Exotics Plays for the 2025 Pegasus World Cup Turf

An overflow field of 14 is entered to contest the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. (G1) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. The 1 1/8-mile event on the lawn attracted a very good group, but the race lacks pace, and I will use the runners that I expect to be in the mix from the opening stages of the tilt. 

Pegasus Turf Wagers

• $3 exacta key box 2 with 7,9,10 ($18)
• 50-cent trifecta 2 with 7,9,10 with all ($15)
• 10-cent superfecta 2,7,9 with 2,7,9,10 with 2,7,9,10 with all ($16.20)

California import #2 Formidable Man is capable of flashing some speed from the gate and is well drawn near the rail for his local bow. By City of Light, the four-year-old capped his sophomore season with three consecutive wins led by a measured triumph in the Hollywood Derby (G1) at Del Mar. This Kentucky-bred faces a tall task while going up against his elders for the initial time, but he might be up to the task with regular pilot Umberto Rispoli taking the reins. 

Chad Brown’s #9 Spirit of St. Louis is very intriguing to me and figures to offer some value, too. The Empire State-bred six-year-old has done most of his work with fellow New York runners, but he has beaten open foes in the past, and his try when fifth in the Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland was an encouraging one, in my opinion. The lightly raced dark bay boasts a fine 13-9-3-0 mark in his lifetime and will never be far back under Tyler Gaffalione. 

Godolphin homebred #7 Nations Pride isn’t super quick, but he gets himself into his races early enough and the son of Teofilo is a must-use against this group. The Charlie Appleby pupil has earned top-level wins across the globe and he was an easy winner in his most recent U.S. appearance when bagging the Arlington Million (G1) at Colonial Downs. William Buick comes in to pilot the classy six-year-old. 

Shug McGaughey’s #10 Battle of Normandy has shown nice improvement since having blinkers added and rides in on a four-race win streak, capped by a score in the River City S. (G3) at Churchill Downs last time out. The City of Light five-year-old likes to be forwardly placed and will surely be asked for some energy coming out of the gate by Jose Ortiz. If the bay can avoid being hung wide early, then he will be in with a shot turning for home at a fair number.