On Saturday (January 26) we (Woodford Racing) will be running Catapult in the Grade 1, $7 million Pegasus Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Running in a stakes race is always exciting but the Pegasus Turf Invitational is the richest turf race in North America which makes the race incredibly exciting!
The race will have ten starters, many who have won Grade 1 stakes races on the turf so the race will be extremely competitive. Catapult is a multiple Grade 2 stakes winner who came second in his last race the Grade 1, Breeders Cup Mile in November. Winning a Grade 1 would be achieving the pinnacle of thoroughbred racing. Among the ten starters are two fillies and a mare. The fillies are Magic Wand (Ireland) and Aerolithe (Japan) and the mare is Fahan Mura (United States).
The following are the entries for the race in post position order with their morning line odds:
- Magic Wand 9-2
- Yoshida 5-2
- Channel Maker 12-1
- Aerolithe 8-1
- Next Shares 15-1
- Fahan Mura 30-1
- Bricks and Mortar 5-1
- Delta Prince 15-1
- Catapult 7-2
- Dubby Dubbie 30-1
Catapult has been training in California since the Breeders Cup and shipped to Gulfstream on Tuesday. His trainer (John Sadler) said he has been training well and believes he is coming into the race in good form.
The link below has videos of Catapult’s most recent workout at Santa Anita as well as various workouts of his competitors. In addition, their is an interesting interview with John Sadler (Catapult’s trainer) and Joel Rosario (Catapult’s jockey).
The Pegasus Turf Invitational will be featured “live” on NBC television from 4:30 – 6:00 PM.
