Handicapping: Pegasus World Cup Day at Gulfstream Park

The stage is set for an epic confrontation between Knicks Go   and Life Is Good  in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Presented By 1/ST Bet at Gulfstream Park Jan. 29.

The sixth edition of the 1 1/8-mile event is preceded by six additional graded stakes, notably the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Presented By Baccarat (G1T), as well as the inaugural running of the TAA Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational Presented By Pepsi (G3T).

The three Pegasus races are part of a Rainbow 6 sequence that begins with the William L. McKnight Stakes (G3T), and also includes the Inside Information Stakes (G2) and Fred Hooper Presented By Hill 'n' Dale Farms At Xalapa Stakes (G3). Be advised that a force-out of that wager, which had a carryover pool of just over $400,000 into Friday, Jan. 28, is slated for Sunday.

First post at Gulfstream is 11:30 a.m. ET. NBC will have coverage from 4:30-6 p.m. ET.

Elsewhere, stakes tripleheaders are on tap at Santa Anita Park and Oaklawn Park, but Aqueduct Racetrack is in the cross-hairs of an impending Nor'easter that may cause the postponement of the Toboggan Stakes (G3), the first scheduled graded stakes of the year in New York.

Seldom is the term "blustery" used to describe the weather in South Florida, but fans in attendance at Gulfstream are advised to bundle up: the forecast calls for highs only in the upper 50s and windy conditions.

We shall brave the elements.

Inside Information (GP, race 8, 3:03): A competitive renewal of this seven-furlong fixture for female sprinters kicks off the late pick 5, with last year's 16-1 upset winner Pacific Gale  (6) taking on nine opponents, seven of which come off victories at Gulfstream, Del Mar, Parx Racing, and Penn National Race Course.

A G Indy  (2) and Just One Time  (8) are more than fast enough already, and respectively go first time off trainer changes to Todd Pletcher and Brad Cox.

A G Indy was purchased after winning the Nov. 5 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes, and returns to dirt for the first time since her career debut in 2019. Pletcher captured the Jan. 15 Sunshine Classic Stakes on the main track here with Shamrocket , who had run exclusively on turf to that point, and A G Indy's pedigree (Take Charge Indy  —Hong Kong Silver, by Badge of Silver) and recent workouts suggest she can handle the switch as well.

Just One Time won four of five starts last year, three of those wins against fellow Pennsylvania-breds. Her tactical speed should lead to a tracking trip just outside expected pacesetter Dance d' Oro (3), who wired the Rampart Stakes earlier at the meet.

Four Graces  (5) is the seven-furlong specialist (4-1-0 from six tries), and had a good prep first time back from a layoff.

Jakarta  (7) has won six of nine on fast dirt, but has been blanked from seven starts without Lasix.

A - 2, 5, 8

B - 3, 6, 7

Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (GP, race 9, 3:36): Regal Glory  (4) won three stakes in 2021 capped by the Matriarch Stakes (G1T), and the Chad Brown-trained mare looks like the class of the field.

The X-factor is the import Wakanaka  (2), whose only losses from eight starts were a couple runner-up finishes to Italian champion Aria Importante . It's been nine months since Wakanaka was last seen winning the Premio Regina Elena (Italian One Thousand Guineas, G3T), but she boasts an encouraging slate of works for Bill Mott and picks up turf ace Umberto Rispoli for her stateside debut.

Sweet Melania  (1), Nicest  (7), Summer in Saratoga  (8), and Bipartisanship  (11) all emerge from solid performances and comprise the B team.

A - 2, 4

B - 1, 7, 8, 11

Pegasus World Cup Turf (GP, race 11, 4:49): The entire field is separated by a mere length or so based on their fastest figures from last year, and there are questions about several prominent contenders.

Colonel Liam  (6) won last year's Pegasus Turf (at the longer trip of 1 3/16 miles) in the midst of a four-stakes win streak for Pletcher, but has been sidelined nearly eight months since a subpar effort in the Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes (G1T).

Pletcher's other runner, likely pacesetter Never Surprised  (12), must break from the far outside. Luis Saez will have to walk a fine line with this sometimes-headstrong son of Constitution  , who can get a bit keen through the early going.

Hit the Road  (5) was scratched from the Breeders' Cup Fanduel Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) after spiking a fever, and ventures beyond one mile for the first time. He faded to fifth as the favorite in the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (G1T) in his only previous attempt outside Southern California.

Atone  (2) and Space Traveller  (1) were second and fourth, respectively, behind Doswell  (7) in the Dec. 18 Ft. Lauderdale Stakes (G2T). However, Doswell won't be able to control the pace this time, and they are eligible to turn the tables with a better setup.

Sacred Life  (8) and Field Pass  (9) took turns beating each other by a head to close out 2021 in the Knickerbocker Stakes (G3T) and Seabiscuit Handicap (G2T). They will be keys along with Colonel Liam.

A - 6, 8, 9

B - 1, 2, 5, 12

Pegasus World Cup (GP, race 12, 5:34): Knicks Go   (1) and Life Is Good  (4) tower over their seven rivals as they come off wins in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

Knicks Go is 8-for-8 in two-turn races since being transferred to Brad Cox at the start of 2020 and has been in front at the first call without fail during that stretch of time. This will be the final start of his career and a win would push his earnings past the $10 million mark.

Life Is Good's only defeat from six starts was by a neck to Jackie's Warrior  in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) when overconfidently ridden. There are nothing but 1s in his first-call positions either.

A duel for the ages could be in the offing, and with Knicks Go breaking from the rail the first few steps from the gate could have a lot to do with how the race unfolds.

Knicks Go has a big edge in experience at the distance (four wins from five starts), but Life Is Good has never done anything to suggest nine furlongs is beyond his reach, and Pletcher—who began the week winning at 42% for the meet—has spoken about Life Is Good's recent training in the most glowing of terms.

Multi-race exotic tickets alive to these two powerhouses will be looking pretty strong, to say the least.

A - 1, 4

B - none