Pegasus World Cup Turf Study Guide

An overflow field of 13 will travel 1 3/16 miles on the Gulfstream Park lawn in Saturday’s $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1). With contenders throughout the field, the second edition of Pegasus World Cup Turf is one of the most wide-open events on a robust Saturday card in South Florida. 

Here is the cast:

1 ZULU ALPHA

Career Racing Stats: 30-9-4-5, $1,371,697

Top BRIS Speed rating (111) when sixth in Turf Classic (G1) at Belmont Park

Status: Exotics contender

Pros: Two graded wins on the course, consistency

Cons: Running style, distance

Prediction: Street Cry gelding saves ground and challenges for a minor award late.

2 ARKLOW

Career Racing Stats: 24-6-6-2, $1,816,382

Top BRIS Speed rating (114) in Turf Classic (G1) tally at Belmont Park

Status: Win contender

Pros: Connections, consistency

Cons: Unproven on the surface

Prediction: Cox pupil will be on even terms turning for home.

3 WITHOUT PAROLE

Career Racing Stats: 10-4-0-1, $831,986

Top BRIS Speed rating (95) in Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) third

Status: Win contender

Pros: Class, connections, turn of foot

Cons: Distance, unknown at Gulfstream

Prediction: Group 1 hero rallies furiously inside the final furlong to challenge for the win.

4 SADLER’S JOY

Career Racing Stats: 26-7-4-7, $2,471,360

Top BRIS Speed rating (119) in 2018 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1)

Status: Exotics Contender

Pros: Affinity for Gulfstream, class

Cons: Settles for minor awards often, running style

Prediction: Late runner will pass horses belatedly from well off the tempo.

5 CHANNEL CAT

Career Racing Stats: 20-5-2-5, $913,992

Top BRIS Speed rating (112) when fourth in Turf Classic (G1) at Belmont Park

Status: Exotics contender

Pros: Running style, great recent prep

Cons: Not his preferred distance

Prediction: English Channel 5-year-old is well placed early but outkicked in the stretch.

6 INSTILLED REGARD

Career Racing Stats: 14-3-3-3, $589,240

Top BRIS Speed rating (102) when fourth in 2018 Santa Anita Derby (G1)

Status: Exotics contender

Pros: Local prep win, connections

Cons: Class, lack of turf experience

Prediction: Son of Arch tracks the pace and tires inside the final furlong.

7 ADMISSION OFFICE

War Story Career Racing Stats: 10-3-4-2, $318,297

Top BRIS Speed rating (97) when runner-up in Fort Lauderdale (G2) at Gulfstream Park

Status: Win contender

Pros: Turn of foot, sharp local prep

Cons: Running style, numerous narrow defeats

Prediction: One-run closer moves into contention inside the sixteenth pole.

8 HENLEY’S JOY

Career Racing Stats: 16-4-3-0, $1,070,711

Top BRIS Speed rating (101) in Belmont Derby (G1) victory

Status: Longshot

Pros: Proven at the distance, likes Gulfstream turf

Cons: Unplaced in five straight, class question mark

Prediction: Chestnut never gets involved at a big price.

9 NEXT SHARES

Career Racing Stats: 29-7-4-2, $1,677,771

Top BRIS Speed rating (104) in 2018 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) triumph

Status: Longshot

Pros: Recent workouts, closing kick

Cons: Inconsistency, unknown at distance

Prediction: Late runner stalks the pace but never threatens in the lane.

10 MO FORZA

Career Racing Stats: 9-4-3-1, $499,460

Top BRIS Speed rating (100) in Twilight Derby (G2) win

Status: Win contender

Pros: Early speed, current form

Cons: Quality of recent competition, unknown commodity outside CA

Prediction: Miller charge prompts the pace and is perfectly placed turning for home.

11 SACRED LIFE

Tenfold Career Racing Stats: 13-5-6-0, $310,409

Top BRIS Speed rating (97) in Bernard Baruch (G2) second-place finish at Saratoga

Status: Win contender

Pros: Connections, turn of foot, added distance

Cons: Post position, running style

Prediction: Brown trainee gets up in the final strides to post an upset.

12 MAGIC WAND

Career Racing Stats: 22-3-8-2, $4,146,240

Top BRIS Speed rating (105) when runner-up in Arlington Million (G1)

Status: Win Contender

Pros: Class, durability, connections

Cons: Post Position, settles for minor awards

Prediction: Star of the field has a nose in front at midstretch.

13 TUSK

Career Racing Stats: 37-8-7-6, $441,317

Top BRIS Speed rating (96) in Tropical Turf (G3) score

Status: Longshot

Pros: Current form, local prep tally

Cons: Impossible post, class

Prediction: Also-Eligible shows early foot but fades late.

Pegasus World Cup Turf Wager

$20 Win-Place-Show: 11 Sacred Life ($60)