Knightsbridge, Life and Times clash in Fred W. Hooper

Pegasus World Cup (G1) morning line favorite Disco Time is not the only budding star older horse competing at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Earlier in the afternoon, Life and Times will take his first crack against stakes company in the $175,000 Fred W. Hooper (G3) over a one-turn mile.

A Todd Pletcher-trained son of Justify, Life and Times smothered maiden and allowance foes last fall at Aqueduct, earning Brisnet Speed ratings in the upper 90s for both. It was an impressive start to a career that was quite belated in beginning, as the five-year-old did not debut until Nov. 1.

The remainder of the field has far more experience, though far less upside. Knightsbridge, an easy winner of the Mr. Prospector (G3) last month, will vie for favoritism and enters the Hooper with a 4-for-6 record. The speed-heavy race might play into the hands of Steal Sunshine, a past winner of the Gulfstream Park Mile (G2), or possibly three-time allowance winner Tour Player.

The $225,000 Inside Information (G2), for fillies and mares over seven furlongs, includes Jody's Pride, who lost this race in a photo last year prior to a season-best win in the Ruffian (G2) over Sterling Silver, recent heroine of the Rampart S. over Necessity, Claret Beret, and Dazzling Move. Grand Job and Indy Bay are other potential players.

Khaadem, now 10, is hardly too long in the tooth to make an impact in the $175,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint. A Group 1 winner at Royal Ascot two summers ago, the son of Dark Angel rallied to win the Woodford (G2) at Keeneland in October and subsequently finished third in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1). However, an excursion to Hong Kong in December proved futile.

Also lining up in the five-furlong dash is defending titlist Coppola, though the Dale Romans trainee has won only once in seven starts since his victory last year. Also in the lineup are My Boy Prince, Grade 1-placed in the Jaipur (G1) and Woodbine Mile (G1) last year, and Unconquerable Keen, a three-time winner of the Stormy Liberal S. at Del Mar.

The $175,000 Christophe Clement (G3), a 1 1/2-mile grass test for fillies and mares formerly known as the La Prevoyante, has attracted a strong field. No Show Sammy Jo, a dominating 5 3/4-length winner of the Via Borghese S. last month over several returning rivals, is the likely favorite.

Fionn, winner of the Belmont Oaks (G1) over Nitrogen and four other stakes during her three-year-old campaign last term, figures as a stout foe. Alluring Angel beat No Show Sammy Jo in the Long Island (G3) before throwing a dud in the Via Borghese, while Chad Brown has entered stakes newcomer Weighted Average.

In contrast, the $225,000 W. L. McKnight (G3) for males over 1 1/2 miles lacks relative depth. A potential favorite is Ohana Honor, the Grade 1-placed winner of the Nov. 15 Knickerbocker S. to close out an abbreviated 2025 campaign.