Bet against short prices in Pegasus turf races. Most know the Pegasus World Cup as a the richest race for older males outside of the Breeders’ Cup, but it is actually a three-race series that includes a pair of turf races. The Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf is the first of those three races on Saturday at Gulfstream Park with the Pegasus World Cup Turf preceding the Pegasus World Cup race itself. Between the two turf races is the Inside Information Stakes, which means the Pegasus female turf kicks off an all-stakes pick 4. The Pegasus Turf is part of a Grade 1 double with the Pegasus World Cup. The turf races offer tremendous wagering opportunity because I do not like the (morning line) favorites in either of them. That “morning line” modifier is essential because I am not sure how the public will bet the Pegasus female turf race. No. 7 Whiskey Decion and No. 11 In Our Time are the morning line favorites. The former has Flavien Prat up for Chad Brown off a stakes win, so she is sure to take money, but the more than four-month layoff gives me pause as does her having only one truly remarkable race on her PPs. The latter gets Irad Ortiz Jr. up for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and is interesting from a pace perspective, but post 11 does her no favors in that regard. I appreciate her consistency, but I think it will take a better race than she typically runs to win this. Joseph also trains No. 12 Movin’ On Up, who was favored last out when losing by a head after leading late. That was her first start in nearly four months, though, and 1 1/16 miles may be her better distance, anyway, which she gets here second-off the layoff stretching out from a mile. She is absolutely my play at even half her 12-1 morning line. Caitlinhergrtness won the King’s Plate in 2024 and looks to still be going strong for a 2026 season. I still wouldn’t mind seeing her try dirt a la Nitrogen, the 2024 two-year-old champion in Canada who was 2025 champion three-year-old filly in America. Caitlinhergrtness prepped for this with a synthetic stakes victory last month. Her best numbers win this, but her best numbers have not come on turf so price sensitivity is essential. Nitrogen is sticking to dirt for now, but her trainer Mark Casse has a pair of fillies in here. Classic Q does not interest me at all at any price let alone her 6-1 morning line, but And One More Time looks dangerous. Her 12-1 morning line price would be great, but I think she will be much shorter than that. Breath Away is the last horse I’ll mention. She might need one, but the price will be right to take a shot on her being a part of things late. I will start this all-stakes pick four using Movin On Up, Caitlinhergrtness, And One More Time, and Breath Away. The Pegasus Turf is a bit more straightforward in that I don’t like Program Trading but do like both Cugino and Beach Gold. Program Trading has the same connections as Whiskey Decision and is sure to take money give his Grade 1 accomplishments, but that Breeders’ Cup Mile last out was a total dud. Sure, it was against much better than he faces here and not at what appears to be a more ideal distance like the 1 ⅛ miles here, but he will have to beat me as the favorite. The Fort Lauderdale was an ideal prep for this, and I plan to play both horses coming out of it. I guess I have a slight preference for Beach Gold since he is a much bigger price and has some upside with the ideal post after a wide trip last out. I am only going to use the two Fort Lauderdale horses on my main pick 4 ticket that goes deeper in the Pegasus female turf as noted above. For the Pegasus World Cup, I’ll use Disco Time, Poster, and Skippylongstocking. You’re on your own for the Inside Information! Ed DeRosa Share This:Share
