Comments from Pegasus World Cup also-rans; order of finish

In less than two minutes, City of Light went from Breeders' Cup winner to Pegasus World Cup hero, something only Arrogate and Gun Runner also claim. Pretty good company.

But what happened behind him as darkness fell at Gulfstream Park as 11 other horses trudged through the Gulfstream Park slop in the Grade 1, $9 million race?

Here's a look at the complete Pegasus World Cup order of finish with available comments provided by Gulfstream's media department.

City of Light (1st by 5 3/4 lengths)

“When he broke well and was able to kind of ease out outside of horses coming to the mile pole, I was very, very happy,” said trainer Michael McCarthy. “Turning up the backside, Javier (Castellano) eased him off the fence. It looked like everybody was content with their position up the backside. When Javier started moving at the half-mile pole, it didn’t appear that anybody was really pressuring him. He was able to go ahead and hold off his run for a little bit. Once he switched leads coming into the lane, you saw what happened. It was over. I’m very happy for the horse. He’s an amazing animal, an amazing athlete.”

“I had to use him a little bit early to get the position I was looking for,” Castellano added. “Watching all the races, speed was holding pretty good. The track is in good condition. We got a lot of rain, nothing we can do. I think it worked out perfect. I used the horse a little bit to get my spot, and then tried to control the race all the way. This is just amazing. It’s what we all want, to be able to win a race like this.”

Seeking the Soul (2nd by 5 3/4)

“When Jose Ortiz stopped (on pace-setting Patternrecognition), everybody gathered up at the same time, so I had to steady there, go to the outside, come back to the inside again and he still ran a good race,” said jockey John Velazquez. “It’s just a shame we didn’t have the best trip.”

“He’s a mile and a quarter horse, and he got blocked,” added owner Charles Fipke. “He was coming on. But still, a mile and a quarter, he’ll have a good chance winning the Dubai World Cup.”

Accelerate (3rd by 7 1/4)

“We thought he ran a really good race,” said trainer John Sadler. “It was tough conditions out there today. You saw most of the winners on the dirt all day were in front, so he’s not really a speed horse per say. The winner ran a beautiful race. You have to give him credit. He was the better horse today. But our horse certainly didn’t disgrace himself. We’re headed out to dinner with our heads high.”

“He was traveling really well,” added jockey Joel Rosario. “He’s the kind of horse you have to keep riding and…the winner, he had a lot of horse today. It looked like it was easy for the winner.

Bravazo (4th by 12)

The chart indicates he "was well placed from the start inside, made no headway under heavy pressure around the far turn, and ran on to salvage fourth money over Audible."

Audible (5th by 12 1/2)

“I thought he handled the surface fine,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “We didn’t get the position we were hoping for in the first turn, but I was happy that he kept trying to the wire.”

Gunnevera (6th by 13)

“I don’t think I had the right trip,” said jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. “I felt so sorry for him because he wanted to run today. But I didn’t really get him in the right place at the right time. I had to check a bit, and I think it cost me a lot. Probably I don’t win the race, but I’d have had a better position.”

True Timber (7th by 25 1/4)

“We ran wide and outrun,” said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “Can’t say much else. This was a tough race.”

Imperative (8th by 26)

“I had a good trip, just came from behind – pretty smooth,” said jockey Tyler Gaffalione. “We were just a notch below these horses today, but he put in a big effort and great job by the team having him ready.”

Tom’s d’Etat (9th by 27 1/4)

“Thought I had a perfect trip right off the speed — he was laying third,” said jockey Shaun Bridgmohan. “Whenever Tom’s d’Etat travels he’s always pulling, I think he’s spun his wheels a bit.”

Something Awesome (10th by 28 1/4)

The chart indicates he "saved ground early, was closest to the leaders three wide coming off the far turn, but had nothing left into the stretch."

Kukulkan (11th by 32)

“He jumped good,” said jockey Frankie Dettori, “but didn’t have the speed to keep up with the pace and we started to get the kick back and it was all over.”

Patternrecognition (12th by 47 1/4)

The chart indicates he "was steadied and checked plummeting to the back of the field after six furlongs, and was eased up late."