City of Light upsets Accelerate in Pegasus World Cup 2019

With dark nearing and a steady rain falling, City of Light took advantage Saturday with a clear way to the front and win in Pegasus World Cup. In the process, he upset rival Accelerate in the rubber match between the two top older horses at Gulfstream Park.

Certainly, City of Light ran like a horse who should have been the top choice Saturday.

Under jockey Javier Castellano, who guided the winner confidently, the son of Quality Road pressed pace-setting Patternrecognition into submission by the far turn, then cruised in the stretch to complete 1 1/8 miles in a final time of 1:47.71.

"To be honest with you, I don't care about the money," an emotional trainer Michael McCarthy after the 5 3/4-length win.

Later, though, the gravity of this win seemed to set in for a former Todd Pletcher assistant who hadn't even started a Breeders' Cup runner until last November. Why the shaky voice?

"Nine million reasons," he added.

Behind City of Light, off at 9-5, Seeking the Soul ran up the rail to be second. Accelerate, the 3-2 favorite, slipped to third. Bravazo filled out the superfecta.

RELATED: Full Pegasus World Cup order of finish

Well in front, Castellano had a fist raised to the sky as City of Light became the third Breeders' Cup winner to also score in the Pegasus since the race was inaugurated. This time, however, he exited the Dirt Mile along with Seeking the Soul and Bravazo, both in the Top 4.

"I couldn't be happier the way he was here the last 10 days," McCarthy said. "...Without this horse, I'm not sure where I'd be."

Castellano said he used City of Light a bit early to get position. From the No. 3 post, he swung out wide as Patternrecognition crossed out from the outside stall.

"The horse did really well up the backside the way he kept rhythm and momentum," Castellano said.

Midway through the turn, City of Light was alone on the lead.

"The way he did it, he had another gear when I asked," Castellano said. "Turning for home, at the quarter pole, he exploded again -- took off again. What a feeling in that moment."

Accelerate made it a race through the turn, chasing City of Light's opening six furlongs in 1:10.80, but never quite got up even to challenge. Understandably so, as trainer John Sadler said, the rains made Gulfstream's surface speed-favoring throughout Saturday's card.

"I'll remember his honesty -- always ran a good race, and we've enjoyed him for three years," Sadler said of Accelerate. "He's such a really good, solid racehorse who ran today in tough conditions."

The leading Pegasus choices had met twice before. In their first standoff, City of Light topped Accelerate going this nine-furlong distance in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2). Accelerate exacted revenge in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1) the next month at their California base, and from there City of Light ran shorter distances to end his career.

"I used my horse to get position a little bit at the break," Castellano said. "The horse did really well up the backside the way he kept rhythm and momentum.

"...The way he did it, he had another gear when I asked. Turning for home, at the quarter pole, he exploded again -- took off again. What a feeling in that moment."

Now, the two will become roommates of sorts. They're set to ship to Lane's End Farm in Kentucky early next week to become stallion duties immediately.