Pegasus World Cup Turf international scouting reports: Aerolithe and Magic Wand

Saturday’s $9 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) has one international participant in Mexico’s undefeated Kukulkan, a 30-1 shot for reasons to be mentioned below, but the new $7 million Turf (G1) features a couple of major win candidates in Japan’s Aerolithe and Aidan O’Brien’s Magic Wand. Before diving into the profiles, a preamble on their light 112-pound imposts in the Turf and the unsettled weather forecast: Aerolithe and Magic Wand are both receiving an extra weight break for racing without Lasix. As distaffers taking on males, they were already getting a five-pound concession. Subtract a further seven pounds as the Lasix-free incentive, and you have two proper Grade 1 performers, in a race with no domestic standout, enjoying a substantial advantage at the weights. Presumably that’s why Magic Wand will be ridden by Wayne Lordan, not Ryan Moore – a smart move by the Coolmore brain trust, especially since Lordan has piloted her very well before. Aerolithe figures to team up beautifully with Florent Geroux, so even if he’s a little over, she’ll still be carrying much less than she does at home. Interestingly, the only other entrant capitalizing on the no-Lasix weight break is Channel Maker. The Bill Mott charge will carry 117 pounds, compared to his favored stablemate Yoshida and the rest at 124. On a less enthusiastic note, rain is expected in the Gulfstream Park area later in the week, with an additional chance on Saturday. Hopefully the course misses the worst of it and remains reasonably quick. Aerolithe and Magic Wand are not as effective on a rain-slowed surface. Indeed, Breeders’ Cup fans may remember that Magic Wand trudged home fourth in the Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at a soggy Churchill Downs. Aerolithe originally had designs on the Breeders’ Cup herself, in her case the Mile (G1), only to be grounded by logistical obstacles from Japan. The two internationals bring otherwise contrasting profiles. Aerolithe has already beaten top-level males but ventures outside her comfort zone at the 1 3/16-mile trip, while Magic Wand has proven stamina over much further but tries open company for the first time. AEROLITHE: Bred by Japan’s famed Northern Farm from familiar American bloodlines, the gray gets her color from sire Kurofune, a son of the Deputy Minister stallion French Deputy. Kurofune was a dual surface threat, capturing the NHK Mile Cup on turf and clinching champion dirt horse honors in the 2001 Japan Cup Dirt. Aerolithe is out of Asterix, by Neo Universe (a champion son of Sunday Silence) from a productive female line. Aerolithe counts as her second dam Grade/Group 3 winner Isle de France, third dam multiple Grade 1 winner Stella Madrid, and fourth dam champion sprinter My Juliet. Several Japanese champions hail from this family, including Mikki Isle and Lucky Lilac (out of 2011 Ashland [G1] victress Lilacs and Lace). As a May 17 foal, Aerolithe promised to improve with maturity for jockey-turned-trainer Takanori Kikuzawa. The Sunday Racing runner did well to take a Tokyo newcomers’ race in June of her juvenile season in 2016, and then-regular rider Norohiro Yokoyama had a high regard for her. She placed second in her next three, notably a pair of classic trials in the 2017 Fairy (G3) at Nakayama and Daily Hai Queen Cup (G3) back at Tokyo, where her tendency to take a fierce hold early may have told late. In the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) (G1) at Hanshin, Aerolithe was held up near the back of the pack from post 12 and rallied for fifth in a blanket finish. It was the first time she’d encountered less-than-firm turf, but she’s also not best suited to deep-closing tactics. Instead of stretching her out for the next fillies’ classic, connections kept Aerolithe to a metric mile, at the price of taking on the boys in Tokyo’s NHK Mile Cup (G1). She rewarded the decision by earning her biggest win so far, and following in the hoofsteps of sire Kurofune. Breaking like a shot from post 16, Aerolithe eased a few lengths back, cruised up full of run turning for home, and took command. She saw out the trip so well that she re-broke when challenged by Rieno Tesoro, forging 1 1/2 lengths clear in a snappy 1:32.3.

Yokoyama commented that Aerolithe would be even better later in the season. The still-developing filly indeed grew and packed on more weight – of the good kind. Aerolithe next tackled older distaffers, and stepped up to about nine furlongs, in the Hokkaido Shimbun Hai Queen (G3) at Sapporo. Under the lightest weight she’s carried – 115 pounds – she showed just what she’s capable of when allowed to roll up front. Reeling off fast fractions, but well within herself and not tugging like a run-off, Aerolithe held sway by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:45.7.