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| Sumita Pawar |
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In her U.S. debut under trainer Cherie DeVaux, Star Fortress not only secured victory but also delivered a remarkable performance, dominating the Gr.3 Cardinal at Churchill Downs with a 10-length lead.
This impressive display earned her an invitation to the US$500,000 Gr.2 Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf at Gulfstream Park, where she is the 5-2 morning-line favorite. The Pegasus World Cup program will witness a competitive field, including last year's winner Queen Goddess, Chad Brown's entries Fluffy Socks and Chili Flag, and other graded-stakes contenders.
Star Fortress, co-owned by John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services, displayed adaptability in her running style, hinting at her potential success in North American turf racing. The race dynamics and a firm course will test Star Fortress's capabilities as she aims for victory in the Filly and Mare Turf.
Cyclone Mischief, a son of Into Mischief, is one of two horses from Dale Romans' stable in the US$150,000 Gr.3 Fred W. Hooper race presented by Whispering Angel at Gulfstream Park. The 4YO colt is seeking to return to the winner's circle at Gulfstream Park and recapture the form that qualified him for the 2023 Kentucky Derby.
Cyclone Mischief will be ridden by Frankie Dettori for the first time. Stablemate Giant Game will also run in the race, making a recovery from his eighth-place finish in the Gr.2 Clark at Churchill Downs.
The 5YO is dropping down from the 1 1/8-mile Clark to a distance that has earned him two second-place finishes in as many outings. The Hooper has attracted a full field of 12 horses, including Tumbarumba, trained by Bryan Lynch and ridden by Luis Saez, who has won the race five times, and Accretive, trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. Castle Chaos, trained by Robert N. Falcone Jr. and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, and Hejazi, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Flavien Prat, will also run in the race.
The Gulfstream Park is all set to host the US$3 million Gr.1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Saturday, 27th January. Todd Pletcher's Dynamic One returned to racing after a 16-month break, finishing fifth in an allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream Park on 22nd December.
The 2022 Gr.2 Suburban winner is yet to win a Group One race, after three attempts where he failed to hit the board - 18th in the 2022 Kentucky Derby, seventh in the Travers, and sixth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Despite this, Pletcher will be trying his luck with Dynamic One, given that there is no overwhelming favorite in the Pegasus. Three of the 6YO son of Union Rags victories have come at the Pegasus distance of 1 1/8 miles. Dynamic One is one of two Pletcher horses in the field - Grand Aspen being the other.
Pletcher won the 2022 Pegasus with Life is Good. Although Dynamic One is not among the top contenders, Pletcher usually sends out horses that he thinks can win. Dynamic One has two good works leading up to the Pegasus, 4 furlongs in 49.29 seconds on January 5 and 5 furlongs in 59.31 on 13th January, both at Palm Beach Downs.
While Cherie DeVaux, Dale Romans and Todd A. Pletcher's horses are all raring to go Robert Falcone trainer is still wondering whether his horse Castle Chaos should participate in the US$3 million Pegasus World Cup this Saturday.
Falcone is unsure if they will opt to run in the main event, given that Castle Chaos would have to break from post 12 and may be at a disadvantage before even starting the race. Castle Chaos is coming off a third-place finish in the Gr.2 Cigar Mile on 2nd Dec at Aqueduct.
Falcone believes that a one-turn mile is the horse's game, but he can handle a mile and an eighth. If the opportunity presents itself, Falcone will leave it up to the owners to make the call. Falcone also has 18 horses at Palm Meadows for the winter, including Royal Dame, who won a high-priced starter allowance race over the Tapeta here 28th Dec and will be racing on the turf in the opening event on Saturday's 13-race Pegasus Day card.