HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - To be a champion, you’ve got to beat the champion. Or in the case of Knicks Go, the champion-to-be. That’s exactly what Life Is Good did late Saturday afternoon at Gulfstream Park, running the soon-to-be-named Horse of the Year Knicks Go off his feet from start to finish en route to a totally convincing 3 1/4-length victory in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational. In the process, Life Is Good put an exclamation point on another memorable day for trainer Todd Pletcher, who won two other graded stakes, including the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf with defending champion Colonel Liam. On paper, the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup appeared to be a match race between the two stars of the 2021 Breeders’ Cup: Classic winner Knicks Go, and Life Is Good, who dominated the Dirt Mile. The two horses with similar running styles set up a classic confrontation; the question of how the pace scenario might play out dominated just about every conversation in the days leading up to the much-anticipated race. :: Serious horseplayers use serious products. Get DRF's premium past performances, now free for the first time But the expected pace duel between the two favorites never took place. Life Is Good readily took control from Knicks Go and Stilleto Boy a sixteenth of a mile into the race before shockingly opening a commanding advantage by the time the field settled into the run down the backstretch. He was never seriously threatened thereafter.                                              Life Is Good posted splits of :23.12 and :46.35 for the opening half-mile while kept out in the middle of the racetrack by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., came back toward the rail around the second bend, remained in complete control upon settling into the stretch, and maintained a very comfortable lead despite drifting some through the latter stages before being taken in hand approaching the wire.           Knicks Go broke readily enough under Joel Rosario, but seemed a bit sluggish immediately after the start and was ultimately taken back by Rosario when unable to match strides with either Life Is Good or Stilleto Boy a sixteenth of a mile into the race. Knicks Go moved into the attending position after three furlongs while also racing well off the rail, remained a bit wide into the stretch, out-finishing Stilleto Boy by a length to finish second while never posing a threat to the winner. Stilleto Boy was ridden by Jose Ortiz, a late replacement for the West Coast invader’s regular jockey, Kent Desormeaux, following the latter’s arrest in Louisiana the previous day. Endorsed, who raced forwardly from the outset, finished a tiring fourth, followed in turn by Sir Winston, Chess Chief, Commandeer, Title Ready, and Empty Tomb. Life Is Good, a 4-year-old son of Into Mischief, is owned by WinStar Farm in partnership with CHC Inc. He began his career with trainer Bob Baffert, winning his first three starts before being transferred to Pletcher’s barn during the summer. He suffered his only defeat in seven starts when beaten a neck by Jackie’s Warrior in the Grade 1 Allen Jerkens at Saratoga before bouncing back with one-sided victories in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap and Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. The Pegasus World Cup marked his first start beyond 1 1/16 miles. Life Is Good completed nine furlongs over a fast track in 1:48.91. He paid $3.60 as the tepid favorite, at 4-5, over Knicks Go, who went postward at just slightly higher odds of 9-10. Life Is Good was given a Beyer Speed Figure of 110. :: Take your handicapping to the next level and play like a pro with free Formulator, DRF's premium data product “We didn’t know for sure how (the race) was going to play out,” Pletcher said in the post-race press conference.  “We ran so many scenarios through our heads how it could unfold, but we were committed to allowing Life Is Good run his race. There was a risk they could get in a speed duel, but in this case he was just too fast and too good, and it was a special performance to watch.”   Pletcher paid Life Is Good the ultimate compliment after his performance in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational. “I can’t think of another horse who is better than him,” Pletcher said, diplomatically, when asked if Life Is Good is the best horse he has ever trained. “What makes him so special is his ability to run fast, the high cruising speed, and then to keep going. He’s got tremendous mechanics. He’s just a phenomenal talent.”    Ortiz, who also guided Colonel Liam to victory for Pletcher in the Pegasus Turf, said he never expected to be in front as easily as he was so early in the race. “We got a clean break, and going to the first turn my horse was going a little fast but doing it the right way,” Ortiz explained. “The plan was maybe sit second or be close to Knicks Go. But when I looked around I see nobody. The trainer told me use my judgment, and that’s what I did, I went to the lead. Down the backside he relaxed so well, he came back to me, and honestly I couldn’t wait to let him run. I knew I had so much horse. I was pretty confident.” Brad Cox said he was “VERY shocked” to see Life Is Good get away from Knicks Go as easily as he did. “It shows you how really good he (Life Is Good) is, I guess,” Cox said. “It was a little bit of a jaw-dropping performance. Joel said he felt fine, he handled the track well. We ended up in chase mode, which was Plan B. We wanted to go with Plan A (make the lead), but we didn’t execute with Plan A. We just weren’t good enough. The winner was very, very good today. I look forward to running against him again, with Mandaloun. Maybe we can start a new rivalry.”   Total handle on Saturday’s 12-race Pegasus card was in excess of $43.8 million, up from $40.7 million in 2021.