Betting with, and against, Regal Glory in the Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf

A wildly competitive field of 11 fillies and mares will go postward in Saturday’s $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational S. (G3). The inaugural running of the race will be contested at 1 1/16 miles on the green and is led by Matriarch S. (G1) heroine #4 Regal Glory (2-1).

Trained by Chad Brown, the classy six-year-old reached a peak in 2021 with five excellent efforts from as many races, and she seems poised to have another fine campaign starting in this race. The Animal Kingdom mare is equally adept at running from on or off the pace, and she also runs well fresh for a conditioner who is potent with layoff types.

Regal Glory was a runner-up in her lone previous attempt on the Gulfstream Park turf and will be a major factor with anything resembling her top performance on Saturday. She will never be far back in this affair with regular jock Jose Ortiz signed on for the voyage.

#8 Summer in Saratoga (12-1), who was purchased for $630,000 at Keeneland in November, has the look of a live longshot to me for conditioner Joe Sharp. The Hard Spun six-year-old owns an excellent turn of foot, as she displayed in her late Blushing K. D. tally at Fair Grounds most recently, and I think that she will improve off of that in her second race off the short break.

The bay has trained steadily in advance of her local debut, and with an expected sharp early pace, she will be closing as well as any in the cast at a fine number. Corey Lanerie has the call.

Italian import #2 Wakanaka (12-1) has been first or second in each lifetime try to date and could be any kind. Now in the hands of Bill Mott, the Power four-year-old had a fine sophomore campaign and has trained well on U. S. soil since. The bay is worth including at a nice price with strong turf pilot Umberto Rispoli in the stirrups.

Regal Glory – With

• $2 trifecta 4 with 2,8 with all ($36)
• $1 trifecta 4 with all with 2,8 ($18)

Regal Glory – Against

• $15 win and place #8 Summer in Saratoga ($30)
• $1 trifecta 8 with 2,4 with all ($18)