Jesus’ Team Aiming at Pegasus World Cup

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Grupo 7C Racing Stable’s Jesus’ Team, a multiple Grade 1-placed 3-year-old, is on track to make his next start in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park on January 23.

Jesus’ Team exits a narrow victory in last Saturday’s $150,000 Claiming Crown Jewel, which at 1 1/8 miles over the main track is the same setup for the Pegasus.

The Tapiture colt’s last win prior to the Jewel came on May 8 in his debut for trainer Jose D’Angelo, who assumed duties 1 race after breaking his maiden for Jose Garoffalo.

“I’ll give him a week in the round pen before preparing for the Pegasus World Cup,” D’Angelo said. “In between the hard races the last five months, I think the round pen has been very good for him. It’s good for him mentally and physically.”

The “hard races” referenced would’ve been no laughing matter for anyone in the crop, let alone a horse who raced for a tag in 5 of his first 6 starts, including as low as $25k in the aforementioned D’Angelo barn debut:

• Haskell (G1): fourth
• Pegasus: second
• Jim Dandy (G2): third
• Preakness (G1): third
• Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1): Second

Jesus’ Team’s gamely-fought Jewel victory came while running closer to the early pace than he usually prefers because of a lone-speed pace setup that benefited the runner-up Storm Runner.

“It was a hard race,” D’Angelo said. “He had only 1 work before the race. I chose only 1 work to keep him happy and healthy. I had confidence in him. In his last 2 races, he ran back to front – only one move. (Saturday) he made two runs, like he did in the Jim Dandy. He ran close to the front early. That’s not good for him.”