Knightsbridge will prove tough in the Hooper on Saturday, Gulfstream Park Photo
Gulfstream Park Press
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Godolphin homebred Knightsbridge and Michael Tabor’s unbeaten Life and Times – both 5-year-olds – have not had your typical racing careers.
Life and Times has raced only twice, his debut coming just three months ago. Meanwhile, Knightsbridge has raced only three times since the fall of 2024.
But patience could pay off for Saturday when they begin what could be memorable seasons in the $175,000 Fred Hooper (G3) presented by Visit Lauderdale at Gulfstream Park.
The one-mile Hooper, for 4-year-olds and up on the main track, serves as one of 10 stakes – seven graded – that will make up Pegasus World Cup Day, highlighted by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), and $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2).
Life and Times, a son of Triple Crown winner Justify, didn’t start his career until November, while Knightsbridge, a son of Florida Derby (G1) winner Nyquist, has raced just twice since February. But both colts have flashed talent and unlimited potential.
Life and Times, trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, made his debut at Aqueduct Nov. 1 going a mile and winning by 5 ¾ lengths. He returned Dec. 6 to again win at a mile by 6 ¾ lengths, a race that has served as a prep for the Hooper.
“It’s not very often that we’ll not start one until they’re four, but we kept seeing the talent there and we just had some frustrating setbacks,” Pletcher said. “His first two races were super impressive. We’re certainly stepping up in class, but we like the way he looks and the way he’s been training. His first couple of starts have been very good. Fingers crossed, he can keep progressing.”
Jose Lezcano, who has ridden Life and Times in his only starts, is back aboard.
Knightsbridge, who battled “little issues,” according to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott in the spring and summer, came back from a nine-month layoff in November to win against allowance company at Aqueduct over a muddy track. He returned a month later to win Gulfstream’s Mr. Prospector (G3) by 4 ¾ lengths. Knightsbridge has won two of his three starts at Gulfstream, including the second start of his career at a mile by nine lengths. He would run second at a mile last February at Gulfstream after being interfered with.
“Seven [furlongs] looks like a real good distance for him and so does a mile,” Mott said. “We ran him at a mile in the second start of his life and he won. Then he got beat going a mile when he was…interfered. He’s doing well. He has had a good work and we’re ready.”
Junior Alvarado rides Knightsbridge.
Graham Grace Stable’s Tour Player enters the Hooper riding a three-race win streak. The son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah won at Churchill Downs in May and June going a mile and 7 ½ furlongs and won at Churchill in November when coming off a five-month layoff. Previously trained by Bob Baffert, Tour Player enters the race from the barn of Whit Beckman. Javier Castellano will ride.
Steal Sunshine is no stranger to Gulfstream Park. The 7-year-old son of Constitution, owned by TCC Stables LLC and Michael and Jules Iavarone, has seven victories at the track including the 2024 Gulfstream Park Mile (G2). He finished seventh last time out in the Fort Lauderdale (G3), but that was over the turf. Bobby Dibona trains and Edgard Zayas rides. Dibona will also saddle Con Compania, who enters off a sixth-place finish in the Harlan’s Holiday (G3).
Nelson Avenue will break from the outside in the nine-horse field. The son of Into Mischief, trained by Jorge Abreu for Photos Finish LLC, enters off a second-place finish Nov. 2 in the Forty Niner (G3) at Aqueduct. He won the Parx Dirt Mile in September and was second in the Salvator Mile (G3) at Monmouth in June. He is 3-3-1 in eight starts at the distance.
