Wolfie’s Dynaghost wires Ft. Lauderdale in record time

Wolfie’s Dynaghost advertised his claims for the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) at Gulfstream Park with a record-breaking victory in Saturday’s course-and-distance prep, the $200,000 Ft. Lauderdale (G3).

The 9-10 favorite went wire-to-wire in 1:43.42, smashing the course record for 1 1/8 miles on turf. Irish-bred distaffer Warm Heart had set the former mark of 1:44.45 in the 2024 Pegasus World Cup Turf. 

Wolfie’s Dynaghost’s time also eclipsed the longstanding North American mark, although with an asterisk since he had the benefit of a 104-foot runup. Irish-bred Kostroma has owned that record for more than 24 years, since she blitzed in 1:43.92 in the 1991 Las Palmas H. (G2) at Santa Anita. 

Seven-year-old Wolfie’s Dynaghost has found the fountain of youth of late. The Woodslane Farm homebred was a front-running winner at Colonial Downs Sept. 13 in his final start for Jonathan Thomas, and after switching to Brian Lynch, he ran his rivals ragged in the Nov. 8 River City (G3) at Churchill Downs.

In a reprise of his River City performance, Wolfie’s Dynaghost set a demanding tempo and sustained it to the end. With Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, the son of Hall of Famer Ghostzapper posted fractions of :22.34, :45.84, 1:09.09, and 1:32.35.

Cugino, the 7-2 second choice, rallied from his stalking position and managed to inch nearer. But Wolfie’s Dynaghost threw in a final furlong in :11.07 to hold him at bay by three-quarters of a length.

The top two pulled clear of the rest in a scrum for the lower rungs of the exotics. Beach Gold edged Divin Propos for third, with Chasing the Crown and Quatrocento a close fifth and sixth, respectively. Steal Sunshine and Siege of Boston concluded the order under the wire.

Major Dude, the 2024 winner, was scratched along with Naptown. 

Now 2-for-2 for Lynch, Wolfie’s Dynaghost has compiled a record of 32-14-3-5, $1,350,627. Like his Grade 1-winning half-brother, Sadler’s Joy, the bay was initially trained by Tom Albertrani. 

But unlike Sadler’s Joy, who bankrolled more than $2.6 million exclusively on turf, Wolfie’s Dynaghost also ventured onto synthetic surfaces that revived his career at one stage. He scored in the 2023 Kentucky Cup Classic and Prairie Bayou S. at Turfway Park as well as the Autumn (G2) at Woodbine. 

After missing nearly all of 2024, Wolfie’s Dynaghost resurfaced on turf this season, and he’s been better than ever. He romped to a 1 1/8-mile course record at Laurel in the June 28 Prince George’s County S., placed second when trying to stay 1 3/16 miles at Saratoga, and began his current winning spree at Colonial. 

Wolfie’s Dynaghost and Sadler’s Joy were both produced by the Dynaformer mare Dynaire, from the rich family of multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Sabin.

Suwannee River S.

In the companion Suwanee River S., a stepping stone to the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2), Crevalle D’Oro sprang a $22.40 upset for new connections. Just purchased for $500,000 at Keeneland November, and transferred to Jose d’Angelo, she furnished a quick dividend for TCC Stables and Michael and Jules Iavarone.

Movin’ On Up, the 19-10 favorite, appeared to have made the winning move when she pounced turning for home. But Crevalle d’Oro, who had been tailing her, angled out in determined pursuit for Jorge Ruiz.

Although Movin’ On Up dug in gamely, Crevalle d’Oro forced her head in front to register a breakthrough stakes win. The Constitution filly clocked the mile in a brisk 1:32.31.

Another 2 1/4 lengths astern in third came Public Defender, a stablemate of Movin’ On Up’s, who gave trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. the minor awards. Do Gooder rounded out the superfecta, and Feather Boa rallied for fifth. Early leader Spinning Colors, who carved out fractions of :21.98, :45.39, and 1:08.98, faded to sixth. 

Aussie Girl was eliminated from contention on the clubhouse turn. Hampered by Leo Toro, she was forced out hopelessly wide and pulled up. The stewards reviewed the incident but took no further action because Leo Toro herself wound up last of the 10 who completed the course.

Crevalle d’Oro turned a profit for her previous owner, Bowen Thoroughbreds, who bought her for $220,000 on Fasig-Tipton’s digital platform in August. The dark bay won a lucrative allowance at Kentucky Downs and finished fourth in the Goldikova (G3) at Del Mar before commanding $500,000 in the Keeneland auction ring. 

Crevalle d’Oro’s only prior black-type was a runner-up effort in the 2024 Selene (G3) at Woodbine for original trainer Mark Casse. The Suwannee River advanced her record to 19-5-4-2, $415,144.

Janus S.

The Pegasus Preview Day stakes action began with the $125,000 Janus S. for turf sprinters, where Reef Runner overturned 7-5 favorite Coppola in his title defense. 

A troubled third here to Coppola last December, Reef Runner returned to Gulfstream as a more mature four-year-old with a higher profile. The David Fawkes charge was coming off a fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Del Mar, the culmination of his productive campaign in Southern California, and he continued his upward curve on Saturday.

The 9-5 second choice settled well off the torrid pace set by Coppola in splits of :20.96 and :42.63. As Coppola tried to fend off the persistent challenge of And Uwish down the stretch, Reef Runner rolled past them both to win going away by a length. And Uwish took second by a half-length from the tiring Coppola.

Under Tyler Gaffalione, Reef Runner sped five furlongs in :54.18 to earn his third official stakes victory. Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s homebred was controversially disqualified as the first-past-the-post in the Aug. 30 Green Flash H. (G3) at Del Mar, but he gained compensation by capturing the Sept. 27 Eddie D (G2) at Santa Anita.

Reef Runner’s resume now reads 22-7-5-5, $627,580, including a score in the 2024 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint that was transferred to the Tapeta. The Florida-bred son of The Big Beast has a handful of stakes placings, notably a photo-finish loss in the March 8 Silks Run at this course and distance along with his Green Flash demotion to second.