Magic Wand Draws Outside Post 12 for Pegasus Turf

While the rest of Gulfstream Park rested quietly in the late-morning hours of Jan. 22, inside Frankey's restaurant the atmosphere was alive with activity.  

Horsemen, trainers, and owners crowded into the usually packed dining space in anticipation of the draw for the second running of the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1T). As the highlights of last year's victor, Horse of the Year finalist Bricks and Mortar, rolled across the screen, the crowd went quiet and connections crossed their fingers. 

Foreign import Magic Wand, a daughter of Galileo, emerged as the one to beat in the 1 3/16-mile grass test Saturday. The Aidan O'Brien trainee, who has run in six countries on four continents during her 22 starts, including a second to Bricks and Mortar in last year's Pegasus Turf, drew the far outside post 12 and was awarded morning-line odds of 7-2. 

Jockey Ryan Moore will have the call aboard the mare campaigned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Susan Magnier. 

Also popular with early handicappers is John and Tanya Gunther's Without Parole, who will be making his second stateside start since being transferred to the barn of Chad Brown last fall. A homebred son of the Gunthers' Glennwood Farm program, the Frankel horse will likely benefit from the expertise of European powerhouse jockey Frankie Dettori, who will fly in for the occasion. 

Without Parole will leave from post 3 and is listed at odds of 4-1. 

Feeling a bit more trepidation about the race was Jeff Bloom of Bloom Racing Stable, which sends out grade 1 winner Henley's Joy from post 8 under Julien Leparoux. Bloom's uncertainty for Henley's Joy's chances stems mainly from the weather rather than the draw. 

"He knows this track, and he's run well here before," Bloom said of Henley's Joy, who is listed at morning-line odds of 30-1. "I think Julien will have enough horse underneath him to get him into a good position. 

"He's arguably one of the toughest horses I've ever had. He got to display his talent at Belmont in the (Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes, G1T), and he's had a lot of bad trips. He's a horse we try to find firm, dry turf for, and no matter where we take him, we always have wet and rain. Hopefully, the rain stays away. He definitely prefers a firm course with not a lot of give in it. The talent is there. If he gets the right trip, he could show up in the winner's circle." 

A neighbor to Henley's Joy in post 9 will be the Archarcharch gelding Next Shares, who will look to pick up his second grade 1 score and enters off a strong performance in the Nov. 30 Seabiscuit Handicap (G2T) at Del Mar. 

"I think we're OK," said trainer Richard Baltas, who owns Next Shares in partnership with Debby Baltas, Christopher Dunn, Jules and Michael Iavarone, Jerry McClanahan, Ritchie Robershaw, and Mark Taylor. "It's a big turn into the first turn, but we're on the outside and we have plenty of room to move over and see what's going on. I'm happy with the draw." 

Also listed at odds of 30-1, Next Shares will once again partner with Jose Valdivia Jr., who was aboard for the Seabiscuit win. 

The complete order for the Pegasus World Cup Turf, including morning-line odds: 1: Zulu Alpha (12-1), 2: Arklow (6-1), 3: Without Parole (4-1), 4: Sadler's Joy (8-1), 5: Channel Cat (10-1), 6: Instilled Regard (10-1), 7: Admission Office (30-1), 8: Henley's Joy (30-1), 9: Next Shares (30-1), 10: Mo Forza (5-1), 11: Sacred Life (12-1), 12: Magic Wand (7-2).

Entries: Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. presented by Runhappy (G1T)

Gulfstream Park, Saturday, January 25, 2020, Race 11

• Grade IT
• 1 3/16m
• Turf
• $1,000,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 4:49 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Zulu Alpha (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	124	Michael J. Maker	12/1
2	2Arklow (KY)	Luis Saez	124	Brad H. Cox	6/1
3	3Without Parole (GB)	Lanfranco Dettori	124	Chad C. Brown	4/1
4	4Sadler's Joy (KY)	Javier Castellano	124	Thomas Albertrani	8/1
5	5Channel Cat (KY)	John R. Velazquez	124	Todd A. Pletcher	10/1
6	6Instilled Regard (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	124	Chad C. Brown	10/1
7	7Admission Office (KY)	Flavien Prat	124	Brian A. Lynch	30/1
8	8Henley's Joy (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	124	Michael J. Maker	30/1
9	9Next Shares (KY)	Jose Valdivia, Jr.	124	Richard Baltas	30/1
10	10Mo Forza (KY)	Joel Rosario	124	Peter Miller	5/1
11	11Sacred Life (FR)	Jose L. Ortiz	124	Chad C. Brown	12/1
12	12Magic Wand (IRE)	Ryan L. Moore	119	Aidan P. O'Brien	7/2
13	13Tusk (KY)	Paco Lopez	124	Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.	30/1