Wolfie’s Dynaghost takes the photo of Fort Lauderdale, Gulfstream
Gulfstream Park Press
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Woodslane Farm’s millionaire homebred gelding Wolfie’s Dynaghostin the best shape of his life at age 7, dug in through the stretch after setting a test pace to fend off a stubborn Cousin for a record victory on Saturday in the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
The 69th running of the Fort Lauderdale for 3-year-olds and older going 1 1/8 miles on the grass set the stage for a five-stakes Pegasus Preview Day program, including two worth $750,000 in purses.
Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. for trainer Brian Lynch, Wolfie’s Dynaghost ($3.80) covered the distance in 1:43.42 over a firm grass track, breaking the previous track record of 1:44.45 held by Irish-bred mare Warm Heart, while carrying 118 pounds while winning the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) in 2024.
According to Equibase statistics, a North American record for 1 1/8 miles on grass was also recently set, surpassing 5-year-old Kostroma’s 1:43.92 set on October 20, 1991 at Santa Anita Park. Kostroma, also bred in Ireland, carried 117 pounds; Wolfie’s Dynaghost was the co-topweight at 126 pounds with Cugino in Fort Lauderdale.
“Irad told me, ‘You did all the hard work and I was just the driver,’” Lynch said. “It’s wonderful to see how such an old horse is coming into its own and getting better and better at racing.”
It was the third win in a row, 14th overall, 10th in a stakes and third against graded company from 32 starts for Wolfie’s Dynaghost, effectively punching his ticket to the 1 1/8 mile Pegasus Turf on January 24. The bay son of Hall of Famer Ghostzapper previously had success on Pegasus Day, winning back-to-back editions of the Carousel Club overnight handicap on the all-weather Tapeta course on the 2022 and 2023 Undercards for former trainers Tom Albertrani and Jonathan Thomas.
“No doubt,” Lynch said of pointing out the Pegasus Turf for ages four and older. “This race was a great stepping stone for that and to run the way he ran today, I think he deserves it.”
Also with the win, Ortiz further improved his single-season winnings record and became the first rider to reach the $40 million mark.
“I had a great year, thanks to my agent [Steve Rushing] and everyone who has supported me all year,” Ortiz said. “We’re not done yet. We will continue to work hard and end the year strong.”
Wolfie’s Dynaghost broke from Post 2 as the 4-5 favorite in a field of eight older horses, pulling Ortiz to the front where they ran through a quarter mile in 22.34 seconds and half a second in 45.84, pushed on their right hip by Four hundred. Cugino, riding a two-race win streak, saved ground on the inside in third place, with Millionaire On the hunt for the Crown flawless racing in fourth place.
The top group closed ranks after going six furlongs in 1:09.09, but Wolfie’s Dynaghost was clinging to the lead, especially when Cugino tapped off the rail and was set down for a drive by jockey Flavien Prat. Wolfie’s Dynaghost had something in reserve and managed to gain some distance from his only challenger to win by three-quarters of a length.
“He broke himself. I didn’t do too much. He has speed, so Brian told me, ‘Try to take the lead if you can,'” Ortiz said. “He broke sharp. I let him find his rhythm. He came back to me. He relaxed so well. Then I just let him do his thing and relax until it was time to roll. He was very professional. When we made the second turn, he was going the same way he was on the backstretch. On the way home, I asked him and he exploded.”
Cugino had a 2 ¼ length lead Beach gold in third place. They were followed by Divine WordChasing the crown, Quatrocento, Stealing sunshine And Siege of Boston. Defending champion Major Dude and Naptown were scratched.
Wolfie’s Dynaghost pushed his career bankroll to more than $1.3 million and won his second straight race after the 1 1/8-mile River City (G3) on the Churchill Downs turf on Nov. 8 in his first start for Lynch. It was his fourth win in the last five starts, including over Prince George’s County, which also went nine furlongs, on June 28 on the grass of Laurel Park.
“He’s giving off a confident look right now. When you see a horse running the first quarter in 22 and getting changed and his ears perking like a deer in the pasture going down the backside, you know he’s pretty comfortable and he’s feeling good,” Lynch said. “I thought it was a very good field of horses and I thought I would go as hard as he did in the beginning and finish as strong as he did. There is no doubt that he is in very good form at the moment.”
Named after the famous coastal city 14 miles north of Gulfstream, Fort Lauderdale has seen 2020 winner Largent finish second in the 2021 Pegasus Turf and 2019 winner Instilled Regard finish third in the 2020 Pegasus Turf.
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