For trainer Mike Maker, you can never have enough horses for Gulfstream Park$1 million on January 29 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), so imagine his joy when owner Michael Iavarone calls and tells Maker he’s bought Flavius for $230,000 at Keeneland’s November Breeding Share Sale.
Maker said Flavius was his kind of horse, but a horse that had just fallen into his stable had turned blue.
“I had nothing to do with that. They called me over and asked if I wanted to take him. That’s it,” he said, adding cheerfully, “Have a nice day.”
Formerly owned by breeder Juddmonte Farms and trained by Chad Brown, the 6-year-old Flavius won four of 14 starts, with three seconds and two thirds, earning $773,651. The son of War front His career was marked by victories in this year’s Fasig-Tipton Lure Stakes at Racecourse Saratoga and US$750,000 Travel Shares in 2020 at Kentucky Downs. He also placed second in Seabiscuit Handicap 2020 (G2T) at Del Mar.
Before making his way through the ring at Keeneland, where he was signed by WinStar Racing, he finished third as favorite in the November 13 Artie Schiller Stakes at Aqueduct race track.
Flavius had his first recorded workout for Maker on December 11, powering 5 stretches at: 59.44, the fastest of the 20 workouts at the distance that morning on main track at Gulfstream. He recorded another bullet work on December 18, hitting five that lasted for 1:00.11.
In addition to Flavius, Maker may have three other possible candidates for Pegasus Turf with Field Pass , Redemption , and Cross the border .
Field Pass won the right to pursue Pegasus Turf by betting on Seabiscuit last month. Owned by Three Diamonds Farm, Lemon Drop Kid The 4-year-old has raced across the country but only once before at Gulfstream, winning the 2020 Dania Beach Stakes championship. A multi-category winner, he won $913,143.
“He’s the epitome of consistency, sound, dance every dance,” says Maker. “Going everywhere.”
Redemption and Cross the border, both owned by Three Diamonds Farm, possibly also for Pegasus Turf, Maker said. Atone (by Into Mischief ) completed a solid second on December 18 in Ft. Lauderdale Stakes (G2T) is behind Doswell . Millionaire Cross Border, who finished third in this year’s Pegasus Turf run, landed the Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) in Saratoga in July. 7 year old kid English Channel Athlete laps the field recently when he captures the Prairie Bayou Shares on December 18 at Lawn Park.
Maker says Pegasus Turf fills a critical gap on the staking schedule by offering a big-money tier 1 grass race in January.
“There are not many options on the grass in the winter,” he said.
