The stage is set for an epic confrontation between Knicks Go and Life is good during the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Presented by 1 / ST Bet at Gulfstream Park January 29th.
The sixth edition of the 1/8 mile event was held ahead of six additional graded stakes, notably the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational presented by Baccarat (G1T), as well as the inaugural TAA Pegasus World run. Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitation presented by Pepsi (G3T).
The three Pegasus races are part of the Rainbow 6 series that begins with William L. McKnight Stakes (G3T), and also includes Inside Information Stakes (G2) and Fred Hooper Presented By Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms At Xalapa Stakes (G3) . Please note that a bet with a conversion value of just over $400,000 on Friday, January 28 is scheduled to take place on Sunday.
The first post at Gulfstream is 11:30 a.m. ET. NBC will report from 4:30-6 p.m. ET.
Elsewhere, three-stake investors are mining at Santa Anita . Park and Oaklawn Park, but Aqueduct race track lies in the future of an impending Nor’easter, which could trigger the postponement of Toboggan Stakes (G3), the first scheduled classified shares of the year in New York.
Rarely is the term “strong wind” used to describe the weather in South Florida, but fans in the Gulfstream are advised to give up: the forecast only hits a 50+ year high and the wind event.
We will brave the elements.
Insider info (GP, race 8, 3:03): A competitive innovation of this women’s sprint seven event schedule started pick 5 late, with last year’s upset 16-1 winner Pacific Gale (6) against nine opponents, seven of which were victories at Gulfstream, Del Mar, Racing Parx, and Penn . National Circuit.
AG Indy (2 and Only once (8) was more than quick enough, and changed coaches for Todd Pletcher and Brad Cox for the first time.
AG Indy was purchased after winning the Senator Ken Maddy Stock on November 5 and returned to the dirt for the first time since the first of her career in 2019. Pletcher won Sunshine Classic Stakes on January 15th on the main track here with Shamrocket , who had only run on grass up until that point, and AG Indy’s pedigree (Take Charge Indy —Hong Kong Silver, by Badge of Silver) and recent workouts show that she can also handle switches.
Just One Time has won 4 of the 5 games starting last year, 3 of which won its mixed Pennsylvania friends. Her tactical pace will result in a track trip just outside the expected pacesetter Dance d’Oro (3), who forced Rampart Stakes earlier at the meeting.
Four graces (5) is a seven-time professional (4-1-0 from six tries), and has been well prepared for the first time back after being fired.
Jakarta capital city (7) won six of the nine quick-fights, but was empty-handed from seven that started without Lasix.
A – 2, 5, 8
B – 3, 6, 7
Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (GP, race 9, 3:36): King of Glory (4) winning three stakes in 2021 capped by Matriarch Stakes (G1T) and Chad Brown-trained mare that looks like the class of the yard.
X factor is input Wakanaka (2), whose only loss from eight starts was a couple of runner-ups to champions Italy Aria Importante . It’s been nine months since Wakanaka last won at the Premio Regina Elena (Italian One Thousand Guineas, G3T), but she boasts a string of encouraging writings for Bill Mott and picks the stellar Umberto Rispoli for its state debut.
Sweet Melania (first), The most beautiful (7), Summer in Saratoga (8), and Bipartisan (11) all emerged from solid performances and included team B.
A – 2, 4
B – 1, 7, 8, 11
Pegasus World Cup (GP, stage 11, 4:49): The entire field is separated by a long paragraph based solely on their fastest numbers from last year and features questions about some of the standout candidates.
Colonel Liam (6) won last year’s Pegasus Turf (at over 1 3/16 mile) while Pletcher won by 4 stakes, but has been out for almost 8 months since a side attempt at Resorts World Casino Manhattan Joint Stock (G1T).
Another Pletcher Runner, Likely a Runner Never surprised (12), must break through from the outside. Luis Saez will have to go a good way with this sometimes stubborn son of Organization , who can be a bit nimble through going early.
Let’s go (5) got scratched off Breeders’ Cup Fanduel Mile presented by PDJF (G1T) after catching a fever and venturing over a mile for the first time. He lost 5th place as Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes (G1T) favorite in his previous only try outside of Southern California.
Redemption (2 and Astronaut (1) second and fourth respectively Doswell (7) on December 18 Ft. Lauderdale shares (G2T). However, Doswell will not be able to control the pace this time and they are well qualified to turn the game around with a better setup.
Sacred life (8) and Field Pass (9) defeated each other by head to end 2021 in Knickerbocker Stakes (G3T) and Seabiscuit Handicap (G2T). They will be key along with Colonel Liam.
A – 6, 8, 9
B – 1, 2, 5, 12
Pegasus World Cup (GP, race 12, 5:34): Knicks Go (1) and Life is good (4) outpace their seven opponents as they win the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and Big Ass Fans’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) on November 6 in Del Mar.
The Knicks Go is 8 on 8 in two-round races since being transferred to Brad Cox in early 2020 and has taken the lead on the first call without a loss in that span. This would be the final kick-start of his career and a win would push his earnings past the $10 million mark.
Life Is Good’s only loss from six starts was by one Jackie’s Warrior in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) while riding in an overconfident manner. Nothing but number 1 in his first call slots.
An age showdown could be brewing, and with Knicks Go slamming off the tracks just the first few steps from the gate that could greatly affect how the race plays out.
Knicks Go has a big experience advantage at long distances (four wins from five starts), but Life Is Good has never done anything to suggest nine feathers are out of his reach. , and Pletcher — who started the week with a 42% win rate for the meeting — spoke about the recent Life Is Good training in the brightest of terms.
Those living multiracial exotic tickets to these two great powers will look pretty strong, at least.
A – 1, 4
B – no
