Stars Put Forth Final Pegasus Preps

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Margoth’s Gunnevera breezed Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park West in his final prep for the $16 million Pegasus World Cup on January 27.

Four other Pegasus runners, Sharp Azteca, Stellar Wind, War Story, and Fear the Cowboy, also worked Saturday. Singing Bullet, who is a possible starter in the world’s richest race, breezed for trainer Dale Romans.

Trainer Antonio Sano sent Gunnevera, a three-time winner at Gulfstream Park, out for a 5-furlong work in 1:01. It was the fourth-fastest of 31 at the distance.

“He worked very, very good,” Sano said. “He worked in company with Cometin and galloped out very good. I’m so excited for my horse to run in the race.”

Also at Gulfstream Park West, trainer Jorge Navarro’s two Pegasus runners, Sharp Azteca and War Story, turned in their final breezes for the race. Sharp Azteca, making his first start since winning the Grade 1 Cigar Mile on December 2, turned in a bullet 5 furlongs in :58.40. War Story, who was fifth in last year’s Pegasus, completed his five furlongs on 1:01.80.

Sharp Azteca went 5F in :58.40 at @GulfstreamPark West for trainer @JorgeNavarroRS in his final work for the @PegasusWorldCup!https://t.co/LtyhE4QZjo pic.twitter.com/QysQYWUzFg

— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) January 20, 2018

At the Palm Meadows Training center, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, Coolmore’s Stellar Wind worked 4 furlongs in :49.80 in company for trainer Chad Brown. She had been scheduled to work on Sunday.

“I moved her up a day because there is a slight chance of rain tomorrow,” Brown said. “I didn’t want to take a chance. All of her serious works are done. She just went an easy 1/2-mile today to stretch her legs. I feel like she is fit enough and good enough to run a good race next week.”

The lone mare in the @PegasusWorldCup, Stellar Wind, worked 4F in :49.75 for Chad Brown at Palm Meadows. View more PWC works on-demand each day on https://t.co/vCZgVVRYIS pic.twitter.com/HoNS955Rg3

— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) January 20, 2018

Brown switched workmates for the 6-year-old mare, sending her out with the 3-year-old colt Mask, winner of the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes on January 6. When working with Shagaf, Stellar Wind was on the inside. With Mask, she was on the outside, because Brown said that Mask trains better in that situation.

“I thought she sat there perched outside of him really comfortable and galloped out well within herself,” Brown said. “We weren’t trying to gain anything this morning, just maintaining her where we are into the race, sound and happy.

“She came back bucking and squealing and happy. For her, at this time, that’s what I wanted.”

At the Oakridge Training Center in Ocala, Fear the Cowboy breezed an easy 5 furlongs.

The Stronach Stables’ homebred 4-year-old colt Singing Bullet is being considered for the 12th and final position in the field. The son of Hard Spun stumbled leaving the gate in his most recent start on December 29 and finished fourth. In his breeze Saturday at Gulfstream Park, he covered 5 furlongs in 1:01.97, according to Daily Racing Form.

“He worked very well,” Romans said. “He went off the first 1/8 a little slower than I wanted, but he finished up great and galloped out great. He’s been doing very well since he got here. The last race was a throw out. He came stumbling out of the gate and just had no chance to catch up.”