Weekend Rewind: Pegasus World Cup contenders finish up works

With no 2018 Kentucky Derby preps to watch, the focus this weekend was fixated on Pegasus World Cup contenders’ final workouts toward Saturday’s race at Gulfstream Park.

Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes winner Giant Expectations got an earlier start than the rest putting in his final work this past Friday. The breeze marked his third consecutive bullet, and second consecutive work going five furlongs. The final time was 58 seconds flat, more than one second faster than any other work at that distance. 

Saturday, the action picked up as 7-year-old Toast of New York arrived to Gulfstream Park, while Gun Runner took a gallop around the main track. In addition to them, Sharp Aztecta, Stellar Wind, and War Story took to their respective tracks to put in their final works. 

Stellar Wind, since transferring to trainer Chad Brown, has looked more aggressive in her works, and she continued that trend yesterday. After a few rank moments, she settled by her workmate, and proceeded to work a half mile in moderate :49.75.

On the other end of the spectrum, Sharp Azteca breezed five furlongs at Gulfstream Park West in a scorching :58.40, and couldn’t have made it look any easier. 

At Santa Anita, the Bob Baffert duo of West Coast and Collected put forth their final drills. Both went in company, with West Coast going five furlongs in one minute flat. The son of Flatter gave the impression of being on cruise control through the majority of the work, but when given one shake of the reins in deep stretch, he extended beautifully to overtake his workmate.

Collected worked a half mile, starting several lengths behind his workmate. Surprisingly, this did not cause the son of City Zip to sulk, but instead, seemed to strengthen focus and resolve. Collected quickly made up most of the deficit, and by the top of the stretch was only a couple lengths behind. He continued strongly, besting his workmate by more than one length, and finishing the work in a snappy 46.20.  This, in my opinion, was easily the most impressive Pegasus work of the weekend. 

A couple years ago, X Y Jet looked poised to make a bid for the nation’s leading sprinter, but after a trip to Dubai in 2016, he was plagued with injuries. Now, after two comeback attempts, it looks like the fleet-footed grey is back on the fast track. 

After winning the Mr. Prospector Stakes in late December, X Y Jet returned in the Sunshine Millions Sprint and proved he’s back to his old ways.

X Y Jet set a blistering pace, going :22.21 and :44.81, before spinning into the stretch with a length and a half lead. Despite the pace, the son of Kantharos was able to repel a late bid from First Growth to win by a half-length. The final time was 1:09.57.

The recent string of victories was apparently enough to not only convince his connections that X Y Jet is really back, but that he is ready for another crack at Dubai. 

After the race, trainer Jorge Navarro mentioned that he’d like to follow the same path as last time to Dubai, using the Gulfstream Park Sprint as a springboard to a the Group 1 Golden Shaheen. However. He also mentioned skipping the prep entirely.

"Let's see how he comes out first, but I think he has another race in February or we could probably go straight to Dubai,” Navarro told BloodHorse.com.

Trainer Todd Pletcher always seems to have a full hand of 3-year-olds this time of year, with 2018 no different.

While he is not armed with already accomplished stakes winners, Pletcher does have promising allowance winners Marconi, Vino Rosso and Noble Indy. After Saturday, add Gleason to his arsenal.

The $220,000 Keeneland grad made his debut at Tampa Bay Downs, and he couldn’t have looked any more impressive. The son of Algorithms stalked a quick pace, set by fellow first time starter, Getyourmindright. After following Getyourmindright through a half in :44.89, Gleason made his move, forging to a clear lead by the time the duo hit the stretch.

Gleason crossed the line an easy 5 ½ length winner, in a final 1:23.6 for the seven-furlong contest.

 

With such an impressive victory, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Pletcher wheel the colt back in some upcoming stakes to test his mettle — and possibly earn some points towards the Kentucky Derby.