2024 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes At a Glance

Racing
Gulfstream Park, 2024 Pegasus World Cup Turf, Warm Heart, Webslinger, Integration
The 2024 $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational will be run Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park. (Karina S.N. Serio/Eclipse Sportswire)

Europeans are usually formidable in American graded turf stakes, but one exception has been the 1/ST BET Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes. In all of its first five runnings, the January Grade 1 stakes at Gulfstream Park has been captured by American horses. That could change Saturday with a European filly is favored in the mile and an eighth turf feature.

The 1/ST Bet Pegasus World Cup Turf

Racetrack: Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Date: Jan. 27

Purse: $1 million

Distance: 1 1/8 miles

Race: 12

Post Time: 4:55 p.m. Eastern

Notable winners: Colonel Liam (2021-22) Zulu Alpha (2020), Bricks and Mortar (2019).

First held: 2019

1. Atone (20-1): He won last year’s Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational but is winless in six starts since then. Comes off a third in an allowance race and will have to take a big step forward to be a threat here.

JOCKEY: Oisin Murphy TRAINER: Mike Maker

2. Jerry the Nipper (20-1): Could be one to watch If the odds are right. Was third by only a half-length in the Fort Lauderdale Stakes, the prep for this race. Adds blinkers here and should not be discounted.

JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

Integration. (Tim Sudduth/Eclipse Sportswire)

3. Integration (3-1): Will be facing older horses in a stakes for the first time, but was quite impressive while winning the Hill Prince Stakes at Aqueduct. If he can duplicate that effort here, he’ll be a major threat.

JOCKEY: Tyler Gaffalione TRAINER: Shug McGaughey                                             

4. I’m Very Busy (15-1): Was second in the Hill Prince, so if you like Integration it makes sense to give him a long look with Irad Ortiz Jr., who is seeking a fourth straight win and fifth in six runnings of the race.

JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr. TRAINER: Chad Brown

5. Webslinger (15-1): Highly consistent runner has been no worse than third in eight of his last nine starts. Was second in his last two grade 1 starts and looms a main threat.

JOCKEY: Edgard Zayas TRAINER: Mark Casse

6. Kingmax (12-1): Missed by a head in the Fort Lauderdale at 17-1 odds. If he takes another step forward he will be a major factor.

JOCKEY: David Egan TRAINER: Jorge Delgado

7. Adhamo (12-1): Flopped in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf but was third in two previous tries in Grade 1 company. Can be a contender if he returns to top form.

JOCKEY: Flavien Prat  TRAINER: Chad Brown

8. Master Piece (8-1): Won the Red Smith Stakes at Aqueduct at 1 3/8 miles. Might find the distance a tad short for his liking. Was seventh in last year’s race.

JOCKEY: Jose Lezcano TRAINER: Sydney Dutrow

Warm Heart. (Shamela Hanley/Eclipse Sportswire)

9. Warm Heart (9-5): Filly from legendary European trainer Aidan O’Brien is a definite threat to the boys. Missed by a neck in the Maker's Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf and then was third against males in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase. Was a two-time Group 1 winner overseas and figures to make her presence felt.

JOCKEY: Ryan Moore TRAINER: Aidan O’Brien

10. Shirl’s Speight (15-1): Ran well enough in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile presented by PDJF, losing by 2 1/2 lengths. But a mile rather than 1 1/8 miles seems his forte.

JOCKEY: Luis Saez TRAINER: Roger Attfield

11. Main Event (10-1): Was a front-running winner of the Fort Lauderdale. Can use that speed to offset an outside post and could be tough to reel in if the fractions are soft.

JOCKEY:  Javier Castellano TRAINER: George Weaver

12. Catnip  (15-1): Hasn’t raced since he failed to fire in the Arlington Million. He has trained sharply for his return to the races but the outside post dampens enthusiasm for him.

JOCKEY:  Frankie Dettori TRAINER: Michael Stidham

13. Grand Sonta (AE): Fourth in the Fort Lauderdale will need a scratch in order to run.

JOCKEY:  Tyler Gaffalione TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

14. Anglophile (AE): Winner of the National Thoroughbred League Dueling Grounds Derby will need two scratches to crack the field.

JOCKEY:  John Velazquez TRAINER: Brian Lynch

THE PICK: Integration

LIVE LONGSHOT: Webslinger

SUPERFECTA: 3-5-4-9


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