Knightsbridge, Grand Job star on Pegasus World Cup undercard

Along with three Pegasus World Cup races, Saturday’s blockbuster program at Gulfstream Park featured five other stakes events. 

Fred W. Hooper (G3)

After dueling through hot opening fractions, Godolphin’s homebred Knightsbridge began to edge away on the far turn and drew off authoritatively in the stretch of the $150,000 Fred W. Hooper (G3). The odds-on favorite stretched his win streak to three, previously recording an impressive 4 3/4-length tally in the seven-furlong Mr. Prospector (G3) in late December, and Knightsbridge won by the same margin while stretching back to a one-turn mile in the Hooper.

Junior Alvarado was up for Bill Mott, and Knightsbridge appears poised for a fine 2026 campaign if he can stay healthy. The five-year-old horse established himself as an early Kentucky Derby candidate when capturing his career debut by a 10-length margin at Churchill Downs in the fall of his two-year-old season, but Knightsbridge raced sparingly over the next two years.

The son of Nyquist has now strung together three consecutive races without interruption, winning an allowance at Aqueduct in late November before shipping to South Florida, and Knightsbridge’s career ledger reads 7-5-1-1.

Knightsbridge stopped the teletimer in 1:35.12. Back Em Up offered a run for second at 26-1, and 17-10 second choice Life and Times weakened to third after battling through opening splits in :23.64 and :45.25. Racing Driver, Tour Player, Steal Sunshine, Catalytic, and Nelson Avenue completed the order of finish.

Inside Information (G2)

Bell Tower Thoroughbreds and Medallion Racing’s Grand Job drew off stylishly in the stretch of the $200,000 Inside Information (G2), establishing herself as one to watch in the filly and mare sprint division. The five-year-old mare tracked in third until making her move nearing the conclusion of the far turn, winning by nearly three lengths, and the 2.10-1 favorite completed seven furlongs in 1:21.41. 

Mott and Alvarado combined for their third win on the program, including a pair of stakes, and Grand Job recorded her first stakes decision while improving to 4-for-7 in the United States. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Justify launched her career in Ireland, dropping her first four starts on turf and synthetics before being imported to America.

Grand Job rebounded from her only disappointing effort stateside, an unplaced finish versus allowance rivals at Churchill Downs in late November. A close second in her previous stakes attempt, the two-turn Royal Delta (G3) early last year, Grand Job looks more effective at one-turn distances based upon the Inside Information.

Sterling Silver rallied wide into contention approaching the upper stretch but lacked the necessary kick to challenge the winner, winding up 2 3/4 lengths clear of Claret Beret in third. Next came Her Laugh, Dazzling Move, Beyond Belief, Necessity, Jody’s Pride, One Magic Philly, Indy Bay, and Verity.

Sterling Silver rallied wide into contention approaching the upper stretch but lacked the necessary kick to challenge the winner, winding up 2 3/4 lengths clear of Claret Beret in third. Next came Her Laugh, Dazzling Move, Beyond Belief, Necessity, Jody’s Pride, One Magic Philly, Indy Bay, and Verity.

William L. McKnight (G3)

In his first start past 1 1/16 miles, Kevin Doyle’s Layabout comfortably handled added ground in the $200,000 William L. McKnight (G3), making all the pace and winning by 1 1/4 lengths with David Egan. Patrick Biancone trains the four-year-old gelding, and Layabout was never seriously threatened, completing 1 1/2 miles on turf in 2:25.27.

Layabout showed little on dirt early in his career, earning his first win in a maiden claimer the fourth time out on Gulfstream’s Tapeta, but his form turned around when switching to turf. The Kentucky-bred son of Laoban is now 4-for-6 on turf, including a pair of stakes, and posted his first graded triumph in the McKnight. Layabout also switched to frontrunning tactics, rallying from just off the pace to win the Tropical Park Derby previously in mid-December.

He left the starting gate as the 6-1 fourth choice in a 12-horse field. Padiddle closed from far off the pace for second at 72-1, a neck better than 21-1 Balnikov in third. Summer Cause completed an $89,440 superfecta ($1) at 18-1, and Zverev, Divin Propos, Il Sicilliano, Missed the Cut, 2-1 favorite Ohana Honor, Offlee Naughty, Hammerhead, and Act a Fool rounded out the finish.

Christophe Clement (G3)

An up-and-comer in the long-distance filly and mare turf division, Speed Shopper split rivals leaving the far turn and notched her first graded stakes victory in the $150,000 Christophe Clement (G3). The five-year-old daughter of Quality Road saved ground while stalking a tepid pace in third and offered a strong turn of foot into the stretch when called upon by John Velazquez, drawing away to a 1 3/4-length score.

Speed Shopper left the starting gate as the 7.30-1 fourth choice among nine distaffers and completed 1 1/2 miles in 2:26.75. She’s owned by Gary Barber, Bridlewood Farm, and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. 

After a pair of unplaced finishes early in her career, Speed Shopper was transferred to Will Walden and returned from a 14 1/2-month layoff last spring, breaking her maiden on Saratoga’s turf in mid-July. She began attracting attention when recording a head second in her stakes debut two starts later, the Rodeo Drive (G2) at Santa Anita in early October, and Speed Shopper entered the Clement off a rallying win over Turfway Park’s Tapeta in the Dec. 20 Florence S.

Formerly known as the La Prevoyante, the race was renamed following the passing of beloved and noted trainer Christophe Clement last May.

Ayra Stark, who carved out slow fractions on a short lead, held second by a neck over Weighted Average. Venecia came next in fourth and was followed by Ramsey Pond, 3-2 favorite Fionn, No Show Sammy Jo, Alluring Angel, and Gallant Greta.

Gulfstream Turf Sprint

Stone Farm's homebred Litigation came flying late to prevail in the $155,000 Gulfstream Turf Sprint, denying 96-1 Full Disclosure a massive upset by a neck. It marked the first stakes win for the Brian Lynch-trained four-year-old colt, who was off as the 2.90-1 favorite with Mario Gutierrez and turned five grassy furlongs in :55.03.

The exciting finish was marred by an incident in the upper stretch where Unconquerable Keen clipped heels and lost jockey Umberto Rispoli. The horse appeared unscathed and walked back to the barn afterwards, but jockey Umberto Rispoli required assistance and took off his remaining assignments after being taken to the hospital. According to his jockey agent Matt Nakatani, Rispoli suffered a fractured ankle, tibula and fibula. He was being scheduled for surgery. 

Wicked early splits (:20.79 and :43.20) from last year’s winner and 3-1 second choice Coppola set the table for late runners, and Litigation closed from seventh at the top of the stretch. My Boy Prince wound up third after a stalking trip, and Asher’s Edge, And Uwish, Coppola, Sam the Sham, Incanto, Eamonn, and Out On Bail completed the order.

By Twirling Candy, Litigation moved his overall record to 9-5-1-0, winning four of six starts in turf sprints.