Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Picks n' Plays
By: Laurie Ross, Pedigree Power
The Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1) is one of the highlights of Gulfstream Park’s elite winter meet. Originally monikered the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, the race was given a substantial purse boost and re-named in 2017.
A dozen older horses were invited to compete in the 1 3/16-mile turf event, and all except the up-and-coming Colonel Liam have won or placed in graded stakes. Carded as Saturday’s eleventh race, the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational has a post time of 4:50 PM ET. The weather in Florida is beautiful, and the turf will be firm.
The majority of the field is comprised of contenders from the barns of Todd Pletcher (3), Michael Maker (2), and Claude “Shug” McGaughey III. Maker won the event in 2020 with Zulu Alpha.
COLONEL LIAM is the lukewarm favorite at 7-2, based on his recent 3 1/2-length victory in the Tropical Park Derby. In his first start off a four-month layoff, the Todd Pletcher trainee recorded a 106 late-pace Brisnet speed figure, the highest in the field. The pretty gray 4-year-old colt missed by just 3/4-length after a troubled trip at this distance in Saratoga. Colonel Liam has tactical speed.
The largest threat could be Colonel Liam’s stablemate, LARGENT (9-2). Into Mischief's son won the Ft. Lauderdale Stakes (G2) by two lengths in his first start off the layoff and his first foray into graded company. Pegasus contender Breaking the Rules was third in the race. Largent has won or placed in all nine starts, with five of those races at Gulfstream Park; however, this is his first attempt beyond 1 1/8-miles.
BREAKING THE RULES (10-1) couldn’t stay with Largent when the pair charged down the stretch in the Ft. Lauderdale Stakes (G2). However, the turf was good not firm, and Breaking the Rules does his best over firm going. The well-bred McGaughey trainee has hit the board in all three starts at Gulfstream and enters with a sharp pre-race turf bullet. He’s one to keep on your radar for a runner-up chance.
CROSS BORDER (15-1) tuned up at the Fairgrounds and returns to Gulfstream, where he had a heartbreaking head loss in last year’s W. L. McKnight Stakes (G3). He rarely throughs a clunker and is brought to you by last year’s Pegasus World Cup Turf winners Maker/ Gaffalione.
We got to know ANOTHERTWISTAFATE (5-1) during the 2019 Triple Crown season. Switched to the lawn, Scat Daddy's son captured the San Gabriel Stakes (G2) by 2 1/2-lengths, beating Pegasus entrant Next Shares. The Peter Miller trainee has his work cut out for him, but he’ll be forwardly placed.
SOCIAL PARANOIA (8-1) won his tune-up for the Pegasus sprinting at Gulfstream. He’s won three of four starts over this course and was out of the money only once since 2019. The Pletcher trainee has a series of bullet works, which is unusual for the barn, and this guy could upset the applecart.
Remember STORM THE COURT (12-1)? He was the bomb longshot winner of the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. After a spotty record on the dirt, Peter Eurton finally switched the son of Breeders’ Cup Mile hero Court Vision to the turf. The colt has placed in two of three starts on the lawn. He’s suspect at longer distances and only hits the board if he can make the early lead. I mention this because if Leparoux hustles Storm the Court out of the gate and grabs the lead, there’s the slight possibility that the colt could hang on for a minor award. Leparoux won the 2018 Pegasus Turf with front-running tactics, although with a higher caliber horse.
Selections:
This year’s Pegasus Turf lacks previous years' star power, but it’s still a competitive race.
#6 LARGENT (9-2)
#2 BREAKING THE RULES (10-1)
#5 COLONEL LIAM (7-2)
#9 CROSS BORDER (15-1)
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