City Of Light has won the Pegasus World Cup, a race touted as a match-race with Accelerate but one which became a romp for the winner.
The two were neck-and-neck on the home turn but City Of Light quickly assumed the lead and drew away on the rain-soaked Gulfstream Park dirt.
Seeking The Soul got up to run 5-3/4 lengths second with Accelerate third in the 12-horse field in the $9 million race, the richest in the United States.
“This horse is a gift,” City Of Light’s trainer Michael McCarthy said. “Amazing.”
It was the final race for both City Of Light and Accelerate horses who will stand alongside each other at Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky.
Accelerate’s biggest win came in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on dirt while City Of Light won the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Runner-up to Justify as the 2018 Horse of the Year, Accelerate ended his career with six wins from eight races – both losses coming to City of Light.
“We’ve enjoyed him for three years,” trainer John Sadler said.
“We ran a really good race today in tough conditions. … And City of Light is a very good horse also.”
City Of Light also won six races during his career which spanned 11 starts.
