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Life Is Good Wins the 2022 Pegasus World Cup

It's only January and there are still 11 months to go in the 2022 racing season, but judging by what happened Jan. 29 in the rich Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup one point has become crystal clear- if anyone hopes to outshine Life Is Good, they will need an unearthly performance to do it.

Impending Horse of the Year Knicks Go tried to do just that in his final start, but he proved to be no match for Life Is Good who sprinted to a clear lead on the first turn of the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus and then romped home 3 1/4 lengths ahead of 2021 Pegasus winner Knicks Go in the $2,941,500 stakes at Gulfstream Park.

"I can't think of a horse (I trained) better than him," said trainer Todd Pletcher. "He's extra special. He has that unique ability to go fast and just keep going.

Considering that Pletcher is a first-ballot Hall of Famer and his horses have earned more purse money than any other trainer, those are not hollow words. They were forged by a record of 6 wins in 7 starts for the ownership group of WinStar Farm and China Horse Club and confirmed by an effort in which the 4-year-old son of Into Mischief and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. beat Knicks Go at his own game with a blazing display of speed.

"That shows how brilliant Life Is Good is," said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of owner Kenny Troutt's WinStar Farm. "When they were on the backstretch, Irad said he was going so fast and when he looked back the rest of the field was so far back and he hadn't asked him to run yet. It was just a great feeling to see that. I felt great watching him. We've seen him train in the morning and he never gets tired, so when he was as far in front as he was, we knew he was not going to stop."

No, Life Is Good, after leading by a stunning 3 1/2 lengths after a half-mile in :46.35, did not stop. His engine continued to run at top speed until he crossed the finish line in 1:48.91 and in the process he did not just assume the baton of leadership from a retiring Horse of the Year. He forcefully grabbed it out of Knicks Go's hands and ran away and hid with it.

"There was a risk that if Knicks Go and (Life Is Good) got into speed duel, something had to give," Pletcher said about the front end battle with frontrunning Grade 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic winner Knicks Go that never materialized. "But today he was too fast and too good. It's a really special quality and it's fun to watch."

With his connections enjoying the good life, the fun figures to resume March 26 when Life Is Good may return in the $12 million Group 1 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airlines at a longer 1 1/4-mile distance. Given how Life Is Good had never raced beyond 1 1/16 miles before Saturday that probably will not faze the son of the Distorted Humor mare Beach Walk who was bred in Kentucky by Gary and Mary West.Click image to purchase shirt.

"We're in no rush to make a decision," Pletcher said about a colt who started his career with trainer Bob Baffert and missed much of his 3-year-old season due to an ankle chip, "but we do feel this horse is talented enough to do just about anything and that includes get a mile-and-a-quarter."

Saturday underscored all of that on a day when the ascent of Life Is Good came at a time when Knicks Go turned in one of his most puzzling efforts while under the care of trainer Brad Cox. Breaking from the rail under jockey Joel Rosario, the speedy Knicks Go appeared poised to be on the front end, or at least very close to it. But after breaking cleanly, Rosario felt some pressure as Life Is Good and Stilleto Boy moved in front of him in the initial strides and he tucked in third behind them.

"Joel said there were a couple of horses there with him and Joel said, `OK, we'll take back.' That was Plan B," Cox said. "I wanted to go with Plan A (be on the lead) but we didn't execute Plan A. He did a good job but it wasn't good enough. The winner was very, very good."

Though Knicks Go chased in second most of the way, he could not cut into the margin until the final stages when the Grade 1 Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner was taken into hand by Ortiz after leading by 4 1/2 lengths at the eighth pole.

The 4-5 favorite, Life Is Good paid $3.60 to win for his decisive victory.

"It's just been a blessing," Troutt said. "God has really, really helped us. This horse has just been really special."

Colonel Liam Wins 2022 Pegasus Turf

Robert and Lawana Low`s Colonel Liam returned from a nearly eight-month layoff Jan. 29 to capture the $1 Million Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes presented by Baccarat for the second consecutive year at Gulfstream Park.

The 5-year-old son of Liam's Map hadn't raced since finishing eighth June 5 in the 1 1/4-mile Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park. He then rested until returning to work in early December.

"He didn't lose a step, he came back like he was," jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. said. "He's healthy. He felt very strong. He ran like he never left."

Colonel Liam was hand-timed covering the 1 1/8-mile race on firm turf in 1:47.48 after times initially posted by Gulfstream Park were inaccurate. No hand-timed fractions were posted on the Equibase chart. Numerous turf races at Gulfstream Park this winter have needed to be hand-timed as a corrective measure.

Stablemate Never Surprised, owned by Repole Stable, finished second after setting the early pace.

"I felt like Never Surprised would definitely be the pacesetter," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "When he drew post 12, it kind of forced (jockey) Luis (Saez) to commit to that.

"We kind of felt like Colonel Liam could get a good stalking position. He ended up being a little closer than I thought he would be but I think he was right where Irad wanted him to be."

Never Surprised broke and was hustled to the front by Saez. The leader then was pressed by Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale Stakes winner Doswell, owned by Joseph Allen, through six furlongs.

The 8-5 favorite, Colonel Liam tracked the pace in fourth and then third.

Colonel Liam advanced three deep around the far turn and then took the lead nearing the eighth pole. The gray horse drew clear under Ortiz's steady left-handed urging.

Saez lost his whip in the upper stretch, but Never Surprised, a 4-year-old son of Constitution, fought hard inside the leader and held on for second, one length behind Colonel Liam.

Clipper Logistics` Space Traveller, ridden by Jamie Spencer, was half-length back in third and a neck ahead of Jordan Wycoff`s Atone, under Javier Castellano.

Three Diamonds Farm`s Cross Border and rider Reylu Gutierrez finished fifth.

2022 PEGASUS WORLD CUP INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

When is the Pegasus World Cup & Pegasus World Cup Turf? The Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series is on Saturday, January 29, 2022

What time is the Pegasus World Cup? Post time for the Pegasus World Cup is set for approximately 5:45PM ET and the Pegasus World Cup Turf is set for approximately 5:00PM ET.

Where is the Pegasus World Cup? The Pegasus World Cup Invitational is held at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida

What time can I watch the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Championship Series? Approximately 4:30PM ET

Where can I watch the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Championship Series? Watch live HD video online at OffTrackBetting.com or watch live on NBC, Saturday, January 29, 2022 from 4:30 - 6:00PM ET.

How can I bet on the Pegasus World Cup Stakes? OffTrackBetting.com is a great way to wager on the Pegasus World Cup - Sign Up Now to get your bonus and start betting today!

JAN 10 - Defending champion and projected 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go, Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Life Is Good, and undefeated Malibu (G1) winner Flightline highlight a list of 19 horses invited to compete in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Saturday, January 29th at Gulfstream Park.

A total of seven graded-stakes worth $5.2 million in purses will be offered on Pegasus Day, led by the return of the Pegasus World Cup (G1) and $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) and the debut of the $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G3).

All three races are for 4-year-olds and up. The Pegasus World Cup and Pegasus Turf are both contested at 1 1/8 miles while the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf, previously run as the Marshua's River, will be run at 1 1/16 miles.

Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go ended 2021 on a four-race win streak, all in graded-stakes, including the Whitney (G1) and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Winner of the 2020 Dirt Mile, he began last year with an emphatic 2 ¾-length triumph in the Pegasus World Cup and is seeking to become its first repeat champion.

Also among invitees to the Pegasus World Cup from the barn of trainer Brad Cox are Concert Tour and Mandaloun. Gary and Mary West homebred Concert Tour won the San Vicente (G2) and Rebel (G2) in 2021 but has not raced since finishing ninth in the Preakness (G1), all for previous trainer Bob Baffert. Juddmonte homebred Mandaloun ran second to Medina Spirit in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and is also coming off a layoff following his triumph in the Haskell (G1).

WinStar Farm's and CHC Inc.'s and Life Is Good was dominant in a front-running 5 ¾-length victory in the Dirt Mile Nov. 6 at Del Mar, his fifth win from six career starts and first Grade 1 after triumphs in the Kelso (G2), San Felipe (G2) and Sham (G3) last year. He has been breezing regularly since mid-December in South Florida for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

"Life Is Good we've been pointing for the Pegasus since the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. He got a short freshening at WinStar and he's come in with that as our goal," Pletcher said. "Everything has gone according to plan. He's never run at Gulfstream, but he's the kind of horse where his style should suit Gulfstream well."

Other Pletcher-trained horses on the Pegasus World Cup invite list are Dr Post, Fearless and Happy Saver. St. Elias Stable's Dr Post is a two-time Grade 3 winner that is 2-0 at Gulfstream including the 2020 Unbridled; Repole Stable's Fearless exits a victory in Gulfstream's Harlan's Holiday (G3) Dec. 18; and Wertheimer and Frere homebred Happy Saver won the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) as a 3-year-old in 2020 then ran second in defense of his title as well as the Nov. 24 Clark (G1).

The $150,000 Fred W. Hooper (G3) for 4-year-olds and up going one mile on the main track as part of the undercard is also an alternative.

"Not sure who else we could potentially have for it. We're kind of waiting to see how Dr Post and Happy Saver and Fearless train. We also have the mile race that day on the dirt as an option for those horses," Pletcher said. "We're also considering maybe Happy Saver going to Saudi, so we're just kind of, as always, seeing how everyone's training and how they're coming up to these."

Undefeated Malibu (G1) winner Flightline, trainer by John Sadler, has raced only three times but has won those races by a combined 37 ½ lengths while being hand ridden to the finish line in each. Sadler has not announced any plans for Flightline's next race.

Completing the Pegasus World Cup invitations are 2019 American Pharoah (G1) winner Eight Rings; multiple graded-stakes winner Express Train; 2021 Pat O'Brien (G2) winner Ginobili; millionaire 2021 Lecomte (G3) winner Midnight Bourbon; 2019 Belmont (G1) winner Sir Winston and 2021 Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Super Stock.

Concert Tour, Endorsed and Fearless are among the invitees on the also-eligible list, along with Chess Chief, Officiating, Stilleto Boy and Title Ready.

UPDATE: Gulfstream Park Releases Second List Of Invitees For Pegasus World Cup, Turf

JAN 17 - Defending champion Knicks Go continues to headline the list of invitees for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go, the odds-on favorite to be named 2021 Horse of the Year next month, is most prominent among the 12 names on the second invitational list for the 1 1/8-mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up, which will headline a blockbuster card that will also feature the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) and the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G3).

Knicks Go, who registered a dominating 2 ½-length front-running victory in last year's Pegasus World Cup and concluded his 2021 season with a dazzling victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar, also headlined the initial invitation list on Jan. 9.

Others on both the first and second invitation lists include Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Life Is Good, Ginobili, Happy Saver, Sir Winston and Super Stock. Chess Chief, Fearless, Law Professor, Olympiad, Stiletto Boy and Title Ready were added to the second list of 12 invitees.

The reserves on the second list of invitations are American Theorem, Commandeer, Endorsed, Forewarned and Happy American.

Pegasus World Cup Turf

Michael Iavarone's Flavius, a Juddmonte homebred who was purchased at the Keeneland November sale, has been added to the list of invitees for the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), a 1 1/8-mile turf stakes for 4-year-olds and up. The multiple-stakes winner formerly trained by Chad Brown replaces Two Emmys on the second invitation list, which is once again headed by defending champion Colonel Liam, who captured last season's Pegasus Turf by a head over stablemate Largent.

Other horses on both the first and second invitation lists include Channel Cat, Cross Border, Doswell, Field Pass, Hit The Road, March to the Arch, Never Surprised, Point Me By, Sacred Life and Space Traveller.

The reserve invitees on the second list for the Pegasus Turf are Atone, Bob and Jackie, English Bee, and Law Professor.

Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf

Bipartisanship, who rallied from off the pace to capture the Tropical Park Oaks at Gulfstream last time out for trainer Graham Motion, and Stunning Princess, who finished a close second the Tropical Park Oaks for trainer Danny Gargan, are new additions to the second invitation list for the inaugural running of the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

Others on both the first and second invitation lists for 1 1/16-mile turf race for older fillies and mares include Alms, Bodhicitta, Gift List, In a Hurry, Lady Speightspeare, Nicest, Regal Glory, Shifty She, Summer in Saratoga and Sweet Melania.

Defending champion Colonel Liam and fellow Grade 1 winners Channel Cat, Hit the Road, Point Me By and Two Emmys are among 18 horses invited to the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) Saturday, January 29 at Gulfstream Park.

A total of seven graded-stakes worth $5.2 million in purses will be offered on Pegasus Day, led by the return of the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) and Pegasus World Cup Turf and the debut of the $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G3).

All three races are for 4-year-olds and up. The Pegasus World Cup and Pegasus Turf are both contested at 1 1/8 miles while the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf, previously known as the Marshua's River, will be run at 1 1/16 miles.

Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam won the Tropical Park Derby during the 2020-2021 Championship Meet as a prelude to his Pegasus Turf victory by a neck over stablemate Largent. Colonel Liam won on to win the Muniz Memorial (G2) and Turf Classic (G1) and was eighth in last June's Manhattan (G1) in his most recent start.

"We've kind of had in mind that our best approach for him to try and defend his Turf title is just to train up to it. He had some time off and he's a horse that we think will run well fresh," Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. "He's put enough into his training that hopefully we can have him ready to run a good race off the layoff."

Largent and Never Surprised are also on the list of Pegasus Turf invitees. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Twin Creeks Racing Stables' Largent won the 2020 Fort Lauderdale (G2) as a prep for the Pegasus Turf and went unraced until finishing fourth in the January 8 Tropical Turf (G3) at Gulfstream. Repole Stable's Never Surprised, placed in three graded-stakes, became a three-time stakes winner with his triumph in Gulfstream's Tropical Park Derby Dec. 26.

"Never Surprised, we were happy with his race over the course. It's kind of similar to what Colonel Liam did last year, going from the Tropical Derby to the Pegasus," Pletcher said.

Trainer Mike Maker won the 2020 Pegasus Turf with Zulu Alpha, and four of his horses are among the invitee list - Atone, Cross Border, Field Pass and Flavius. Three Diamonds Farm owns Atone, runner-up in the Dec. 18 Fort Lauderdale, and multiple graded-stakes winners Cross Border, third in the 2020 Pegasus Turf, and Field Pass. Maker recently added Flavius, a stakes winner in the U.S. and Europe.

Also invited to the Pegasus Turf are Grade 1-winning millionaire Channel Cat; Fort Lauderdale winner Doswell; 2021 Frank Kilroe Mile (G1) winner Hit the Road; two-time Grade 2 winner March to the Arch; 2021 Bruce D. (G1) winner Point Me By; Irish Group 2 winner Space Traveller, fourth in the Fort Lauderdale; 2021 Mr. D. (G1) winner Two Emmys; and Sacred Life, a Grade 3 winner in the U.S. and France trained by Chad Brown, who won the 2019 Pegasus Turf with Bricks and Mortar en route to Horse of the Year honors.

Atone and Space Traveller are joined on the also-eligible list by Bob and Jackie, English Bee, Flavius and Law Professor.

Grade 1 winners Abscond, Lady Speightspeare, Mucho Unusual and Regal Glory top 15 horses invited to the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf. Abscond in 2019 and Lady Speightspeare in 2020 captured the Natalma at Woodbine; Mucho Unusual won the 2020 Rodeo Drive and Regal Glory won the Matriarch Nov. 28 at Santa Anita to cap her 2021 campaign.

Also on the invite list is Robert and Lawana Low's Sweet Melania, who earned her third career graded-stakes triumph in the Dec. 18 Suwannee River (G3) at Gulfstream. She also shares the shedrow for Pletcher, who joins Richard Baltas (Ginobili, Bob and Jackie, Bodhicitta) as the only trainers with invitees in all three races.

"We plan to run Sweet Melania in there. She ran good in her last start and it's good timing for her to come back. She's really come out of that race in sharp form, so that's what we're thinking there," Pletcher said. "Fingers crossed, [20] days out, we've got some chances. We'll hope everything goes smoothly."

Rounding out the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf invitees are two-time Grade 3 winner Alms; 2020 Yellow Ribbon (G2) winner Bodhicitta; 2021 Edgewood (G2) winner Gift List; 2021 American Oaks (G1) runner-up Nicest; multiple graded-stakes winner Princess Grace; 2021 Noble Damsel (G3) winner Shifty She; 2021 Dowger (G3) winner Summer in Saratoga; and In a Hurry, third to Sweet Melania in the Suwannee River.

2022 PEGASUS WORLD CUP RACE DAY SCHEDULE

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