Pegasus World Cup Turf: Japan’s contender Aerolithe takes to Gulfstream Park

Japanese Grade 1 heroine Aerolithe, the first international shipper to arrive for Saturday’s $7 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1), galloped on the Gulfstream Park main track Sunday morning. After jetting in the wee hours of January 16, the Sunday Racing colorbearer cleared quarantine Saturday and walked. Trainer Takanori Kikuzawa, on the scene by Sunday, was aboard for her first proper stretch of the legs. Kate Hunter, Pegasus World Cup field representative for the Japan Racing Association, has been keeping fans informed via Twitter as well as serving as Kikuzawa’s interpreter at Gulfstream. “This was the first time for her to be around horses for quite a while after being in quarantine, so she was a bit perked up and looking around,” Kikuzawa said. “She got kind of startled at the grandstand a little bit, but she settled down and she cantered really smoothly, an easy-going canter, so I’m very happy with her condition. “Japan has so many good horses, but I think we have a very good chance and will represent Japan very well.” Aerolithe’s marquee wins have come versus males, but over shorter than the 1 3/16 miles of the Pegasus Turf. The gray captured the 2017 NHK Mile (G1) and wired last October’s Mainichi Okan (G2) at about 1 1/8 miles at Tokyo, which offers a stiffer test of stamina than Gulfstream. She comes off a subpar 12th in Kyoto’s Mile Championship (G1) from a tough post 15. Florent Geroux picks up the mount on Aerolithe, who will not use Lasix. One of two internationals set for the Pegasus Turf, Aerolithe is expected to be joined by Aidan O’Brien’s Magic Wand. International scouting reports on Aerolithe and Magic Wand, most recently fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), will be posted later in the week. Four other Pegasus Turf contenders competed in the Breeders’ Cup. The versatile Yoshida, fourth in the Classic (G1), switches surfaces again for Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who also has Channel Maker looking to turn the page on an 11th in the Turf (G1). Both Grade 1 victors have been limbering up at Payson Park. Catapult, runner-up by a half-length in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), steps up in trip. The John Sadler trainee gives the barn the chance of a Pegasus double with stablemate Accelerate in the $9 million dirt event. Fellow Santa Anita resident Next Shares, 13th in the Mile for Richard Baltas, prepped with an up-in-time score in the 1 1/8-mile San Gabriel (G2). It wouldn’t be a major turf race without Chad Brown, and Bricks and Mortar fills the bill. Recently victorious off a 14-month layoff, the Grade 2 veteran sped five-eighths in a bullet :59.50 on the Palm Meadows turf Saturday. As a Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence runner, he shares the same connections as stablemate Patternrecognition who goes in the Pegasus on dirt. The Jimmy Jerkens-trained Delta Prince, the Street Cry half-brother to Royal Delta, also blitzed over the Palm Meadows turf Saturday when clocking six furlongs in 1:10.05. As the Pegasus Turf field continues to come together, Southern California speed merchant Fahan Mura is perhaps the most tactically significant addition to the line-up. The Vladimir Cerin mare earned her first graded win in the Robert J. Frankel (G3) last out, and she promises to light up the early pace. Both Pegasus races will be drawn on Tuesday. PHOTO: Aerolithe tours Gulfstream Park for the first time on January 20, 2019, ahead of the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) (c) Adam Coglianese Photography/Lauren King