Doswell Cable Fort Lauderdale in Pegasus World Cup Turf Focus

Magic recaps Doswell’s hard-wired race gate in Saturday’s Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

Magic also discusses who he likes next during the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) on January 29, including potential longshots.

The press release, courtesy of Gulfstream Park:

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Doswell, the son of Joseph Allen, solidly second last year despite an awkward trip, had no such problems when he returned to the $ 200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2) on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, winning a 1 ½ length victory. and be among the contenders for the $ 1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) next month.

The 65th Fort Lauderdale 1 1/8 mile race for children ages 3 and up was the last of five stakes, four ranked, valued at $ 650,000 in purses. It was one of three Pegasus Day previews on the schedule, featuring $ 150,000 from Harlan’s Holiday (G3) and $ 100,000 from Suwannee River (G3), the respective preparations for the Pegasus World Cup (G1). $ 3 million and the $ 500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G3).

With Junior Alvarado on board for coach Barclay Tagg, Doswell ($ 11) covered the distance in 1: 47.99 on firm turf to claim his first victory since an October 2020 allocation at Belmont Park, also door-to-wire. It was his first Stakes victory, having finished second by two lengths in Fort Lauderdale last year and third by 1 in the WL McKnight (G3) in the Championship game.

Doswell, a 5-year-old gelding son of Giant’s Causeway, went on the sidelines after the McKnight and did not return to racing for nine months, finishing third in consecutive optional claim allowances on October 21 at Belmont and on November 19 at Aqueduct, his first start.

“It’s hard to get back in shape because he had a few little issues and stuff like that, and we had to give and take a lot with him,” Tagg said. “But, I felt pretty good with him today because he was in good shape. We were able to train him hard.

“He’s a horse that’s kind of made for trouble,” he added. “[Assistant trainer] Robin [Smullen] just did a hell of a job with him. She rides it every day, ”Tagg said. “She straightened it all out and he’s very reasonable now.”

Doswell abruptly snapped off his rail post in a peloton of 12 and was sent in the lead by Alvarado, covering a quarter mile in 24.73 and a half seconds in 48.69 with just a slight squeeze of Analyze It, three a time winner of the 3rd year which was twice ranked 1st in the summer of 2018.

Alvarado and Doswell were still in control after a six-stage run clocking 1: 12.35, when the 17-1 long shot Atone found himself in the away race. Doswell straightened up to get home and was dropped off for a ride to the wire with Atone chasing him and Year 3 winner English Bee making a late charge.

“It was nice and easy. Last year they kind of told me to try and see if he stalked to make sure he ended up strong, and we kind of took his principal away from him. [weapon]. Today they told me: ‘You are in one [post], just let it roll, and that’s what I did, ”Alvarado said.

“It broke pretty good, I put it on the engine a bit, then I tried to slow it down, and it gave me a good mark. When we got home, I asked him and he gave me a good kick, ”he added. “I knew they were in trouble as soon as I started asking him because he figured it out really quickly and I figured they would have to fly at the end to pass. “

Tagg, who won the Holy Bull (G3) and Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream with Tiz the Law en route to victories at Belmont (G1) and Travers (G1) in 2020, congratulated Alvarado on his exhilarating run.

“Junior rode him super,” he said. “He doesn’t like being in a crowd, I don’t think so, and he doesn’t like all the pressure around. He had the inside and we figured if he does okay just leave him there.

Atone was second, half a length ahead of English Bee. It was 1 ¾ behind Space Traveler in fourth, followed by L’Imperator, Sole Volante, Renaisance Frolic, Breaking the Rules, Order and Law, Media Blitz, Analyze It and King Guillermo.

Since the Pegasus Turf debuted in 2019, four of its runners have come from Fort Lauderdale, including the winners Largent, second by a neck to teammate Col. Liam in January, and Instilled Regard, third in Zulu Alpha, formed by Maker in 2020. In defense of his title, Maker finished third with Cross Border 14-1 in long range in 2021, beating two necks.

“We are thinking about it. We’re probably going to go, ”Tagg said. “We’ll see how he does and see if he cools off.” If he’s got energy and all that stuff, I don’t want to take him out there and make a fool of him if we can help him.