Grade 1 winner CHAMP PEGASUS (Fusaichi Pegasus), who nearly wired the
November 6 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Churchill Downs last time out, opens his
five-year-old campaign over his home turf in Monday’s $150,000
San
Marcos S. (G2) at Santa Anita. The Martin Luther King Jr. Day feature shapes
up as a reunion, for no fewer than five of his rivals chased him home in the
October 3 Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Championship (G1).
Champ Pegasus was one of the surprise packages of 2010. Brought along
patiently by Richard Mandella, the bay didn’t even break his maiden until April,
but progressed rapidly over the summer. After a useful second to the
front-running MARLANG (Langfuhr) in his stakes bow in the Sunset H. (G3), Champ
Pegasus rallied to good-looking wins in the Del Mar H. (G2) and the Clement L.
Hirsch. In the latter, he defeated WHERE’S THE REMOTE (Unbridled Native),
multiple Grade 2 hero BOURBON BAY (Sligo Bay [Ire]), Marlang, UNUSUAL SUSPECT
(Unusual Heat) and BUENOS DIAS (Ire) (Peintre Celebre). That form was
subsequently flattered in the November 13 Hollywood Turf Cup (G1), when Unusual
Suspect came back to win and Buenos Dias checked in third.
Mandella shrewdly called an audible in the paceless Breeders’ Cup Turf,
advising Joel Rosario to take control early from the inside post if he could,
and the tactic almost worked. Champ Pegasus yielded grudgingly late to English
shipper Dangerous Midge (Lion Heart), but easily held second from the likes of
Behkabad (Fr) (Cape Cross [Ire]) and Winchester (Theatrical [Ire]).
Although there’s no one of that stature here, Champ Pegasus was handed the
far outside post 11, and must avoid being hung out wide. His impressive closing
kick, and his two-for-two mark at this 1 1/4-mile distance, offer encouragement.
Arguably the opponent with the best chance to turn the tables is Bourbon Bay,
who is perfect from four starts over the Santa Anita turf. The Neil Drysdale
charge completed a rare sweep of the track’s turf marathons at the last
winter/spring meet, becoming the first since Horse of the Year Kotashaan (Fr) in
1993 to garner the San Luis Obispo H. (G2), San Luis Rey H. (G2) and San Juan
Capistrano Invitational H. (G2). Given a much-deserved break, Bourbon Bay
reappeared in the Clement Hirsch at Oak Tree at Hollywood and finished a solid
third. Plans called for him to line up next in the Hollywood Turf Cup, but he
was forced to pass after spiking a fever.
Bourbon Bay returns from a three-month layoff in this spot with regular rider
Rafael Bejarano. While he stands to enjoy being back at the scene of his biggest
victories, the bay gelding is at his best at distances of upwards of 1 1/2
miles, and the San Marcos might be a trifle short for his taste. One of three
from the Drysdale barn, Bourbon Bay will line up just to the outside of his
stablemates in post 6. RIVIERA COCKTAIL (Giant’s Causeway), who has failed to
pick up a stakes credit since his third in the 2010 San Marcos, landed in post
4, and expected pacesetter Marlang drew post 5.
Two new shooters could make their presence felt. The Ben Cecil-trained
SEBASTIAN FLYTE (GB) (Observatory), a rough-trip runner-up in the November 28
Hollywood Derby (G1), will face older stakes rivals in the United States for the
first time. The chestnut had already held his own against his elders in Ireland,
placing third in the Nijinsky S. and fourth in the Silver S. last summer, and
the improving four-year-old warrants respect. Garrett Gomez picks up the mount
aboard Sebastian Flyte, who was rerouted here after scratching from the
off-the-turf Sir Beaufort S. (G3) on December 26.
Grade 2 winner EXPANSION (Maria’s Mon) is relatively new to the circuit,
having finished a closing fourth in the December 27 San Gabriel S. (G2) in his
California debut, but he showed class back East. For former trainer Chad Brown,
he captured the 2009 Red Smith H. (G2) and checked in third behind Gio Ponti
(Tale of the Cat) and Winchester last year. Expansion has yet to recover that
form since switching to Steve Asmussen three starts back, but his San Gabriel
suggested that he’s heading in the right direction.
One race earlier on the federal holiday card, aspiring three-year-olds will
contest the $75,000
San
Pedro S. over 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track. INDIAN WINTER (Indian
Charlie), sidelined since his dead-heat third in the Del Mar Futurity (G1),
makes his anticipated reappearance for Jerry Hollendorfer. The dark bay has been
working up a storm of late, most recently speeding a half-mile from the gate in
:46 4/5 on Thursday.
Trainer Bob Baffert will saddle the uncoupled duo of SINAI (Rockport Harbor),
a two-length debut maiden winner at Hollywood, and Grey S. (Can-G3) third
CLASSIC LEGACY (Macho Uno). Since his fifth in the November 20 Delta Downs
Jackpot S. (G3), Classic Legacy has been gelded, and his other equipment change
for Monday is “blinkers off.”
Also hoping to rebound on the cut-back in trip is Hollywood Prevue S. (G3)
runner-up INDUSTRY LEADER (Cherokee Run), who exits a ninth in the CashCall
Futurity (G1).
Asmussen’s CITY COOL (City Zip) looks to follow up on his 7 1/4-length romp
in the Riley Allison Futurity at this same distance at Sunland, while the
undefeated pair of ARCADIAN (Songandaprayer) and MR ARTISTIC M D (Mr. Greeley)
take a step up in class here.