup. This year, the 5-year-old Stilleto Boy has had a different preparation schedule.
Stilleto Boy has had only one start in the last four months, finishing second to Country Grammer in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26.
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In the build-up to the 2022 Pegasus World Cup, Stilleto Boy had an active campaign in the final months of 2021, including a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar that November, and a third behind Flightline in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita in December.
A lightly raced Stilleto Boy could be a dangerous runner in the Pegasus World Cup, trainer Ed Moger Jr. said on Sunday.
“It wasn’t one of his best races when he ran second to Country Grammer,” Moger said. “I think that [leaves] him tuned up perfectly. We’ll give it a shot. He’s more seasoned this year.”
Owned by Moger’s brother Steve, Stilleto Boy worked five furlongs in 1:01.60 on the synthetic track at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday. Moger is based at Golden Gate.
“We put him behind another horse,” Moger said. “He galloped out really strong.”
Stilleto Boy finished 4 1/2 lengths behind Country Grammer in the San Antonio Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, his first start since he finished last of six behind Flightline in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Sept. 3.
Mike Smith rode Stilleto Boy for the first time in the San Antonio and has the mount in the Pegasus World Cup, Ed Moger said.
Stilleto Boy is one of three California-based candidates for the Pegasus World Cup.
Defunded, the winner of the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita in October and the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar in November, worked six furlongs in 1:12.60 at Santa Anita on Saturday.
Get Her Number, second in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct on Dec. 3, worked a mile in 1:39.40 at San Luis Rey Downs training center on Saturday.
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