There’s a little bit of buzz surrounding One Stripe heading into the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
The Pegasus World Cup Turf is a part of the dynamite undercard supporting the principle occasion, the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1).
One Stripe, a South African import, is 12-1 on the morning line from submit 4, odds which might be tempting for bettors in search of a worth play.
On the finish of the day, we expect the excitement will transform mere static. This can be a deep and gifted subject of runners with extra spectacular credentials, beginning with Program Buying and selling, a three-time Grade 1 winner and the 5-2 morning-line favourite.
This can be his first begin since ending tenth within the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), the place he was blocked and steadied within the lane.
He’ll be a serious pressure right here, with a cleaner journey beneath Flavien Prat. The 6-year-old educated by Chad Brown is the undisputed class of the race together with his Grade 1 victories within the Saratoga Derby, the Hollywood Derby, and the Turf Traditional at Churchill Downs.
An added edge: Program Buying and selling is 2-1-0 within the three begins at this 1 1/8-mile distance. He hardly ever turns in a poor effort, as he missed the board solely twice in 10 races (5-3-0).
Brown is a two-time winner of this race with Bricks and Mortar (2019) and Spirit of St Louis final yr.
Todd Pletcher can also be a two-time winner right here (Colonel Liam 2021 and 2022). He’s again for one more strive with Main Dude (8-1). The winner of $1.4 million, Main Dude, ran sixth on this race final yr.
The Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational has solely been run seven instances, and three trainers have gained it twice. Mike Maker joins Brown and Pletcher in that unique circle with victories by Zulu Alpha (2020) and Atone (2023). He returns with Chasing the Crown (20-1), third on this race final yr. The 7-year-old remains to be in search of his first graded stakes victory.
Coach Shug McGaughey entered a pair of runners, and each drew poorly. Cugino (7-2), a courageous second within the Fort Lauderdale (G3) final month, drew submit 10 whereas Fort Washington (10-1) landed submit 12 once more.
He had the surface attract final yr’s version and did nicely to complete fifth regardless of the submit.
One of many extra intriguing outsiders is Name Signal Seven (15-1) for coach Mike McCarthy, who’s coming off a banner marketing campaign with Journalism.
Name Signal Seven, upset winner of the Seabiscuit Handicap (G2) at Del Mar, will make his first begin exterior California.
Which brings us again round to One Stripe, a stakes winner in South Africa, making his fourth North American begin for coach H. Graham Movement.
He was overly ambitiously positioned in his first two begins for Movement: a fifth within the Woodbine Mile (G1) and a Thirteenth-place end within the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) after setting the early tempo.
He piqued curiosity and stirred the excitement with a pointy allowance win at Gulfstream final month. Gavin Lerena, a number one rider in South Africa, can be aboard. Lerena guided the horse to 4 of his seven wins.
It’s a pleasant story, however not one we see ending within the winner’s circle.
The Picks: 1 Program Buying and selling, 2 Cugino, 3 Name Signal Seven
The Discipline for the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, from the rail out, with jockey, coach, odds:
- Check Rating (Manny Franco, H. Graham Movement), 8-1
- Program Buying and selling (Flavien Prat, Chard Brown), 5-2
- Seaside Gold (David Egan, Patrick Biancone), 15-1
- One Stripe (Gavin Lerena, H. Graham Movement), 12-1
- Almendares (Umberto Rispoli, Phil D’Amato), 20-1
- Name Signal Seven (Ricardo Gonzalez, Michael McCarthy), 15-1
- Main Dude (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Todd Pletcher), 8-1
- Cabo Spirit (Mike Smith, George Papaprodromou), 8-1
- Chasing the Crown (Joel Rosario, Mike Maker), 20-1
- Cugino (John Velazquez, Shug McGaughey), 7-2
- Astronomer (Jose Ortiz, Simon Callaghan), 15-1
- Fort Washington (Junior Alvarado, Shug McGaughey), 10-1
Additionally-eligible
Bainikhov (Umberto Rispoli, Phil D’Amato)
Richard Rosenblatt is an award-winning journalist and former Related Press Horse Racing Editor. At the moment, he serves because the information editor at US Racing, overseeing unique content material from contributors worldwide.
