First Mission Fires Pegasus Bullet

'TDN Rising Star' First Mission (Street Sense) worked a five-furlong bullet in 1:00.20 (1/48) Friday morning at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans in preparation for the $3-million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park Jan. 27.

The GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. winner and GII Clark S. runner-up worked shortly before 6 a.m. with exercise rider Kelvin Perez aboard.

“It was a really, really good breeze,” trainer Brad Cox said. “I know that's typical trainer talk but he's a good work horse. He was by himself. There actually was a set in front of him. I don't remember exactly whose barn it was, but he slipped up the inside on them nearing the wire and galloped out very, very well.”

Cox continued, “He's doing great. We've got a couple more works. But that's the first five-eighths he's had down here. I love what I saw from him.”

The Godolphin homebred had a trio of half-mile works at the Fair Grounds heading into Friday's exercise. “I sharpened him up a little bit,” Cox said. “We want to make sure we go to Florida with a fit, happy horse. We took a big step forward today with trying to get him down there in good order.”