The names Champ Pegasus and Bourbon Bay meant very little to racing fans one year ago today. Champ Pegasus had yet to break his maiden. Bourbon Bay? Duel grade II stakes winner at a mile-and-a-half at Santa Anita, but certainly no world-beater.
My, how much things can change in one year’s time. Now, these two are the leading turf marathoners in the United States. On Saturday, they will get a chance to prove that they are among the best turf marathoners in the world. Because on Saturday, they will attempt to claim the winner's share of $5,000,000 in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan Race Course in Dubai.
Their career achievements are remarkable. Champ Pegasus broke his maiden in April 2010. Then he won an allowance optional claiming race. Then he finished second in the Sunset Handicap (gr. III). Then he won the Del Mar Handicap (gr. II). The he won the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (gr. I).
In a matter of five starts, he had risen from the ranks of non-winners to a multiple graded stakes winner with a grade I win on his resume. Not bad.
Bourbon Bay's rise to glory was even more astronomical. In late 2009, he was competing without success in allowance races at Woodbine and Hollywood Park. Then, without warning, his career took off.
Entered in an allowance optional claiming race at Santa Anita Park going a mile and a half, he won by 3 1/2 lengths. He then won the San Luis Obispo Handicap (gr. II). Then he won the San Luis Rey Handicap (gr. II) by 2 1/2. Then came a narrow win in the San Juan Capistrano Handicap (gr. II) going a mile and three quarters.
In a matter of four starts, he had risen from a colt with only a maiden special weight on his resume to a three-time grade II winner. A break was in order for the four-year-old gelding, and he did not run again until October, when he ran in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at a mile and a quarter.
Round one of the rivalry was about to begin.
Champ Pegasus and Bourbon Bay put on a show as the two favorites in the Hirsch. As usual, they both dropped off the pace, with Champ Pegasus dropping to sixth and Bourbon Bay to fourth. But it didn't look good for either as they came down the stretch. Bourbon Bay was racing in third with three lengths to make up. Champ Pegasus was fourth with four to make up. But they both charged gamely.
Champ Pegasus would have had to run his final quarter mile in about :22 1/5 seconds if he intended to get up in time. That is all but impossible. Yet somehow he accomplished it, rallying in about :22 seconds to win by three-quarters of a length. Longshot Where's the Remote finished second, with Bourbon Bay a neck further back in third. Considering that it was Bourbon Bay's first start in months and that ten furlongs is really too short for him, it was a sharp effort.
Bourbon Bay was given a bit of a break after that, leaving Champ Pegasus to try his luck in the Breeders' Cup Turf. Sent off at 9.70-1 in the championship race, the colt surprisingly went to the lead early. Seeing that he was changing his running style, it would have been understandable had he tired badly in the stretch. But he did not tire whatsoever, dueling with Dangerous Midge in deep stretch before allowing that one to win by 1 1/4 lengths while he finished a clear second.
Champ Pegasus and Bourbon Bay both came out for the 2011 debuts in the same race -- the San Marcos Stakes. Champ Pegasus was the deserving favorite there, but after tracking the pace and taking the lead was overhauled by Bourbon Bay in the final eighth of a mile. The latter had sat just a few lengths off the pace before exploding past his rival to win by 1 3/4 lengths.
Therefore, Bourbon Bay was favored in their next meeting, the San Luis Obispo Stakes. Bourbon Bay had won the race in 2010 and figured to add a second title to his resume. But despite taking the lead in the stretch, he was unable to hold off Champ Pegasus, who closed furiously to win by a desperate nose.
Now, they are taking the rivalry halfway around the world in an attempt to settle their differences in one of the world's richest turf races. They will have serious competition, with numerous grade/group I winners lined up to face them, including Dangerous Midge. But win, lose, or draw, you can bet that their rivalry will take another fascinating turn on Saturday on one of racing's biggest stages.
-Keelerman
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