HORSE RACING – PEGASUS WORLD CUP 2022

There will be nine horses lining up on Saturday to run in the sixth annual Pegasus WC in south Florida, but all eyes will be on the top two favorites:  Knicks Go and Life is Good.  And what a matchup it promises to be.  

A highly anticipated showdown between these two elite racehorses has been in the works since the 2021 Breeders’ Cup when Knicks Go won the BC Classic and Life is Good dominated in the BC Dirt Mile.  (Knicks Go won the BC Dirt Mile in 2020).

Considered the best older dirt male horses in North America, each has similar front-running aggressive racing styles, extraordinary speed figures and neither has ever competed in a Triple Crown race.  But Knicks Go seemingly has the edge here, having won the Pegasus last year and garnered more success in Grade 1 races over the course of his six-year career than his younger rival. 

Indeed, taking home a second Pegasus victory would be the cherry on top of Knicks Go’s illustrious career right before he retires to stud at Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky.  He would become the first back-to-back Pegasus winner in history and would garner $10 million in earnings.  Only nine other horses in North America have accomplished that feat.  Knicks Go is also on track to take home Eclipse’s Champion Horse of 2021 honors in February.  

Meanwhile, the four-year-old Life is Good, formerly trained by Bob Baffert, was on his way towards becoming the favorite for the 2021 Kentucky Derby before an injury to a hind leg forced him to the sidelines for months.  

His prior victories in the Sham Stakes and San Felipe Stakes had created a buzz, enough for Baffert to refer to Life is Good as “an extraordinary horse”.  And his jockey Mike Smith has said of the colt: “like the song of Muhammad Ali. He floats like a butterfly. And stabs like a bee.”

After surgery and a layoff, Life is Good was transferred to another Hall of Fame trainer (Todd Pletcher) last summer.  Pletcher then lightly raced the horse at no more than eight furlongs (1 mile) for a couple races.  But in November, he won the prestigious BC Dirt Mile by a landslide.  

Since then, Pletcher has kept Life is Good stabled in Florida to prepare for his four-year-old debut at the Pegasus.  He feels his progeny has been training well.  In fact, Pletcher has said Life is Good has further developed in recent months.  “He’s very talented and an extremely impressive horse to watch and train. He seems to be every bit as good or better than he was going into the Breeders’ Cup.”

So, who is going to reign supreme over this big showdown on Saturday?  Will we witness the pièce de résistance of Knicks Go’s legacy?  Or will Life is Good send a shot heard round the racing world that he has officially arrived?

Personally, I would like to see Life is Good fulfill his promise as the extraordinary racehorse he could have been during his three-year-old campaign before injury.  But I feel that going against Knicks Go in this race would be a mistake.  

The Maryland-bred colt has faced tougher competition in more years than Life is Good and proved that he could beat them.  He’s also proven he can race at the Pegasus distance (1 & 1/8 miles) on this track and has been breezing remarkably well leading up to the Pegasus.  All are indications that Knicks Go has not lost any of his stride and is ready for his last big win.  

What I also think helps Knicks Go in this race is coming out of post #1 on the rail to help him take the lead which he will want.  Some have said this post may be a detriment, but he wouldn’t have to worry about other contenders with a good break and then hug the rail all the way around saving time and distance.

As for Life is Good, all his wins came when he was on the lead.  Therein lies the challenge for him.  What will happen when he duels with Knicks Go for the front?  This is the question everyone is curious to have answered, including Knicks Go’s trainer Brad Cox.  He has said of Life is Good, “He’s very good…I mean, it’s no secret. He’s a very, very good colt. … It’s going to be a great matchup. I think it’s great for racing and I’m interested in seeing it myself. I know who I’m rooting for. It’s very good for racing and I’m excited about the race.”

For the rest of the competition, I favor Stilleto Boy coming in third or fourth.  The hard trying four-year old Shackleford colt has faced tough competition his entire career and has never finished out of the top five.  If the pace gets really hot up front between Knicks Go and Life is Good, he could be coming right in to pick up the pieces.

I also like Sir Winston to finish in the top five as well.  The 2019 Belmont Stakes winner has finished first or second in his last four starts and is getting better with age.  While the Pegasus distance may not be in his wheelhouse, he is training well now, and his preferred stalking style may help him reap some rewards.  

Finishing out my top 5, I am taking a gamble on Chess Chief.  I realize other handicappers may scoff at this selection since this six-year-old Virginia-bred horse is 0-20 outside of the Fair Grounds.  But he’s in racing form now, he’s won at this distance and is coming off of a win.  Compared to the rest of the competition, this half-brother to Life is Good may just have a day for trainer Dallas Stewart who recently said, “Listen, I feel good about the horse… And no, I’m not scare of any numbers.”

HOW TO WATCH:  Coverage Starts on Saturday, Jan 28 at 4:30pm ET on NBC.  Post Time – 5:34pm.  

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