Looking for Work of Art in Pegasus World Cup

The $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) may be missing Flightline, but a competitive field will line up on Saturday at Gulfstream Park led by Cyberknife.

Cyberknife will be making his last start of his career for trainer Brad Cox before hitting the breeding shed. The colt has won five of his dozen career starts and banked over $2 million. He is the 5-2 morning line favorite among the group of 12.

“It’s really amazing he’s been able to stay as good as he has physically and mentally. He’s improved a tremendous amount mentally over the last six, seven, eight months. Physically he looks amazing. He’s given us all the signs – and maybe even more so now, working better than he ever has leading up to this,” Cox said. “He is older. He’s stronger than he was throughout his 3-year-old season. And he’s going to need to be.”

Cox saddled 2021 Pegasus World Cup winner Knicks Go.

If chalk is not your thing there are viable options in the race. Among them is Art Collector (10-1), the Bill Mott trainee who is a seven time winner at nine furlongs including the 2021 Woodward (G1) at Belmont Park.

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Bob Baffert ships east with Defunded (6-1) who is coming off back to back wins and Skippylongstocking (5-1) will take some action off his smart looking win in the Harlan’s Holiday (G3) over the Gulfstream Park main track.

There are seven supporting stakes on an outstanding 13-race card. Both the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) and the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G3) drew solid fields.

The Pegasus will be televised live on NBC and Peacock from 4:30 to 6:00 ET.

Let’s head out to Gulfstream Park for Saturday’s featured race of the day:

Gulfstream Park Race 13 The Pegasus World Cup Inv. (G1) 5:40 ET

6 Art Collector 10-1

10 Cyberknife 5-2

5 Defunded 6-1

7 Skippylongstocking 5-1

Art Collector

The Bill Mott trainee has run some quality efforts including winning the 2021 Woodward (G1) and two editions of the Charles Town Classic (G2). He has won 7 of 9 at today’s distance. He tossed in a clunker last out at Churchill Downs in the Lukas Classic where he set the early fractions and weakened to finish fifth. He comes in here fresh for a Hall of Fame trainer who is 22% winners with runners coming back off a 61-180 day break,. He will be forwardly placed and has been working well at Payson for his return off the freshening. Decent value if we catch most of the 10-1 morning line.

Cyberknife

The Brad Cox trainee makes his first start since missing in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) by a head to Cody’s Wish. That effort was his first start against older. His three-year-old campaign included victories in the Haskell (G1) and Arkansas Derby (G1) and a second in the Travers (G1). The colt has shown an ability to come from off the pace or to sit closer which likely will be the strategy today as he breaks from an outside post. Cox won this race in 2021 with Knicks Go. The logical one to beat here but his price is going to be on the light side.

Defunded

This gelding comes into the race off back to back scores on the west coast. The Bob Baffert trainee won the Native Diver (G3) last out after winning the Awesome Again (G1) two back, both at today’s nine furlong distance. Two back he beat Country Grammar who came back to win the San Antonio (G2) in his next start while the third place finisher Slow Down Andy came back to run a good third in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). He brings some early zip here but with Irad in the irons is he actually sent?