A dozen runners (plus one alternate) have entered Saturday’s $3 million Pegasus World Cup, which will be renewed for an eighth time at Gulfstream Park. The race’s honor roll to date includes superstars like Arrogate, Gun Runner and Knicks Go, and this year could add a Triple Crown race victor to its winners for the first time. Reigning Preakness champion National Treasure has the field’s marquee victory on his resume and will meet the winners of key, 2023 season-ending races like the Clark and Cigar Mile. Track handicapper Brian Nadeau installed National Treasure the 9-5 morning line favorite.
National Treasure’s Preakness-winning form also is bolstered by multiple Breeders’ Cup championship placings, third in the 2022 Juvenile and a hard-luck, nose runner-up in the ’23 Dirt Mile behind defending champ Cody’s Wish. The Quality Road colt has earned $1.6 million, one of four members in this year’s Pegasus field to top the million-dollar mark lifetime (along with Hoist the Gold, Skippylongstocking and Trademark).
The early pace of the Pegasus World Cup projects to be fast with front-running National Treasure (post 7) joined by the likes of sprinter/miler Hoist the Gold (post 4), First Mission (post 8, 7-2 morning line second choice) and Skippylongstocking (post 12). With the two favorites drawn alongside with speed in posts 7 and 8, and the sprinter to their inside in post 4, the pace could be even hotter than expected. The late threats figure to come from Chilean-bred O’Connor (post 2), winner of the local Harlan’s Holiday Stakes prep, and Cigar Mile runner-up / San Diego winner Senor Buscador (post 6). They certainly would benefit from a fast pace.
First post Saturday will be 11:00 am ET and the 13-race card includes the $1 million 1/ST BET Pegasus World Cup Turf and $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf amongst seven graded stakes. The undercard features the likes of international star mare Warm Heart against the boys – including unbeaten Integration and defending champion Atone – in the 1/ST BET PWC Turf, and F&M Turf defending champ Queen Goddess vs. Star Fortress. NBC broadcasts live from 4:30-6:00 pm ET. Horseplayers on the 1/ST BET and Xpressbet platforms will enjoy $20,000 in Hit & Split promotions on the day’s vast multi-race wager lineup.
The eighth annual 1/ST Pegasus World Cup Wager Guide will be available to access beginning Tuesday and features handicapping insights, workout videos, stats, trends, artificial intelligence picks and more. Visit the digital guide at 1st.com/guide.
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Gulfstream Park // Race 13 // 5:40 pm ET // $3 million Pegasus World Cup // 1-1/8 miles
1-Nimitz Class (Edgard Zayas // George Weaver) 20-1
2- O’Connor (Paco Lopez // Saffie Joseph Jr.) 8-1
3-Dynamic One (Irad Ortiz Jr. // Todd Pletcher) 15-1
4- Hoist the Gold (John Velazquez // Dallas Stewart) 12-1
5- Trademark (Fernando de la Cruz // Victoria Oliver) 15-1
6- Senor Buscador (Junior Alvarado // Todd Fincher) 20-1
7- National Treasure (Flavien Prat // Bob Baffert) 9-5
8- First Mission (Luis Saez // Brad Cox) 7-2
9- Grand Aspen (Jose Ortiz // Todd Pletcher) 8-1
10- Il Miracolo (Javier Castellano // Antonio Sano) 20-1
11-Crupi (Frankie Dettori // Todd Pletcher) 20-1
12- Skippylongstocking (Tyler Gaffalione // Saffie Joseph Jr.) 8-1
13- (AE) Castle Chaos (Tyler Gaffalione // Robert Falcone Jr.) 30-1
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Full Schedule: Gulfstream Park | Saturday, January 27, 2024
Race 1 | 11:00 am ET | start of early pick 5
Race 2 | 11:30 am ET | start of early pick 4
Race 3 | 12:00 pm ET | start of second pick 4
Race 4 | 12:31 pm ET | start of middle pick 5
Race 5 | 1:02 pm ET
Race 6 | 1:33 pm ET | start of third pick 4
Race 7 | 2:04 pm ET
Race 8 | 2:41 pm ET | start of the Rainbow 6
Race 9 | 3:13 pm ET | start of $750K-guaranteed late pick 5
Race 10 | 3:45 pm ET | $500K Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf | start of $750K-guaranteed late pick 4
Race 11 | 4:20 pm ET | start of $350K-guaranteed pick 3
Race 12 | 4:55 pm ET | $1M Pegasus World Cup Turf | super hi-5 offered
Race 13 | 5:40 pm ET | $3M Pegasus World Cup | super hi-5 offered
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