Horse Racing Picks: Pegasus World Cup Prediction, preview, and Odds (Jan 27)

• Huge racing action is staged at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, as the G1 Pegasus World Cup is run
• Lucrative race worth $3 million is run over 1 1/8 miles in Florida

The first big race on the U.S. calendar in 2024 takes place this weekend, as some of the world’s best horses will be in action on the Pegasus World Cup card at Gulfstream Park. The feature will be contested over 1 1/8 miles on the dirt, with the leading contenders competing for their share of the $3 million purse.

Schedule and How To Watch

• When: Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 5:40 PM ET
• Where: Gulfstream Park, Florida    
• How To Watch: NBC

Pegasus World Cup Odds

Race Preview

The Pegasus World Cup is one of the first big early-season races on the schedule in the U.S., with a talented field set to compete over 1 1/8 miles on the dirt. It was first staged in 2017, and it was the world’s richest race in 2017 and 2018 before being surpassed by the Dubai World Cup. Bob Baffert is the most successful trainer with two wins, while Irad Ortiz is the most dominant jockey with the same number of victories.

National Treasure is the favorite at present, having run with huge credit when second in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. However, serious questions can be posed about his ability over this trip, having finished fourth in the G1 Awesome Again and fourth in the G1 Santa Anita Derby. In the former, he finished a place behind Senor Buscador, who remains talented, but very inconsistent.

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First Mission is the runner for Brad Cox this weekend, and was hugely progressive throughout 2023. He was the winner over 1 1/16 miles in the G3 Lexington, before returning to graded action in the G2 Clark Stakes. On that occasion, he was just beaten by a nose by Trademark, who once again re-opposes this weekend. But, he should be able to reverse that form based on his finishing effort at Churchill Downs in November.

Grand Aspen could be hard to ignore for Todd Pletcher this weekend, with Jose Ortiz taking the ride. The five-year-old won on the turf over this distance, before winning on the dirt over 1 1/8 miles at Churchill Downs. He was last seen finishing second behind O’Connor in the G3 Harlan’s Holiday, but this extended trip will suit on Saturday.

Pegasus World Cup Prediction

Grand Aspen and First Mission are both interesting selections to include in exotics. But, this is a fairly weak renewal of the Pegasus World Cup. A chance is taken on Dynamic Ore, who was seen to best effect over 1 1/8 miles earlier in his career when winning the Curlin Stakes and Blame Stakes. He needed the tune up run last month, and he could come on from that to take the victory on Saturday.

Free Picks:

• Win:
• Exacta Box: (3) Dynamic Ore/ (8) First Mission/ (9) Grand Aspen

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