Horse Racing

Pegasus’ World Cup Redemption Reward Maker’s Confidence


Coach Mike Maker will never be known for being talkative.

Yet the man of few words still “boasts” about his 6-year-old daughter Expiate and on the epic stage of the Pegasus World Cup Day, people figured out why.

Usually a horse makes good use of its early speed, Atone relies on late speed to recover over the long haul and pass Ivar and scored a three-quarter length win in the $981,400 Pegasus World Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) on January 28 at Gulfstream Park.

“I’ve been bragging about the horse for a while now and he’s finally backing me up today. Ever since we’ve had him, he’s been a great horse and he’s been wonderfully trained. He didn’t quite get there (every time), but he got the perfect ride (from jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.),” Maker said. “He was an unlucky horse last year. He was always right there, and today is his day.”

Atone Wins Pegasus World Cup 2023 Invitation Bet at Gulfstream Park
Photo: G. Sonny Hughes

Atone (Number 3) tracks the speed set by One More Bid in the first place

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While Saturday’s 1/8-mile turf test marked the spayed son of into naughtyAfter winning his first graded bet, he had his chance to land a breakout win over the past year. In the previous nine starts, the Three Diamonds Farm high-stable runner finished second in second and second in third, third in second and fourth in last year’s Pegasus Turf, two distances behind. Street.

What could have been more beneficial, however, was Atone’s last race, a lead win on November 10 in an option claim race at Aqueduct race track broke a streak of eight races without losing and set the stage for a major effort Saturday by a horse purchased from breeder and original owner Godolphin for $130,000 from a Brookdale shipment at the Show. Fasig-Tipton racehorse sale July 2021.

Maker, who won the 2020 Pegasus Turf with Alpha Zulu, said: “The last time he took the lead and dropped heavyweight. “He showered clean afterwards and when he came in, he was a (ready) horse.”

Although Atone showed a marked early pace in his last three races, he finished fifth after the first half-mile as the One more bid leading by 1 1/2 upper length king cause , Craftiness and Lady Speightspeare in: 47.30 on hard courts.

“Irad seemed to want to be taken out of the gate,” says Maker, and it seems that several others had a similar opinion, so Irad turned to Plan B. “He settled in. Nice, saved some ground and luckily got some race room when it counted.”

Atone Wins Pegasus World Cup 2023 Invitation Bet at Gulfstream Park
Photo: Coglianese Photos

Atone connections enjoy the trophy presentation

As the leaders began to falter in the long run, Ivar and Javier Castellano were the first to run and took the lead shortly after leaving the eighth column.

Meanwhile, Ortiz continued to bide his time with Atone until the four-time Eclipse Award winner swung him out and flew after Ivar. In sixth place with a long way to go, Atone quickly picked up speed and dashed past Ivar in the final steps.

Third pick 7-2, Atone ($9.60) is timed at 1:46.19.

“It’s perfect,” said Ortiz, who won the Pegasus Turf for the third year in a row and the fourth overall. “Every step I took, I was so happy. I waited and was able to go out without checking and when I was clear my horse was right there. All credit goes to the horse. .”

Atone and Irad Ortiz Win the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. by Baccarat (Gr. 1) Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, FL, January 28, 2023, presented by Mathea Kelleyy
Photo: Mathea Kelley

The connections lead Atone and Irad Ortiz Jr. to the winner’s circle

For Ortiz, it was his third win in a row on the Pegasus Turf and fourth overall and comes two days after he received his fourth Eclipse Award as outstanding rider.

“It makes a lot of sense,” Ortiz said. “I’m just enjoying the moment and what’s going on in my career right now. I have to thank my agent Steve Rushing for a great job, thanks to all the bosses and coaches. The staff supported me. They made me the happiest man to be honest, I’m living the dream.”

Atone and Irad Ortiz win the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. by Baccarat (Gr. 1) Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, FL, January 28, 2023, presented by Mathea Kelley
Photo: Mathea Kelley

Irad Ortiz Jr. celebrate victory aboard the Atone

Ivar, 7 year old son of Bonne Chance Farm and Stud RDI Gold Agnes comes in second at 1 1/2 lengths to the Eclipse Purebred Partner Speaking Scouts, one Speakers gelding trained by Graham Motion.

“He ran well. It was a good race. I felt the other horse a little bit but my horse kept running,” Castellano said of Ivar, a student of Paulo Lobo who was second choice. 7-2 after finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Mile Cup (G1T). “He never gave up. The winner ran a great race. I wasn’t disappointed with my horse. I’m so proud of how he did it.”

Charles Fipke’s Lady Speightspeare, the only 12-year-old woman in the field, dropped to fourth and One More Bid dropped to fifth.

city ​​man the 3.50 to 1 favorite despite drawing 12, ran into opponents from the start and was never intimidated when he got to the finish line.

The son of glamorous mare AP Indy, Atone took his seventh win in 23 starts and boosted his earnings to $1,179,146.

Carl Fiebig, a member of the Three Diamonds association, said: “All credit goes to Mike and his staff. Irad is an Eclipse Award winner for a reason. It was a performance. perfect”. “Most importantly, for the Wycoffs (managing partners of the stables), this win is for them. We’re happy to be a small part of this. For myself and my family I’m a big part of that. For the part of this, I just want to thank Jordan and Kirk (Wycoff) who have put so much heart, money and everything into this business and I’m happy to see them being rewarded on days like like this.”

Atone and Irad Ortiz Win the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. presented by Baccarat (Gr. 1) Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, FL, January 28, 2023, Mathea Kelley
Photo: Mathea Kelley

Irad Ortiz Jr. share moments with Atone

When Maker was asked if he had thought about what to do next for Atone, his responses were usually short and straight to the point.

“No, (we) will just enjoy today,” he said after winning the third bet of the day, including a 1-2-3 result in McKnight Stakes (G3T). “(I will) discuss relationships, but the first thing that comes to mind is (May 6) Turf Classic (G1T) on Derby day (at Churchill Downs).”

Atone and Irad Ortiz win the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. by Baccarat (Gr. 1) Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, FL, January 28, 2023, presented by Mathea Kelleyy
Photo: Mathea Kelley

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