HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Art Collector entered the Pegasus World Cup Invitational with more earnings than any of the 11 other horses in the field.
And he walked away with the biggest prize of all.
The 6-year-old made a big move to the outside and left the field down the stretch to pull off an upset win in the $3 million Pegasus at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. The win boosted his career earnings to around $4.1 million and was his 11th win in 21 career starts.
He was one of only two horses to enter the Pegasus with more than $2 million in earnings; Cyberknife was the other. But Cyberknife was nowhere near the front in his final race before being retired to stud, and Art Collector was looking much better.
“I don’t have the words to express it,” jockey Junior Alvarado said. “It’s just been amazing. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to ride this horse, a very good horse that I have been following for quite some time. I guess it was the perfect timing and we did it today.”
Alvarado had never ridden Art Collector, who was thrown out at odds of 15-1. But he rides quite a bit for winning trainer Bill Mott, and the duo struck for gold again on Saturday with a perfect effort, winning by 4 1/2 lengths.
“In having this win for Mr. Mott, I’m so thankful for him, for the support he’s given me over the years,” Alvarado said.
Defunded, at 5-2, was second. Stilleto Boy, thrown out at 45-1, was third.
Mott turned to Alvarado when Luis Sáez opted to ride Get Her Number on the Pegasus. It ended up being the first Pegasus win for both Mott and Alvarado.
“I couldn’t have put it together more perfectly,” Mott said.
Art Collector had not raced since a disappointing fifth-place finish at the Lukas Classic on October 1. But the distance, one mile and one-eighth, has been Art Collector’s best, as he has won seven times in the previous nine. efforts over nine furlongs for owner Bruce Lunsford.
Make it eight times 10 now.
“I thought it was a very competitive field and of course our horse didn’t run his best race last time,” Mott said. “But he has been training very well and I have a great owner and I wanted to give him a chance. He wanted to go for it.”
It was a wide open Pegasus, the richest race offered at Gulfstream Park and traditionally one of the richest races in North America. In 2022, only the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic and $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf featured larger prizes, and the $3 million Pegasus purse is the same as the one on offer at last year’s Kentucky Derby.
Art Collector paid $33, $12.40 and $8.60. Defunded called $5 and $4 and Stilleto Boy called $11.40.
With shots of 15-1 and 45-1 there, the triple paid $2,394.70.
PEGASUS LAWN
Atone used a big push late on to emerge from a mass of contenders down the stretch and win the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, the race that immediately preceded the $3 million gravel event.
Atone returned $9.60, $5.40 and $4.40 and was ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., his fourth winner of the day on the charged undercard at Gulfstream. It was also the third win of the day for trainer Michael Maker.
Ivar, with Javier Castellano on board, was second and called $4.80 and $3.80. Speaking Scout, a 24-1 shot, was third under jockey Paco Lopez and paid $10.40 to show.
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