Sano 'so happy' with Pegasus World Cup contender Gunnevera
Margoth’s multiple graded stakes winner Gunnevera breezed Saturday morning over Gulfstream Park West’s main track as he continues preparations for a planned start in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup, the richest Thoroughbred race in North America set for Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park.
It was the second work for the 4-year-old Gunnevera since his runner-up finish behind likely Pegasus favorite Accelerate in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 3. Both breezes have come with Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode in the Classic and will return aboard in the Pegasus, in the irons.
“Everything went very good,” trainer Antonio Sano said. “He went five furlongs in 1:01.2, 1:01.3. It was a very good work.”
Gunnevera, a six-time winner with more than $4 million in purse earnings from 19 career starts, ran third behind Horse of the Year Gun Runner in this year’s Pegasus. Sano plans to work the Dialed In colt again next Saturday morning.
“I am so happy with my horse,” Sano said. “Today he worked very good and he came back very fresh and looked very good.”
In addition to Gunnevera and Hronis Racing’s Accelerate, other horses confirmed for the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus are Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr.’s Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner City of Light; Charles Fipke’s Grade 1 winner Seeking the Soul, fifth in this year’s race; and Calumet Farm’s pair of Bravazo and True Timber. Tabor, Magnier and Smith’s Coolmore has also purchased a spot for a horse to be determined.
Audible, the 2018 Florida Derby (G1) winner, is also being pointed to the Pegasus and will prep for the race in today’s $100,000 Harlan’s Holiday (G3) at Gulfstream. Owned by China Horse Club International, WinStar Farm, Starlight Racing, and Head of Plains Partners, Todd Pletcher-trained Audible finished third in this year’s Kentucky Derby (G1).
Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence’s Patternrecognition, who defeated True Timber by three-quarters of a length in the Cigar Mile (G1) Dec. 1 at Aqueduct, and Stronach Stable homebreds Something Awesome, a multiple graded-stakes winning millionaire, and back-to-back stakes winner Unbridled Juan are also under consideration for the Pegasus.