Pegasus World Cup Post Positions
By Richard Rosenblatt
Omaha Beach – Photo Courtesy of Santa Anita Park
As expected, multiple Grade 1 winner Omaha Beach has been made the 7-5 favorite in a field of 12 for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.
Omaha Beach, winner of the Malibu Stakes (G1) in his most recent start, will be ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith and leave from the No. 5 post in the fourth running of the World Cup.
Spun to Run, an upset winner over Omaha Beach in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), is the 7-2 second choice on the morning-line, and drew the No. 9 post with Hall of Famer Javier Castellano aboard for the first time.
Mucho Gusto – Photo Courtesy of Santa Anita Park
Mucho Gusto, a latecomer to the field trained by two-time Triple Crown winning Bob Baffert, is the 9-2 third choice leaving from post 10 under Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Omaha Beach would have been the favorite for the 2019 Kentucky Derby (G1) after winning the Rebel (G2) and Arkansas Derby (G1), but the colt was scratched just before the race with a throat issue that required surgery.
After missing the Triple Crown races, Omaha Beach returned after overcoming several other ailments and won the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1) before running second in the BC Dirt Mile, and then winning the Malibu.
“He’s settled in nice (in South Florida), and he’s had plenty of time to get set,’’ said Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella at Wednesday’s draw.
This will be the final race of Omaha Beach’s career before he is retired to stud. He carries a 10-5-4-1 record and earnings of $1,651,800 into the 1 1/8-mile World Cup.
Mr Freeze – Photo courtesy of Coady Photography
“We’re just glad we got to have him around for the time we did,’’ said Mandella. “It’s a great race, and it should be interesting with no medication (on race day). It’s great to be part of it.’’
Five of the 12 starters are listed as 30-1 long shots – Seeking the Soul, War Story, Mr Freeze, Tenfold and Bodexpress. True Timber and Diamond Oops are 20-1, with Tax 12-1 and Higher Power 6-1.
The first three winners of the Word Cup were Arrogate (2017), Gun Runner (2018) and City of Light (2019). Two were the favorites, Arrogate ($3.80) and Gun Runner ($4.20), while City of Light was the second choice ($5.80).
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | True Timber | Joe Bravo | Kiaran McLaughlin | 20-1 |
| 2 | Tax | Jose Ortiz | Danny Gargan | 12-1 |
| 3 | Diamond Oops | Julien Leparoux | Patrick Biancone | 20-1 |
| 4 | Seeking the Soul | John Velazquez | Dallas Stewart | 30-1 |
| 5 | Omaha Beach | Mike Smith | Richard Mandella | 7-5 |
| 6 | Higher Power | Flavien Prat | John Sadler | 6-1 |
| 7 | War Story | Joel Rosario | Elizabeth Dobles | 30-1 |
| 8 | Mr Freeze | Luis Saez | Dale Romans | 30-1 |
| 9 | Spun to Run | Javier Castellano | Juan Carlos Guerrero | 7-2 |
| 10 | Mucho Gusto | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Bob Baffert | 9-2 |
| 11 | Tenfold | Tyler Gaffalione | Steve Asmussen | 30-1 |
| 12 | Bodexpress | Emisael Jaramillo | Gustavo Delgado | 30-1 |
Pegasus World Cup Post Turf Positions
In the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1), Magic Wand is the 7-2 morning-line favorite for trainer Aidan O’Brien. The 5-year-old mare drew the outside No. 12 post, and will be ridden by Ryan Moore. Without Parole, one of three entries from trainer Chad Brown, is the 4-1 second choice leaving from the No. 3 post with Frankie Dettori aboard.
In last year’s inaugural World Cup Turf, Bricks and Mortar was the winner en route to a perfect 6-0 season.
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zulu Alpha | Tyler Gaffalione | Michael Maker | 12-1 |
| 2 | Arklow | Luis Saez | Brad Cox | 6-1 |
| 3 | Without Parole | Frankie Dettori | Chad Brown | 4-1 |
| 4 | Sadler’s Joy | Javier Castellano | Tom Albertrani | 8-1 |
| 5 | Channel Cat | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | 10-1 |
| 6 | Instilled Regard | N/A | Chad Brown | 10-1 |
| 7 | Admission Office | Jose L. Ortiz | Brian Lynch | 30-1 |
| 8 | Henley’s Joy | Julien Leparoux | Michael Maker | 30-1 |
| 9 | Next Shares | Jose Valdivia, Jr. | Richard Baltas | 30-1 |
| 10 | Mo Forza | Joel Rosario | Pete Miller | 5-1 |
| 11 | Sacred Life | N/A | Chad Brown | 12-1 |
| 12 | Magic Wand | Ryan Moore | Aidan O’Brien | 7-2 |
