Pegasus undercard: Just One Time takes Inside Information

Warriors Reward and Commonwealth New Era Racing’s Just One Time, racing first time for her new connections, paid immediate dividends with a determined 3/4-length victory over Four Graces in the Grade 2, $200,000 Inside Information Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

The 43rd running of the seven-furlong Inside Information for fillies and mares ages four and older was fourth of seven graded stakes worth $5.2 million in purses on a Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series program featuring the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1), $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) and $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G3).

Purchased privately after winning four of five starts in her native Pennsylvania for Warrior’s Reward breeder Donald Brown Jr., Just One Time ($5) completed the distance in 1:23.81 over a fast main track to run her win streak to three races. It was the third stakes win for the Brad Cox-trained daughter of Not This Time and first in open company.

A bit anxious in the starting gate, Just One Time broke a step slow and settled back off a quarter-mile in 22.45 seconds set by Dance d’Oro and pressed by Jakarta, who took over the top spot following a half in 45.77. Rosario swung Just One Time out wide leaving the far turn and set down for a drive to the wire with two-time Grade 3 winner Four Graces on her inside after splitting horses to get into position.

Favored at 3-2 in a field of 10, Just One Time held sway to give jockey Joel Rosario his second stakes win on the card, following Beautiful Lover in the $150,000 La Prevoyante (G3). Four Graces held second, with Jakarta third and 30-1 long shot Starship Nala fourth.

Abaan extends win streak in W.L. McKnight

Heavy favorite Abaan rolled to a 2 1/2-length victory Saturday in the $200,000 W.L. McKnight Stakes (G3) to extend his win streak to three races.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher won the W.L. McKnight for the fourth time.

Abaan, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Alex Daigneault, was sent off as the 3-2 favorite in the field of 12 after his easy gate-to-wire victory in the 2-mile H. Allen Jerkens on Dec. 26. Under leading rider Luis Saez, Abaan pressed the pace set by King Cause through early fractions of 25.39 seconds, 50.38, 1:15.43. The 5-year-old son of Will Take Charge seized the lead in the third and final turn of the 1 1/2-mile turf race and had no challengers in the stretch and paid $5.00.

Temple was second in the McKnight for the second-straight year. Media Blitz was third.

Beautiful Lover takes La Prevoyante

After stalking the pace from the start, Beautiful Lover and jockey Joel Rosario surged to the lead in the final sixteenth of a mile to win the La Prevoyante (G2) by a neck Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

The La Prevoyante for older fillies and mares going 1 1/2 miles on turf was the first of the seven graded stakes on the program of the sixth running of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational.

Beautiful Lover, owned by Moyglare Stud Farm, edged Sorrel, giving trainer Christophe Clement a 1-2 finish in a race he won for the sixth time. Clement’s first win in the race came in 1992 with Sardaniya. Always Shopping, the even-money favorite seeking to repeat in the race, was third, a head behind Sorrel.

Always Shopping led through opening splits of 24.76 seconds, 50.50 and 1:16.13. Beautiful Lover was always near the pace, stayed patient when Scarabea moved up to challenge Always Shopping in the stretch and pounced as the leaders approached the wire.

Sent off at 4-1, Beautiful Lover completed the race in 2:30.49 and paid $10.20.