Pegasus World Cup Update: New Shooters Take on Accelerate, City of Light

Although it's unlikely that impressive Grade 1 Malibu winner McKinzie's supplemented to the January 26 Pegasus World Cup, 4 new shooters will join. All 4 have an outside shot to win the lion's share of the world's richest horse race. 2-of-3 might be considered legitimate contenders to take down Accelerate and City of Light.

Check out profiles of Patternrecognition, Kukulkan, True Timber, and Audible, 4 horses looking to upset the chalk at the 2019 Pegasus World Cup.

Kukulkan, Patternrecognition, Audible Should Join Pegasus World Cup Field

1. Audible - Grade 3 Harlan's Holiday

Any time a horse goes off 1/9, we're supposed to stand at the windows and wait to cash our tickets while the race is going off, right? Not so. Audible finished second to 25/1 shot Sir Anthony in the Grade 3 Harlan's Holiday. How can a 1/9 shot have any chance in the Pegasus World Cup?

The Todd Pletcher trainee has a few excuses. First, he had to go incredibly wide. Sir Anthony got the rail trip. Second, he raced over the slop. So, not only did he go wide, but he went wide over a sloppy track at Gulfstream. That's a recipe for disaster.

Finally, the Harlan's Holiday was only Audible's second race off the extended layoff. He should show his best. His best might not be good enough, but we know Todd will have him ready.

2. Kukulkan - The Caribbean Classic

Hey, I get it. He's a Mexican horse that beat absolutely nothing in the Caribbean Classic. But, he dominated by 10 1/4 lengths. He also won the Mexican Triple Crown. Just because we don't know how good the stock is down there, it doesn't mean horses like Kulkulkan can't hang with our best.

Change happens in every industry. Who's to say Kukulkan doesn't spearhead a massive thoroughbred industry change on Jan. 29? I might not bet on him to win, but he hasn't folded in 14 races. He could take that undefeated record and decide he's just better than the horses he faces in the Pegasus World Cup.

I think he's a must use in the exotics. I never leave double-digit undefeated horses off tickets no matter the class of the race, where they're from, etc., unless that undefeated horse is the chalk.

3. Patternrecognition - Grade 1 Cigar Mile

That was ultra-impressive the way he buried front running Mendelssohn before holding off the closers in the Cigar Mile. The Chad Brown trained 6-year-old ran the half in around :45 and the three-quarters in a bit over 1:09. There was every reason to believe at least one of the quality stayers might catch him.

Nope. I think he can definitely carry his speed 1 1/8 miles. Not only that, but the other front-runners, namely Accelerate and City of Light, must decide to push the gas pedal early to keep up, or lay off and allow Patternrecognition to get comfortable.

Either way, the Brown trainee has a strategy edge. I'll most definitely be tempted to put him on top. He has the class to wire the field.

4. True Timber - Grade 1 Cigar Mile

If Audible and City of Light press Patternrecognition early, it should set it up for this unheralded son of Mineshaft. True Timber's broodmare was sired by my favorite horse of all time, Tiznow. He's definitely got the class to hang with these. Kiaran McLaughlin is one of the top horsemen in the world while True Timber was making up ground on Patternrecognition in the Cigar Mile and nobody else was.

Horse racing's all about timing. Although he's never shown the ability to run with these in the past, he could finally be coming into his own. Consider for exotics for sure.