The $16 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfsrtream Park is the richest race in the world. (Photo credit: gulfstreampark.com)
Margoth’s Gunnevera breezed Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park West, his final prep for the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) on Jan. 27.
Four other Pegasus runners, Sharp Azteca, Stellar Wind, War Story and Fear the Cowboy worked Saturday. Singing Bullet, who is a possible starter in the world’s richest race, breezed for trainer Dale Romans.
Trainer Antonio Sano sent Gunnevera, a three-time winner at Gulfstream Park, out for a five furlong work in 1:01. It was the fourth-fastest of 31 at the distance.
“He worked very, very good,” Sano said. “He worked in company with Cometin and galloped out very good. I’m so excited for my horse to run in the race.”
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Also at Gulfstream Park West, trainer Jorge Navarro’s two Pegasus runners, Sharp Azteca and War Story, turned in their final breezes for the race. Sharp Azteca, making his first start since winning the Cigar Mile (G1) on Dec. 2, turned in a bullet five furlongs in :58.40. War Story, who was fifth in last year’s Pegasus, completed his five furlongs on 1:01.80.
At the Palm Meadows Training center, Gulfstream’s satellite training in Palm Beach County, Coolmore’s Stellar Wind worked four furlongs in :49.80 in company for trainer Chad Brown. She had been scheduled to work on Sunday.
“I moved her up a day because there is a slight chance of rain tomorrow,” Brown said. “I didn’t want to take a chance. All of her serious works are done. She just went an easy half-mile today to stretch her legs. I feel like she is fit enough and good enough to run a good race next week.”
Brown switched workmates for the 6-year-old mare, sending her out with the 3-year-old colt Mask, winner of the Mucho Macho Man stakes on Jan. 6. When working with Shagaf, Stellar Wind was on the inside. With Mask she was on the outside because Brown said that Mask trains better in that situation.
“I thought she sat there, perched outside of him, really comfortable and galloped out well within herself,” Brown said. “We weren’t trying to gain anything this morning, just maintaining her where we are into the race, sound and happy.
“She came back bucking and squealing and happy. For her, at this time, that’s what I wanted.”
At the Oakridge Training Center in Ocala, Fear the Cowboy breezed an easy five furlongs.
The Stronach Stables’ homebred 4-year-old colt Singing Bullet is being considered for the 12th and final position in the field. Singing Bullet, by Hard Spun, stumbled leaving the gate in his most recent start on Dec. 29 and finished fourth. In his breeze Saturday at Gulfstream Park he covered five furlongs in 1:01.97, according to Daily Racing Form.
“He worked very well,” trainer Dale Romans said. “He went off the first eighth a little slower than I wanted but he finished up great and galloped out great. He’s been doing very well since he got here. The last race was a throw out. He came stumbling out of the gate and just had no chance to catch up.”
