Super Corinto awaiting Pegasus invite after Thursday victory

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – It will likely be on to the Pegasus World Cup Invitational here on Jan. 28 for Super Corinto following his hard-fought and well deserved half-length victory over Clapton in Thursday’s main event, decided at a mile and one-sixteenth under high-priced optional claiming and allowance conditions.

“If the horse gets an invitation, he will run,” trainer Amador Sanchez said immediately after Super Corinto, a Group 1 winner in Chile, registered his first victory since shipping to the U.S. earlier this season. Super Corinto finished second behind the multiple stakes-winning Florida-bred Noble Drama when making his North American debut four weeks earlier.

Super Corinto, an Argentina-bred son of Super Saver, stalked the early pace of Mish on Thursday and appeared to be spinning his wheels some while coming under pressure from jockey Hector Berrios around the second turn. But neither horse nor rider ever gave up, the pair digging in gamely to ultimately overtake the tiring leader near midstretch before withstanding a late surge from Clapton.

“To me he needs more distance because he’s one-paced,” said Berrios. “At the half-mile pole I was asking for more and I thought maybe I’d finish second. But he kept coming and ran like a good horse.”

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Sanchez said he did not expect to see Super Corinto so close to the early pace.

“He broke well and [Berrios] decided to chase the leader,” said Sanchez, who trains Super Corinto for the Jet Set Racing Stable. “I think this horse runs better when he rallies from the middle to the back of the field. But I’m very pleased the way he responded today.”

Super Corinto, who received a 97 Beyer Figure for his Thursday effort, became a Group 1 winner in his South American finale when upsetting the heavily favored O’Connor in the Gran Premio Hippodromo Chile going 11 furlongs on April 30. O’Connor preceeded Super Corinto to the United States, registering a one-sided allowance victory in his local debut, a performance which has his connections setting their sights on the Pegasus World Cup as well. O’Connor, also a Group 1 winner in Chile, is expected to prep for the Pegasus in the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday here Dec. 31.

Assertiko one to beat

Sunday’s feature brings together nine Florida-breds going 6 1/2 furlongs over the main track under optional claiming and allowance conditions for a $54,000 purse.

Assertiko, who has not faced statebreds since capturing a similarly conditioned event going a mile here during the summer of 2002, will likely be favored off a third-place finish against open company at seven furlongs. The 87 Beyer Assertiko received defeating open starter-allowance rivals here on Aug. 12, is tops in this field.

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Avant Glory set the pace, opened a commanding advantage near midstretch, but could not quite withstand the final surge of Septembertem when dropping a frustrating nose decision to the favorite when last competing over the main track two months earlier. Avant Glory was the victim of a nightmarish trip when switching to the Tapeta and finished an unlucky fifth in his most recent try.

Tiger, second in three of his last four starts against the same kind but idle since March 5, has been training gangbusters for his return while back with former trainer Juan Alvarado after having made his last six starts out of the barn of Carlos David.

Gangly, whose races have been well spaced of late, figures among the key contenders while making just his second start since being haltered for $20,000 on June 17.

Lightly raced Prince of Iron likely needed a race when finishing a distant third behind Avant Glory in the pair’s previous encounter while making his first start in over eight months.

The speedy Magical Warrior, last out maiden winner Starship Renegade, Handsome Prince, and Sunset Provision complete the field.

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