Pegasus World Cup: Cyberknife can finish strong

The Pegasus World Cup (G1) is the first important betting horse race of 2023 for the older dirt route division! The 1 ⅛-mile race will be run Saturday, January 28 at Gulfstream Park, and it drew an overflow field: 12 runners plus two also eligible. The purse is one of the richest of the year: $3 million!

The Pegasus World Cup has been run since 2017 and takes its name from the 100-foot tall Pegasus and Dragon statue that soars over the racetrack. Greats like Life Is Good, and Knicks Go, Gun Runner, and Arrogate have won the race in its short history. 

Though Life Is Good does not return for a repeat bid in 2023, a full field of top horses will try to join this illustrious list. Keep reading to find out who has the best chance!

Pegasus World Cup Post Positions

This is the official field for the 2023 Pegasus World Cup, including post positions, trainers, jockeys, and morning lines:

1. Proxy (Michael Stidham/Joel Rosario) – 9/2
2. Simplification (Antonio Sano/Paco Lopez) – 15/1
3. Ridin with Biden (Robert Reid/Emisael Jaramillo) – 20/1
4. White Abarrio (Saffie Joseph, Jr./Tyler Gaffalione) – 10/1
5. Defunded (Bob Baffert/Irad Ortiz) – 6/1
6. Art Collector (Bill Mott/Junior Alvarado) – 10/1
7. Skippylongstocking (Saffie Joseph, Jr./Jose Ortiz) – 5/1
8. Get Her Number (Peter Miller/Luis Saez) – 15/1
9. Last Samurai (D. Wayne Lukas/Frankie Dettori) – 20/1
10. Cyberknife (Brad Cox/Florent Geroux) – 5/2
11. Stilleto Boy (Ed Moger, Jr./Mike Smith) – 30/1
12. O’Connor (Saffie Joseph, Jr./Javier Castellano) – 10/1
13. Hoist the Gold (Dallas Stewart/Brian Hernandez, Jr.) – Also Eligible
14. Endorsed (Michael Maker/Julien Leparoux) – Also Eligible

The listed morning line Gulfstream Park’s best guess about what the odds will look like post time. However, if you bet the race at the track, you will not be guaranteed the best Las Vegas odds. Your best bet is to make an account at a trusted online sportsbook that allows you to lock in true Vegas odds the moment you place your wager.

Cyberknife	+175	+175	+150
Defunded	+500	+500	+375
Proxy	+600	+600	+500
Art Collector	+700	+700	+600
Skippylongstocking	+750	+750	+700
White Abarrio	+800	+800	+750

Pegasus World Cup Bets 

Before the gates fly open on Saturday afternoon, make sure to sign up for one of our top-reviewed betting sites. They all offer market-leading odds, great wagering experiences, and excellent bonuses for Pegasus World Cup bettors.

Pegasus World Cup Favorite

Cyberknife (+150) 

• This Brad Cox trainee is scheduled to make his final start before retiring to stud. He found his form in the Arkansas Derby (G1), and except for a Kentucky Derby outing where he was too close to a torrid pace, he has consistently turned in good efforts, including a smart Haskell (G1) win over Taiba. One ⅛ miles is his best distance, and his best effort will make him hard to beat.

The horse to beat.

Pegasus World Cup Mid-Priced Horses

Defunded (+375)

• This Bob Baffert trainee found his form late in his four-year-old year with wins in the Awesome Again (G1) and Native Diver (G3). He hasn’t traveled out of California since a fourth-place run in the Pat Day Mile (G2) at age three, but he is a better horse now, and his natural speed should play well at Gulfstream.

Still has to prove his class.

Proxy (+500)

• An underneath fixture in graded stakes for several years, he finally broke through with a win in the Clark (G1) on November 25. The one ⅛-mile distance suits him well, and his tactical speed should suit Gulfstream Park. The tendency to finish underneath raises questions, but the win last out is a good sign.

Would be no surprise for a share.

Art Collector (+600) 

• Though he has been a longtime fixture in the handicap division, he hasn’t gotten in a start since running a disappointing fifth in the Lukas Classic (G2) on October 1. He has run good races at multiple tracks but against good horses he usually needs a race off the layoff, making this a tough task while fresh.

Will probably need this race.

Skippylongstocking (+700)

• One of the more underrated three-year-olds of 2022, he does his best work at Gulfstream Park, and he looked better than ever when winning the Harlan’s Holiday (G3) in stalk-and-pounce fashion. This four-year-old is in just the right form to be a serious threat in the Pegasus, though they may be a bit overbet off of the local prep win.

Primed for a sharp effort.

White Abarrio (+750)

• Another Gulfstream specialist, he ran perhaps his best race away from the course when third in the Cigar Mile (G1) on December 3. He runs well fresh and should thrive back on his home course over a distance where he is already a Grade 1 winner.

Should be good value on the tote board.

Pegasus World Cup Long Shots

O’Connor (+1400)

• He was one of the top horses in Chile, but he is still gaining his bearings in America. A buzz horse off of an allowance win two starts ago, he finished fourth as the favorite in the Harlan’s Holiday, behind Skippylongstocking. Perhaps he can bounce back from that, but this will be a tough spot in order to do it.

Lower rungs of exotics at best.

Get Her Number (+1600)

• This Grade 1-winning juvenile made his best start as an older horse when second in the sloppy Cigar Mile (G1) behind the always-gritty Mind Control. However, the 1 ⅛-mile distance of the Pegasus may prove a bit too long.

Hard to trust his stamina here.

Simplification (+1800)

• He has run a few decent efforts since last winter, including a fourth in the Kentucky Derby. Still, his third-place finish behind Pioneer of Medina in the Harlan’s Holiday, despite getting a better trip than that foe, suggests that he may be a bit outclassed, even back at his home track.

Prefer others in this spot.

Stilleto Boy (+1700)

• He has become a millionaire by mostly taking minor shares in graded stakes, including a third-place finish in the Pegasus last year. That consistency and his frontrunning style make him interesting for a piece of a trifecta or superfecta.

As usual, he has a chance for the exotics.

Last Samurai (+3000)

• His last win came in April in the 1 ⅛-mile Oaklawn Handicap (G2), but wins are few and far between, he has never raced at Gulfstream before, and he tends to come up short when facing foes of this class.

He would be a surprise.

Ridin with Biden (+4800)

• His crowning achievement came in the Greenwood Cup (G3), a 1 ½-mile graded race at Parx. But this field is much tougher than what he faced there or in any of his recent wins in Pennsylvania. Yes, he has won at a distance, but he does not have the experience against horses of this class to suggest he can be a threat.

Would be well suited to stretch back out and drop in class.

Pegasus World Cup Turf Horses

In addition to the Pegasus World Cup on dirt, Saturday’s card at Gulfstream also features the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1), a $1 million feature for grass horses. Read on to find the 

City Man

• A winner of nine of his 26 career starts, he won the Fort Lauderdale (G2), the local prep for the Pegasus World Cup Turf, on December 31. That race covered the same 1 ⅛-mile distance as the Pegasus Turf, and his tactical speed and ability to handle the course should serve him in good stead on Pegasus day.

This consistent horse should find another good effort.

Decorated Invader

• City Man’s longer-priced stablemate in the Christophe Clement barn, he overcame a parking lot post to finish a good second in the Fort Lauderdale. He is beautifully bred for this 1 ⅛-mile trip, something that came to fruition in his last start, and he can use his tactical speed to good advantage.

Use this long shot in your exotic wagers.

Hurricane Dream

• Horses who get underneath shares in European turf stakes are often dangerous in American turf stakes, given that European turf stakes tend to be better. Hurricane Dream has not won since 2021, but through 2022 he repeatedly finished second and third in Group 2 and Group 3 races in France and Germany. Now he is in the barn of good layoff trainer Graham Motion, making him a danger.

An interesting international raider.

Ivar

• Though Ivar has not won at the top level since the Keeneland Turf Mile (G1) in 2020, he continues to travel to racetracks all around the continent and hit the board against top horses. This consistency should serve him well, and he should be able to capture another share.

A strong contender for an underneath share.

Lady Speightspeare

• Even though there is now a filly and mare race, Roger Attfield puts Lady Speightspeare in against the males.  And why not? She won three straight graded stakes at Woodbine last year, then finished a good third behind Tuesday and In Italian in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. This distance should be perfect for her.

Should hold her own at a big price.

Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf Horses

In addition to the Pegasus World Cup and Pegasus World Cup Turf, Gulfstream offers a $500,000 race for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the grass. These are the top contenders for the Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf.

Dalika

• She finally found her best last year at age six after several years of being a bridesmaid, with wins in the Beverly D. (G1), Kentucky Dows Ladies Turf (G3), and the Cardinal (G3). The 1 1/16 miles may be shorter for her but her speed should play well at Gulfstream Park.

No surprise for a share.

Queen Goddess

• When Michael McCarthy sees fit to ship a horse, take notice. A Grade 1 winner in 2021, Queen Goddess won two graded stakes in four starts last year, including the Robert J. Frankel (G3) on December 31, her first start off a layoff. This has her second up, and though the 1 1/16 miles is on the short side for her, so was the 1 ⅛ of the Frankel and she was up to the challenge.

Should provide excellent value on the tote board.

Shantisara

• For a reason, Chad Brown is the big name in filly and mare turf races, and this is the one horse he is pointing to the Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf. Though she disappointed on the Breeders’ Cup undercard, she finished a good second in the Jenny Wiley (G1) in her only other start last year, showing she can run well against top older company off a break.

Ignore at your own peril.

Wakanaka

• Though she was only sixth in this race last year, it was her first start in the United Stakes and her first race at all since the previous April in Italy. She has since proven she fits in this division in America. She ran in good second in the Honey Fox (G3), showing she could handle the sometimes quirky Gulfstream track, and her tactical versatility should help her carve a trip.

Consistent mare should find the frame.

Watch the Pegasus World Cup 

Pegasus World Cup Day at Gulfstream will feature eight stakes races worth over $5 million in total purses. The Pegasus World Cup and Pegasus World Cup Turf will be broadcast on NBC and streamed on Peacock from 4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m. All races from Gulfstream Park will stream live on the racetrack website as well.