2019 Pegasus World Cup one-liners

After discussing the storylines and studying the past performances (free) for the Pegasus World Cup (G1), it’s time to distill them all into the quick takes we dub “one-liners.” In post position order: #1 BRAVAZO – Tough and genuine colt gave Justify his closest call in the Preakness (G1), but the six-time Grade 1 bridesmaid is likelier to add another placing than make a rare visit to the winner’s circle. #2 SOMETHING AWESOME – Eight-year-old compiled a career year after transferring to Laurel, but Stronach homebred has a lot to prove in his first Grade 1 attempt. #3 CITY OF LIGHT – Dominant Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) victor boasts a win over Accelerate at this 1 1/8-mile trip, the question being whether that Oaklawn Park result from last April will be duplicated. #4 SEEKING THE SOUL – The 2017 Clark (G1) winner (under a light weight) needs a career best to reverse Breeders’ Cup form with City of Light. #5 ACCELERATE – Newly crowned champion older dirt male fits the profile of the first two Pegasus winners, as the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) hero, and arguably enters sharper than he was at Oaklawn. #6 TOM’S D’ETAT – Unexposed six-year-old gives off a dark horse vibe going into the stiffest test of his life. #7 TRUE TIMBER – Cigar Mile (G1) runner-up has produced his best efforts around one turn so far, belying his distance-oriented pedigree. #8 GUNNEVERA – Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up has never run a bad race at Gulfstream and will be closing late. #9 KUKULKAN – Unbeaten Mexican Triple Crown winner successfully transferred his form to Gulfstream in his latest, but versus Caribbean restricted company, and looks ambitiously spotted. #10 AUDIBLE – Florida Derby (G1) winner lost his aura as a Gulfstream specialist when upset last out in the slop, surprisingly since he’d rallied for third to Justify in a sloppy Kentucky Derby (G1), but can bounce back in better conditions. #11 IMPERATIVE – Nine-year-old appears to have lost a step since his heyday, and even turning back the clock to 2014-17 probably wouldn’t be enough. #12 PATTERNRECOGNITION – Cigar Mile winner has spent his entire 11-race career so far around one turn, and drawing the far outside post 12 doesn’t help on the stretch-out. Good luck and happy Pegasus! Accelerate photo (c) Churchill Downs/Coady Photography More Pegasus Day picks and analysis here