Triple Crown alumni: Updates on 9 from Pegasus and beyond

The Triple Crown Tracker checks in with the horses who raced in the 2023 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont, keeping up with what they have done since the classics.

2023 Kentucky Derby

Three horses from the 2023 Kentucky Derby recently returned to the starting gate. Confidence Game made his 4-year-old debut in the Grade 3 Louisiana on Jan. 20 at Fair Grounds. Toward the rear and wide early, the Keith Desormeaux trainee never threatened loose leader Saudi Crown and finished fifth.

Cyclone Mischief, conditioned by Dale Romans, endured a troubled trip in the Fred W. Hooper (G3) at Gulfstream on Saturday, weathering an early bump and being steadied on the turn. He was eased home to finish 11th and last behind Tumbarumba.

Sun Thunder made his second start of the year in an allowance race Sunday at Oaklawn. Sent off the odds-on favorite, the Ken McPeek trainee closed from last but could not catch up with more forwardly placed Bolzy in the lane. He finished second, beaten by 3 1/4 lengths.

2023 Preakness Stakes

Two entrants from the 2023 Preakness lined up for the Pegasus World Cup (G1) on Saturday. Preakness winner National Treasure, sent off the favorite in the Pegasus, pressed the pace, opened up in the lane and held by a neck to earn his second career Grade 1 win. He was the third Pegasus World Cup winner for trainer Bob Baffert. First Mission, the scratched morning-line favorite from the Preakness, was the narrow second favorite in the Pegasus. The Brad Cox charge never fired from midfield and weakened to ninth behind National Treasure.

Red Route One made his 4-year-old debut Jan. 20 in the Louisiana (G3). Though the Steve Asmussen trainee could not reel in easy leader Saudi Crown, he chased on with continued interest to finish second, 5 3/4 lengths behind the winner but holding off Happy American by 1/2 length for the place.

Coffeewithchris returned in an allowance-optional claiming race Saturday at Laurel. The John Salzman Jr. charge set the early pace in the 1 1/16-mile dirt race, but drifted out in the lane and weakened to fourth behind seasoned 8-year-old Yodel E. A. Who.

2023 Belmont Stakes

In addition to Pegasus World Cup winner National Treasure, one other horse from the 2023 Belmont Stakes raced in Gulfstream's weekend feature as well. Il Miracolo tracked in range of the pace early, but the Antonion Sano trainee could not keep pace in the lane and flattened out to a well-beaten sixth.

Tapit Shoes, who had not worked since being eased in an allowance race in August at Saratoga, returned to the work tab Saturday for the first time since that outing. The Brad Cox trainee drilled three furlongs at the Churchill training track.