A full field will head to the gate in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday at 1 1/8 miles.
The Mike Maker trained Atoned is coming off one of his best career efforts and has a legitimate shot at his 12-1 morning line. The gelding was fourth in last year’s edition.
“He didn’t have the cleanest of trips last year. He had a little trouble, but he seemed to get over the surface fine and the distance was perfect. No serious excuses, just maybe got outrun a little bit. Hopefully a little bit cleaner trip this year will help,” Maker’s assistant trainer Nolan Ramsey said. “I think a little freshening, a little bit of time between races, probably helps him a little more this year.”
The Paulo Lobo trained Ivar is the 5-2 morning line favorite. The seven-year-old was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) in his last outing. The Brazilian bred has won just one of his last eight starts.
“I think his [last] race was very good,” trainer Paulo Lobo said. “He lost to a very top horse. Javier Castellano was riding him for the first time. He rode a very good race, and since then we’ve pointed for the Pegasus Turf and we’ve never missed a day and never had a bad day. Everything that we planned is happening, no problems.”
The Pegasus World Cup Turf is the 12th race on the 13-race card. The race will be televised along with the $3 million Pegasus World Cup invitational (G1) on NBC at Peacock from 4:30 to 6:00 ET.
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Let’s head out to Gulfstream Park for a look at the Pegasus Turf:
Gulfstream Park Race 12 The Pegasus World Cup Turf Inv. (G1) 4:40 ET
3 Atone 12-1
10 Ivar 5-2
6 Lady Speightspeare 6-1
12 City Man 4-1
Atone
This gelding earned his second career triple digit Beyer in a gate to wire win versus Alw-3 optional claimers at Aqueduct going nine furlongs last out. The runner up Cold Hard Cash ran third in the Red Smith (G2) in his next outing. The third place finisher Dreams of tomorrow was a next out optional claimer winner and the fifth place finisher Value of Engineering won the H A. Jerkens at Gulfstream Park in his next start on Dec. 17. The maker trainee was fourth in this race last year and was a solid second three back in the Mint Million (G3) at Kentucky Downs. He will be forwardly placed and while we likely won’t see 12-1 this guy should offer some decent value. Irad picks up the call and has won this race three times.
Ivar
The seven-year-old has won just one of his last eight starts and that came at Indiana Downs. But he gives a good effort just about every time out and was only beaten a length when fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) in his last outing for the Lobo barn. He needs to work out a trip and see some pace in front of him. He has done his best work at a mile but sure looks as if the extra furlong here would not pose a problem.
Lady Speightspeare
This gal takes on the boys at nine furlongs instead of taking on fillies and mares a race earlier for $500,000. She was a solid third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), beaten 1 ½ lengths at 32-1. She earned a career top speed fig and a repeat of that numbers puts her in the mix here. She gets a weight break and Saez sticks. She may end up getting overlooked in here and offer some value.
