HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Peter Brant’s Regal Glory overcame some early problems, rallied from off the pace and cruised to 2 ½ lengths victory Saturday in the inaugural running of the TAA Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational (G3) presented by PEPSI at Gulfstream Park.
Though typically near the pace or leading the way in her 16-race career, the 6-year-old Animal Kingdom mare, sent off as the 4-5 favorite, was last in the field in the early going. Alms and Shifty She were together at the front and led the way through fractions of 23.94 seconds, 48.03 and 1:11.98. Meanwhile, jockey Jose Ortiz guided Regal Glory to the outside on the run up the backstretch and began moving past other horses entering the turn.
“The ‘5’ horse [Gift List] broke really sharp and took my position,” Ortiz said. “He broke a step faster than I did, but they went fast early, and I was able to put her outside to follow Luis [Saez] on Sweet Melania – I rode her before, and I know she likes the track and decided to follow her. At the three-eighths pole, I had a lot of horse and decided to go around everybody. You could see I had a lot of horse under me. She was just the best in the race.”
The wide trip did not hinder Regal Glory and she stormed past the leaders for her 10th career victory. Regal Glory completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.74 and paid $3.60.
“I was a little nervous early on because she didn’t break that well, which she does sometimes,” trainer Chad Brown said. “Thankfully, Jose knows her so well and she’s so good that she was able to overcome it. He rode a beautiful Plan B type of race. It didn’t go his way the first part of it. Once he got her down the backside and following a live horse to move him up, it was really good judgment for him, and the horse was there for him. I was proud of both of them.”
Godolphin’s Alm, trained by Michael Stidham, was second at 19-1. Shifty She was third.
“I had a perfect trip,” said Alm’s jockey Joel Rosario. “She dragged me up to the lead and it looked like she gave everything she got, just the winner came right by us. But she ran well. I was on the lead and then that horse came and put a little pressure there but she was fine with it, and then she came back a little bit the last part so that was good.”
Brant purchased Regal Glory in January 2021 for $925,000 at the disbursement sale of the late Paul Pompa’s bloodstock. Following the Filly and Mare Turf victory, Brown said Brant might change his plans to retire her.
“She was scheduled to be bred to Into Mischief,” Brown said. “Mr. Brant and I were watching her train this week up at Payson, and we were remarking how sound she is and how great she looks at this age. We left it the morning, let’s see how she runs and comes out of this race. It’s not out of the question to run her at 6. So I’m going to let him enjoy this win, and we’re going to look at the horse, and ultimately he’s going to decide.”
Gulfstream Park Press Release
Photo: Regal Glory (Ryan Thompson/Coglianese)
