Editor’s Note: This article was written by Frank Taddeo.
The Pegasus World Cup
- Distance:1 1/8-mile
- Purse: $16 MillionÂ
- Track: Gulfstream Park
- Race: #12Â
- Date:Â Saturday, January 27, 2018
- Post Time:Â 5:35 ESTÂ /Â 2:35 PST
Fading Gun Runner Could Lead to “Telephone Numbers” in the Pegasus.
Will you be going through football & hockey withdrawal this weekend–as the Super Bowl is a week away and the NHL is headed for the All-Star break? Don’t worry, Vegas Whispers is here and has just the thing to get you going. How does a winning betting ticket that has three places before the ‘comma’ grab ya? Out here in Vegas we call those tickets with those kind of six-figure returns “Telephone Numbers”–something we could very well see should the huge favorite Gun Runner go down in the exotics.
On Saturday, the horse racing community will be have their eyes fixed upon the richest race in the world at Gulfstream Park. The Pegasus World Cup–with a listed purse of $16 million–has drawn a deep field and offers value that is often reserved for the Kentucky Derby.
Racing fan’s get one last chance to see Steve Asmussen’s highly acclaimed Gun Runner before he rides off into the sunset. Gun Runner, rightfully, has been installed as the 4-5 morning line favorite based upon his career of 11 wins in 18 starts that have netted a whopping $9 million in career earnings.
Now the money will pour in come post time on Gun Runner–as there is no doubt he is the best horse in the field based upon his body of work–but I think there is considerable value in fading the 10-hole he has drawn in the field. Now, Gun Runner is way too talented of a horse to toss off all tickets completely so he still needs to be included underneath on all exotic tickets.
Here are the horses I will be getting down on for this race:
#5 Collected (8/1)
Baffert brings this Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up into the race fresh off his second start off a layoff for a rematch with the aforementioned Gun Runner. The speed figures he brings into the Pegasus off his TVG Pacific Classic victory and his second place finish in the Classic show this guy is right there on paper with Gun Runner. Baffert will have him ready to fire and not only can I see an upset win in this spot, I dont envision him missing the board come Saturday afternoon.
#6 Gunnevera (15/1)
This horse has burned his backers at the finish line since his Fountain of Youth win last year. However, lets not forget where that win was attained—Gulfstream Park. The Pegasus is absolutely filled with early speed and very well could set up for this deep closer heading for home. Its well within his reach for Gunnevera to outrun his odds here and heavily reward his backers. Besides an insane pace scenario, lets also not forget that this guy gets perhaps the hottest jockey in the land Luis Saez.Â
#9 Toast of New York (20/1)
Now before you go crazy here, here me out. I know this 7 yr old colt has not raced in over 3 years. The nerve to race this guy in this spot by Jaime Osborne makes this colt even that more interesting. Lets not forget that back in 2014 BC Classic Toast of New York came within a nose of beating Bayern while edging out the esteemed California Chrome by a head for the place spot. Now at expected odds of even higher than his morning line odds of 20/1 this colt offers perhaps the biggest value in the race. Now in a weekend that is devoid of some real big sports stories can you imagine the headlines if this guy was able to pull off this upset in this spot?
My Selections
Exacta Box:Â 5 – 6 – 9 – 10
Exacta Part-Wheels: 5, 6, 9/ 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10
Trifecta Box:Â 5 – 6 – 9 – 10
Trifecta Part-Wheels: 5, 6, 9/ 5, 6, 9, 10/ 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10
