Pegasus nips Bourbon in San Luis Obispo

"My horse definitely needed his last race. I didn't have him as fit as I

thought I did (in the San Marcos), and I had underestimated how good Bourbon Bay

was, and he is very good. This was a good race. From here, I'll probably go to

Dubai for the mile and a half race (the $5 million Sheema Classic [UAE-G1] on

March 26)."

Neil Drysdale, the trainer of Bourbon Bay, is also thinking of the Sheema

Classic.

"Off of this race, both horses deserve to go to Dubai," said Drysdale, who

noted, "I don't think (Bourbon Bay) liked the soft turf."

The San Luis Obispo did not begin on the hillside course as usual, in light

of the overnight rain, but was instead contested entirely over the oval course.

Unbridle's Dream (Unbridled's Song) sprinted out to a massive early lead through

fractions of :25 1/5, :49 3/5, 1:14 1/5 and 1:38 3/5 on a course officially

listed as good.

Even-money favorite Bourbon Bay bided his time in second, leading the main body

of the field. The 3-2 second choice Champ Pegasus, who was forced to steady off

heels in the opening stages, was reserved in a ground-saving spot a little

farther back.

As Unbridle's Dream came back to the field on the final turn, reaching the 1

1/4-mile mark on fumes in 2:06, Bourbon Bay was the first to pounce. The

reigning San Luis Obispo winner had hardly struck the front, when Champ Pegasus

cruised up to join battle in midstretch. Under confident handling by Joel

Rosario, Champ Pegasus appeared to gain the upper hand, but Bourbon Bay would

not relinquish his crown so easily. Battling back along the inside, he forced

Champ Pegasus to find more, and the two roared away from the rest of the pack.

Neither one flinched for the duration of the drive, but Champ Pegasus managed

to thrust his nose down as the two hit the wire in unison. After completing

about 1 1/2 miles in 2:31 2/5, Champ Pegasus returned $5, $2.40 and $2.40.

"The other day (in the 1 1/4-mile San Marcos) my horse got a little tired, I

don't know," Rosario said. "Maybe a race that went a little further helped a

bit.

"They are both good horses. You saw how the race came out, I only beat him by

this much," said Rosario, holding his thumb and forefinger an inch apart. "I

thought I got in front of him a couple of times, but he came back again. I just

had a lot of confidence the whole way."

Bourbon Bay finished a clear second by 3 1/4 lengths. Haimish Hy (Ecton Park)

rallied from last to garner third, followed by Imponente Purse (Brz) (Public

Purse), Juniper Pass (Lemon Drop Kid), Buenos Dias (Ire) (Peintre Celebre),

Riviera Cocktail (Giant's Causeway), Interpatation (Langfuhr) and Unbridle's

Dream. Marlang (Langfuhr), Tiz Argent (Tizbud), Pode Ir (Brz) (Crimson Tide) and

Falcon Rock (Ire) (Hawk Wing) were all withdrawn.

The five-year-old Champ Pegasus, who was still a maiden at this time last

year, made rapid progress for Mandella. Unraced until December of 2009, the bay

took four tries to break his maiden, finally accomplishing that feat last April,

and he followed up with an entry-level optional claiming score at Hollywood in

June. A fine second to Marlang in his stakes bow in the July 18 Sunset H. (G3),

Champ Pegasus moved forward next time in the August 29 Del Mar H. (G2), where he

charged from far back to win impressively. He came right back to take the

October 3 Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship (G1), beating Bourbon Bay

into third, and he concluded his heady season with a terrific runner-up effort

in the November 6 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). The San Marcos marked his 2011 debut.

The Kentucky-bred Champ Pegasus is the first registered foal out of

Argentinean champion Salt Champ (Arg) (Salt Lake), heroine of the Mil Guineas

(Arg-G1), Polla de Potrancas (Arg-G1) and Gran Premio Gilberto Lerena (Arg-G1).

Following her importation to the United States, she captured the Santa Monica H.

(G1) in 2005. She also has a juvenile colt named Givimaway (Mr. Greeley) and a

yearling filly named Tiz Champ (Tiznow). Champ Pegasus' second dam is multiple

Group 3-placed Wandel (Arg) (Fitzcarraldo), who is a full sister to Group

2-placed listed winner Mount Wilson, and this is the same family as Group 3

scorer Nordstern (Fitzcarraldo).