By Sam Turner -
Warm Heart signed off her career in style by becoming the first filly to capture the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
The victory for the daughter of Galileo, superbly ridden by Ryan Moore, ensured trainer Aidan O’Brien became the first European handler to land the prestigious event in the six years since it was rebranded from the Gulfstream Park Turf.
In picking off I’m Very Busy by half-a-length late on, the Irish filly broke English Channel's 17-year-old course record for 1800m and rewarded a darling run from Moore along the inside rail.
It was Warm Heart’s sixth success from 11 career starts and a trip to exciting sire Justify could be next on the agenda.
"We're absolutely delighted," O'Brien said.
"It's incredible. Ryan obviously gave her an incredible ride and everybody has done such an incredible job. We're just so delighted for everyone and for her to go off now to Justify is so exciting. She's absolutely made for him."
BAFFERT LANDS PEGASUS TREASURE
Godolphin were out of luck in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes when the talented First Mission failed to land a blow in the Grade 1 feature for Brad Cox and rider Luis Saez.
Instead, there was a titanic duel in the stretch between Senor Buscador and the Bob Baffert-trained National Treasure, winner of the 2023 Preakness Stakes, with the latter prevailing by a neck under a determined Flavien Prat.
"I knew they were flying but when I saw :23 and change I said 'well that's manageable.' Good horses, they keep running," Baffert said after clinching his third Pegasus title following Arrogate in 2017 and Mucho Gusto in 2020.
