Bravo, and farewell, to Warm Heart!
The brilliant filly concluded her career Saturday with a half-length victory over the boys in course-record time to capture the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
The 4-year-old owned by Irish-based Coolmore will now be bred to Triple Crown winner Justify.
She left us something to remember, a championship performance as the first European-based runner, and the first female, to win this race.
The victory also confirmed what many racing fans already knew: jockey Ryan Moore is the equal of any on the planet.
Masterful Riding: Ryan Moore Guides Warm Heart to Triumph
The trip, while gutsy, was perfect. Moore had Warm Heart nestled in third for most of the race, traveling comfortably behind the pacesetting Main Event. Rounding the final turn Warm Heart wound up in a pocket on the rail, sealed in behind the leader while rivals were rallying to her outside.
Moore calmly waited for an opening along the fence, and once Main Event drifted ever so slightly, Moore and Warm Heart surged through the needed opening.
The filly took it from there.
“She put herself in a good position and it worked out lovely,” Moore said. “She’s a very courageous filly. She’s had a fantastic year and now she’s off to Justify. That will be exciting.”
Warm Heart closed the book with a record of 6-2-1 in 11 starts with three Grade 1 wins in three different countries: the Pegasus Turf, the Yorkshire Oaks in England and the Prix Vermeille in France. The final win pushes her career earnings over $2.2 million for trainer Aidan O’Brien.
“We’re obviously delighted,” O’Brien said. “Ryan obviously gave her an incredible ride.”
Record-Breaking Performance: Warm Heart’s Historic Run in the 1 1/8 Miles Turf Race
Her previous trip to the U.S. was in November, a crushing defeat by only a neck in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at Santa Anita.
Now that’s all in the past.
Warm Heart paid $6.80, $4.40 and $3.80. I’m Very Busy was second, returning $12.60 and $7.20. Catnip paid $13.20 to show.
Defending race winner Atone was fourth with Integration, previously unbeaten in three races, fifth.
The time was 1:44.45, a new standard for 1 1/8 miles on the grass at Gulfstream.
In earlier races on the Pegasus Day card:
Francesco Clemente rallied from far back to win the $200,000 W. L. McKnight (G3) at 1 1/2 miles on the turf. The 2-1 favorite paid $6.40 to win and topped a $247.60 exacta when 40-1 shot Starting Over got second. Irad Ortiz, Jr. was aboard for his fourth win of the afternoon.
One race later, Ortiz got his fifth victory as he rode Olivia Darling to a 7-1 upset in the $200,000 Inside Information (G2) for fillies and mares.
An Ortiz captured the next stakes, except this time it was Irad’s brother Jose with Didia, the narrow winner at 3-1 over Surprisingly in the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2).
Tumbarumba survived a claim of foul to capture the $150,000 Fred Hooper Stakes (G3), the race before the Pegasus Turf. There was contact between Tumbarumba (8-1) and runner-up Castle Chaos (25-1) a furlong out from the finish, but the stewards ruled it did not warrant a disqualification. The longshot result stood, producing a $382.80 exacta payoff.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
