Pegasus Picks to Ponder: Handicapping a Big Day at Gulfstream

The 4th Pegasus World Cup Invitational and 2nd Pegasus Turf highlight a stakes-packed day of racing at GULFSTREAM PARK today and while the $3 million Pegasus World Cup lost 2 of its top horses this week, the race is an interesting handicapping puzzle. It will also be a nice payday for some nice handicap horse.

In fact there are lots of neat handicapping puzzles on the card and Canadian Thoroughbred has picked out a few horses for each race to consider playing. The last 6 races make up the RAINBOW 6, whic has not been won for many weeks and will have a carryover of about $5 million (Sunday is a mandatory payout day).

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I have tipped my hand with the photo below from Vanessa Ng, who generously shares her photos with us and www.horse-races.net) as to who I am leaning to in the big race:

TAX has made a flashy appearance at Gulfstream Park as he gets ready for the Pegasus World Cup Invitational – VANESSA NG – HORSE-RACES.NET PHOTO

RACE 5 – LADIES’ TURF SPRINT –

JEAN ELIZABETH has never raced on grass but has plenty of turf breeding (her dam is out of a Theatrical mare) and this amazing 5-year-old mare has won 10 of her last 16 races at half a dozen different tracks. Very tough to beat.

Morning line favourite GIRLS KNOWS BEST and AMBASSADOR LUNA are also in the mix.

RACE 6 – SOUTH BEACH STAKES

One of the toughest races of of the day to sort out. 1 -2 -5 6- 9

At 15 to 1 (1) LA FEVE, who won the Duchess Stakes at Woodbine last year is one to consider with hot trainer Saffie Joseph saddling.

Speedy HIDDEN FACTS (2) and front runner MITCHELL ROAD (6) are contenders as is DEVANT (5) and I may try (9) LIMARI again, even though she was not good at all in her last race.

*RAINBOW 6 – RACE 7 FRED HOOPER STAKES – GRADE 3

Large field, one turn mile and plenty of pace in the race. 4-5-7-8 11

(8) FREE ENTERPRISE gets his first stakes test for trainer Chad Brown. Nice prospect but there are a lot of tough ones for him to fend off.

Will also start off the first leg of the Rainbow 6 with 4- RARE FORM, 5- PHAT MAN, 7 – TALE OF SILENCE and 11-EPIC DREAMER

RACE 8 – LA PREVOYANTE – Grade 3

Have to think (2) SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL, from England, has a good chance against this field with 1st time Lasix.

She is only a 1-time winner, however so that is scary. (5) TOURIGA makes the short list as does (9) RAINING LEMONS. Interesting that GET EXPLICIT really looks good on paper for trainer Barb Minshall but she went out of her way not to win last year in 9 races.

RACE 9 – INSIDE INFORMATION – GRADE 2

I like (2) WILDWOOD’S BEAUTY – loves distance, fast workouts, good form. (7) SPICED PERFECTION is the big fave and is a tough mare from just off the pace.

RACE 10 – WL MCKNIGHT – Grade 3

RED KNIGHT looks strong (1), classy gelding. Will give a little look to 9-year-old Canadian hero PUMPKIN RUMBLE although 1 1/2 miles on grass is not really his best gig. Former Woodbine runner (7) CROSS BORDER is interesting.

RACE 11 – PEGASUS WORLD CUP TURF – GRADE 1

No Lasix for the horses in the Pegasus races so handicappers will have to hope their selections handle that.

At 1 3/16 miles, this distance will be a bit sharp for the 1 1/2 mile specialists who are in this field. Plus, there is very little early speed in this group.

I like (2) ARKLOW and (4) SADLER’S JOY although the latter has no speed to run at and he will have to really hurry. (3) WITHOUT PAROLE, who knows, he was beaten 51 lengths and was dreadful for 2019 before he suddenly was 3rd in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Gets washy.

(11) SACRED LIFE is quite okay for Brown. (12) MAGIC WAND? Mare has been all over the world, just missed to the mighty Bricks and Morttar last summer in the Arlington Million

RACE 12 – PEGASUS WORLD CUP – GRADE 1

I like TAX, number 2 who is fresh and seemingly improving although rider Irad Ortiz has left for Mucho Gusto for Bob Baffert.

the most logical winner is (6) HIGHER POWER.