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Jesus’ Team Aiming at Pegasus World Cup
Trainer Jose D'Angelo walking Jesus' Team (Credit: Coglianese Photos)

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.

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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.”

Jesus’ Team winning the Jewel (Credit: Coglianese Photos / Lauren King)

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:

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.”

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