Life Is Good is better than good, romps past Knicks Go in Pegasus World Cup
HALLANDALE BEACH — Saturday wasn’t much of a day for farewells.
Just as the NFL world was sorting out whether Tom Brady retired, Knicks Go left no doubt Saturday.
No doubt that he’s retired, and no doubt that he was second best in his final race.
A two-horse speed duel never materialized in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational as Life Is Good jumped to the lead and never looked back, romping to a 3 1/4-length victory over the likely 2021 Horse of the Year Award winner at Gulfstream Park.
“I never thought I’d be in the front like that,” winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. said. “When I looked around, I don’t see nobody.”
There was nobody to see.
“He was too fast and too good,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said.
Trainer Brad Cox and his ownership group hoped Knicks Go could successfully defend his Pegasus title in what they announced would be his final race before retiring to stud. But by the time the horses hit the back stretch, it was obvious Life was too good, taking a five-length lead and showing no signs of strain following an opening quarter in 23.12.
“It looked like he broke all right and then kind of got outrun a little bit,” Cox said. “I don’t know, that horse, the winner, he ran off the TV screen.”
Even those watching trackside knew it, including Pletcher.
“We’ve had a lot of great ones,” Pletcher said. “I can’t think of one that’s better than him.”
Bold statement from a seven-time Eclipse-winning trainer whose credits include two Kentucky Derby victories and a dozen Breeders’ Cup wins. Pletcher hopes Life Is Good’s next stop can be the Dubai World Cup.
“He’s just a phenomenally talented horse,” Pletcher said. “We see it every day from him when we breeze him. He’s extra special. He has the ability to go really fast and just keep doing. It sounds so simple, the unique ability to continue to throw down those kind of fractions.”
His trainer threw down a decent pace Saturday, too. Earlier on the card, Pletcher’s Colonel Liam won the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational for the second straight year.
The day also was especially meaningful for Ortiz, who suffered a knee injury at Gulfstream early this month when one of his mounts slammed his knee against part of the starting gate. Ortiz was expected to be out three to four weeks but proved to be a slightly fast healer.
“That God for my health,” he said. “A couple of doctors told me I can’t make it.”
Life Is Good covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.91, returned $3.60, $2.10 and $2.10 and collected $1.75 million. Knicks Go also paid $2.10 and $2.10. Stilleto Boy, another length back, returned $2.80.
As for Cox, he knew Saturday was going to be a bittersweet day regardless.
“He’s been super good to us,” Cox said of Knicks Go. “We’re proud of him and we’re happy and excited that he’s retiring sound and healthy and I look forward to training some of his babies in a couple of years. He’s 6. It’s time for him to go off to stud. Hopefully he’ll pass on his heart and determination and be a good sire.”
The $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf went to the favorite, Regal Glory.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Life Is Good romps to victory over Knicks Go in Pegasus at Gulfstream
