The second running of the Pegasus World Cup ends up being a rematch of the Breeders Cup Classic. The Top five finishers in the Classic return along with mile participant Sharp Azteca. The rematch is at a new location, and the distance is nine furlongs.
Contenders:
Gun Runner dominated the Breeder’s Cup Classic with active fractions on a track that was friendly to closers most of the weekend, the two final races on the card did favor a little more speed with Solomini contesting fast fractions in the Juvenile and holding on for 2nd.
Gun Runner and Collected running 1-2 for 10 furlongs. This will be the career finale for Gun Runner. He comes in sharp, with bullet’s in the holster and looking eager in the mornings. Expect a razor-sharp effort.
Collected received the ultimate prep with a non-effort in the San Antonio. He is two for 2 at 9 furlongs and has run consistently fast fractions that tower over most of the field and even a few races where he can set the pace on Gun Runner. The Classic was a race where he had to ration his speed with the significant question being can he run 10 furlongs. In this race, he should be able to use his speed as a weapon with a shorter distance. He also draws inside Gun Runner in this race. Look for him to set the fractions.
Sharp Azteca he has speed, but his best races have been from off the pace. Comes into this race sharp and handled a much more comfortable field quickly in the Cigar Mile. Drawing inside of Gun Runner and Collected it is possible he sets the pace. The most likely trip is to draft second and try to get first run on Gun Runner going into the turn. Capable of winning the race if everything goes perfectly. Not much room for error.
West Coast chased Collected and Gun Runner around the track in the Breeder’s Cup Classic. Is now a four year old and has had a few months to mature and rest up after demanding races in the Travers and Pennsylvania Derby that may have taken a little starch out of him after being in training for almost nine straight months. Has worked well and ultimately he may be a real 10-furlong horse. He could benefit if the favorites hook up early.
Fair Odds
Gun Runner – Even
Collected – 6/1
Sharp Azteca 7/1
West Coast 9/1
The Selection:
Collected has a chance to turn the tables if he is on a send mission from the five post. Nine furlongs is his best distance, Draws inside of Gun Runner and may have Sharp Azteca to play possum with Gun Runner for the first six furlongs.
He can run fast and try to win on the turn. He also is capable of hooking up with Sharp Azteca and Gun Runner on the corner and making them work harder for the lead. The short stretch figures to benefit Sharp Azteca the most. Gun Runner is the champ and has three races that put him as the most likely winner, been training forwardly and should run a solid race. If him and Collected hook up on the turn it should be a great stretch run. Sharp Azteca best chance of winning is to catch Collected off form and open up a two-length lead entering the stretch. The fair price to take on that would be 7/1 or higher which figures to be his off time odds.