When planning your wagers for the weekend of January 25 and 26, no event is more important than the fourth running of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), a 1 1/8-mile contest worth $3 million.
It will be held at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida on Saturday, January 25, and features some of the best horses in training.
The card also boasts the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), which is slated to have a diverse field of North American and international contenders. The Pegasus World Cup 2020 contenders, and Pegasus World Cup odds, as well as best bet recommendations for both races, can be found here.
2020 Pegasus World Cup Contenders
Fox Hill Farms’ Omaha Beach will be a deserving favourite in the nine-furlong race, especially after annexing the seven-furlong Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park in December. But he has yet to win a race over a mile since the spring when he was seen scratching from the Kentucky Derby (G1) despite being favoured owing to a throat issue.
Trainer Richard Mandella masterfully guided the son of War Front to win the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1) in October, but he lost the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) to 9-1 shot Spun to Run.
Spun to Run, a four-time winner in Pennsylvania before surprising in the Breeders’ Cup, came off that victory to lose the Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) in New York behind Maximum Security, who is bypassing this race. Spun to Run also loses his rider, as pilot Irad Ortiz, Jr. switches to Mucho Gusto
The Bob Baffert-trained Mucho Gusto was considered a live Kentucky Derby prospect in 2019 after winning the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita in February. He could do no better than third in the Sunland Park Derby (G3) in New Mexico, effectively ending his Kentucky Derby dreams. He won a pair of Grade 3 events at Santa Anita, ran second in the Haskell Invitational (G1) behind Maximum Security, and has not won since June of last year. However, he has been working well for this
Bodexpress was a maiden going into last year’s Kentucky Derby, but he had finished second in the Florida Derby (G1) before running 13th in Louisville. He then caused chaos when losing rider John Velazquez at the start of the Preakness Stakes (G1), but the son of Bodemeister has settled down since and reeled off two wins in three starts.
Both of those wins came by open lengths across town at Gulfstream Park West. He was third in the Harlan’s Holiday Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park itself on December 14, and with two very good performances over the track in the last year looks to be a live longshot.
War Story will be seeking his first Pegasus World Cup victory after running 10th here in 2018 and fifth in 2017. He was a winner over this track in the Harlan’s Holiday last out, defeating Bodexpress, and signalling his readiness for the race.
Other expected contenders are Breeders’ Cup Classic also-rans Higher Power, Math Wizard, and Seeking the Soul, as well as Diamond Oops, Mr Freeze, Tax, Tenfold, and True Timber.
2020 Pegasus World Cup Best Bet Recommendations
Although Omaha Beach is a deserving favourite, he offers little value to handicappers and bettors interested in turning a profit on the Pegasus World Cup. Here are some best bet recommendations, including the odds to win the Pegasus World Cup:
Best Bet
Exacta Plays
- 1st: Omaha Beach (+110), War Story (+2500)
- 2nd: Mucho Gusto (+800) and Bodexpress (+1100)
Trifecta Plays
- 1st: Omaha Beach (+110), War Story (+2500)
- 2nd: Mucho Gusto (+800) and Bodexpress (+1100)
- 3rd: Spun to Run (+275), and Tax (+2500)
Superfecta Plays
- 1st: Omaha Beach (+110), War Story (+2500)
- 2nd: Mucho Gusto (+800) and Bodexpress (+1100)
- 3rd: Spun to Run (+275), and Tax (+2500)
- 4th: ALL (also known as FIELD)
2020 Pegasus World Cup Turf Contenders
The towering entrant in here is the Aidan O’Brien-trained Irish filly Magic Wand, who was second in this race last year. But she offers little value, unlike Instilled Regard who is coming off a Grade 2 victory over this course. Together they will face a full field including Admission Office, Arklow, Channel Cat, Henley’s Joy, Mo Forza, Next Shares, Sacred Life, Sadler’s Joy, Without Parole, and Zulu Alpha.
2020 Pegasus World Cup Turf Best Bet Recommendations
Instilled Regard was Grade 1 placed as a two- and three-year-old, is coming off a Grade 2 win over the course.
Exacta Plays
- 1st: Instilled Regard (+1000)
- 2nd: Magic Wand (+225) and Mo Forza (+500)
Trifecta Plays
- 1st: Instilled Regard (+1000)
- 2nd: Magic Wand (+225) and Mo Forza (+500)
- 3rd: Magic Wand (+225), Without Parole (+225), and Next Shares (+2000)
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
Saturday, January 29 at Gulfstream Park is one of the biggest races of the year: the Pegasus World Cup (G1)! This $3 million race, covering a mile and an eighth on the Gulfstream dirt track, drew a field of nine handicap horses. The eyes of the racing world will be on Gulfstream on Saturday, and you can bet it from the comfort of your own home here in Canada!
The Kentucky Derby trail makes its way to Oklahoma on Friday, December 17 for the Remington Springboard Mile! The race drew a field of nine up-and-coming two-year-olds to go a mile on the main track. The prizes are rich: a $400,000 purse, as well as Road to the Kentucky Derby points (10-4-2-1) for the first four horses across the wire.
The Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), California’s most important Kentucky Derby Prep in December, is coming up on Saturday, December 11! The race features the most promising two-year-olds in California, set to go a mile and a sixteenth over the dirt at Los Alamitos Racecourse. The race offers a purse of $300,000, as well as Road to the Kentucky Derby points, apportioned 10-4-2-1 to the top four finishers.
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