In the days leading up to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida, usracing.com is publishing profiles of the horses in the race set for Saturday, Jan. 29.
By Jenny Kellner
Endorsed – Photo courtesy of Zoe Metz / BloodHorse
How does a horse with a 15-race losing streak get invited to a $3 million race?
Maybe because Endorsed flashed some promising form way back when he was a 3-year-old. However, it seems a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector last out at Gulfstream on Dec. 11 was enough, what with some other much better older horses choosing not to take on favorites Knicks Go and Life Is Good – and point toward next month’s $20 million Saudi Cup.
Endorsed was 0-for-10 in 2021, and has two top 3 finishes in the nine graded stakes he’s run in. He has a maiden win in his first career start, an allowance win and two allowance optional claiming wins.
Betting advice: Hard to figure this horse has any chance. A better bet is that he’ll be 0-for-16 and not in the top 5.
Post position: 8
Odds: 20-1
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
Trainer: Mike Maker
Owner: Mark D. Breen
Age: 6
Career record: 23-4-6-4
Career earnings: $474,975
Top Equibase speed figure: 106
Pedigree: Medaglia d’Oro-Dance Card, by Tapit
Color: Bay
Running style: Mid-pack
Notes: Worked 5 furlongs in 1:01.17 at Gulfstream on Jan. 23, 11th fastest of 41 at the distance …
Jenny Kellner is an award-winning journalist and proud owner of Toby, an 11-year-old prize-winning palomino quarter horse. Jenny was among the first female sports columnists in the United States, and has worked for the New York Times, the New York Post, the New York Daily News, and Newsday. Jenny also was a senior media director at the New York Racing Association, and has been an elementary school and middle-school teacher in New York, and currently in Colorado.