Stellar Wind, shown here running second in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) to Beholder is headed to the Pegasus World Cup (G1). (Photo by © Breeders’ Cup/Weasie Gaines 2015)
Stellar Wind continued to impress trainer Chad Brown Sunday morning with her preparation for the $16 million Pegasus World Cup (G1), breezing five furlongs in 1:00.80 at Palm Meadows Training Center.
The breeze was the 6-year-old mare’s sixth workout for the world’s richest race Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park since joining Brown’s stable at Gulfstream Park’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.
“She worked a very strong five-eighths and galloped out a very strong three-quarters. She seems to be doing very, very well,” Brown said. “Each week her breezes get a little bit stronger. She hasn’t missed a beat since she’s been in the barn.”
Stellar Wind was purchased by M.V. Magnier for $6 million at the Keeneland November Sale just days after finishing a troubled eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar. The daughter of Curlin, who has won 10 of 16 races and more than $2.2 million in purses, had previously won three consecutive Grade 1 stakes.
“She’s all class. We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel here. We’re just trying to keep her happy and she’s been a real sound horse since arriving,” Brown said. “She was obviously well taken care of her whole career. She’s been just a real pleasure to have in the barn. She’s a terrific addition to our stable.”
Check out US Racing for the latest betting odds for the Pegasus World Cup.
Stellar Wind will represent stakeholder Coolmore in the second running of the Pegasus World Cup, which attracted the first five finishers of the Breeder’s Cup Classic (G1) – Gun Runner, Collected, West Coast, War Story and Gunnevera – as well as Cigar Mile (G1) winner Sharp Azteca.
“We’re excited about her chances in the Pegasus,” Brown said. “It’s a tall order. It’s a tough, tough race, but she couldn’t be doing any better.
Gun Runner Has ‘Big Work’ for Pegasus World Cup
NEW ORLEANS —Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Gun Runner had his final major workout for the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Sunday afternoon, working six furlongs in 1:11 at Fair Grounds.
Working in company with regular workmate Gettysburg, Gun Runner was clocked galloping out seven furlongs in 1:23.40 and the mile in 1:37 under jockey Florent Geroux as they prepare for the January 27th World Cup. The Fair Grounds clockers timed his interior splits as 12.30 seconds, 24.20, 36.10, 48.10 and 59.20. The final furlongs in 11 1/5 and 11 3/5 are trainer Steve Asmussen covets. Gun Runner started off a little more than a length behind Gettysburg, pulled alongside on the turn and drew off in the stretch.
Because of cold temperatures in New Orleans, Gun Runner worked a few minutes after noon Central. The workout was aired live on TVG2, which is where David Fiske, the longtime racing and bloodstock manager for co-owner Winchell Thoroughbreds, saw the display while in frigid Kentucky.
“That was great,” he said. “That was kind of a typical two-weeks-before-the-race Asmussen work. Usually that’s a big work, kind of sharpen them up. He’ll get another easy half-mile when he gets to Gulfstream, probably next Monday or something. But man, he looked pretty sharp to me.”
Gun Runner is to fly to Fort Lauderdale on Thursday.
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