Kentucky-breds shined in South Florida on Saturday, Jan. 29, sweeping Gulfstream Park’s three Grade 1 events on the Pegasus World Cup card. Life Is Good ran his rivals off their feet in the marquee event, the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. (G1); Colonel Liam successfully defended his crown in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Turf S. (G1), and Regal Glory scored in the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. (G1).
Life Is Good avoided the anticipated speed duel with Knicks Go in the main event, rolling to a decisive 3 ¼-length score for CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm. The Todd Pletcher trainee grabbed the early lead and maintained a clear advantage down the backstretch and into the far turn. Life Is Good, who was ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., was never seriously threatened and stopped the timer in 1:48.91 in defeating defending champion Knicks Go in the 1 1/8-mile test.
“I don’t want to get in trouble with any other owners I have trained for, [but] I can’t think of one that is better than him,” said Pletcher. “What makes him so special is his ability to run fast, the high cruising speed and [then] keep going. He’s just got tremendous mechanics. Just a phenomenal talent.”
Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) to close out his 2021 campaign, Life Is Good is now a winner in six of seven lifetime starts with earnings of $2,814,200. By Into Mischief and produced from the Distorted Humor mare Beach Walk, Life Is Good was bred in Kentucky by Gary and Mary West Stable. He was a $525,000 Keeneland September sale graduate.
For the second consecutive year, Colonel Liam proved best in the Pegasus World Cup Turf. Owned by Robert and Lawana Low, Colonel Liam reeled in pacesetter Never Surprised in the lane and surged clear late to win by one length in the final time of 1:47.48 for the 1 1/8 miles on the lawn.
The win was the seventh from 19 starts for Colonel Liam, who is perfect in three tries over the Gulfstream turf. Bred in Kentucky by Phillips Racing Partnership, Colonel Liam is out of the Bernardini mare Amazement.
“I was actually pleased with how well he was traveling early on,” Pletcher said of Colonel Liam. “You could see he got in a good position and had a lot of horse.”
Peter Brant’s Regal Glory rallied from off the pace to win the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf by 2 ½ lengths. Trained by Chad Brown, Regal Glory was the recipient of a wide trip, but she stormed past the leaders in the lane to complete the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.74.
Out of the More Than Ready mare Mary’s Follies, Regal Glory was bred in Kentucky by Paul Pompa. She has now banked more than $1.5 million in her stellar racing career.