Dozen Including Four West Coasters Go in Pegasus World Cup Turf

A dozen line up in Saturday’s $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1). (Photo credit: Gulfstream Park).

The third running of the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) drew a competitive field of 12 that will go 1 3/16 miles including four invading from the west coast.

The race is one of seven graded stakes on an outstanding card on Saturday at Gulfstream Park including the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) which also will have a full field of 12.

Among the dozen in the Pegasus Turf are four shipping in from the west coast including the Peter Miller trained Anothertwistafate (5-1), who won the San Gabriel (G2) in just his second career start on turf at 1 1/8 miles.

“I don’t think [distance] will be an issue,” Miller said. “He’s the type of horse that doesn’t seem to get tired. He’s got a lot of stamina and is built like a horse that can get a mile and a half.”

The other three shipping in from California are Next Shares (20-1), third in the San Gabriel, Storm the Court (2-1), the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner and Say the Word (6-1), who was a fast closing third in the Hollywood Turf Cup (G2) in his last outing.

Trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle three in the Pegasus Turf including the 7-2 morning line favorite Colonel Liam, who is coming off a victory in the Tropical Park Derby last December over the grass at Gulfstream Park, his third win in five starts.

Tropical Park Derby Replay

“Very impressed,” Pletcher said of Colonel Liam’s first stakes win. “I loved the way he pulled away at the end. We’ve always had high hopes for him, so it’s nice to see him living up to those.”

Pletcher will also send out Fort Lauderdale (G2) winner Largent (9-2 and Social Paranoia (8-1), a multiple stakes winner on turf who has won three of his four starts over the Gulfstream Park turf.

Both the Pegasus World Cup and the Pegasus World Cup Turf will be televised by NBC in a broadcast from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET on Saturday. Wager on the races at AmWager where new players receive up to a $500 sign up bonus.

Let’s head out to Gulfstream Park for today’s featured race of the day:

Gulfstream Park

Gulfstream Park Race 11 The Pegasus World Cup Turf Inv. (G1) 4:59 ET

8 Anothertwistafate 5-1

12 Social Paranoia 8-1

5 Colonel Liam 7-2

6 Largent 9-2

Anothertwistafate

The Peter Miller trainee is one of four west coast invaders in this year’s edition. The five-year-old is short on experience on turf with just two starts in his career but both were solid. He checked in fourth in the Seabiscuit off a 2 ½ month break two back in his turf debut. He then tracked the early pace and finished strongly to win the San Gabriel (G2) at Santa Anita going nine furlongs last out for his first win on turf. This guy showed a ton of ability as a three-year-old on dirt, but he earned a career top last out on turf in his second start for Miller. He looks more than capable of handling the extra ground here and should be able to work out a good trip sitting close enough to the front under Rosario.

Social Paranoia

One of three in her sent out by Todd Pletcher, he likely will be the highest price among the trio. He came off a 5 ½ month break last out he beat $75,000 optional claimers going 7 ½ furlongs here. It was his first start since winning the Poker (G3) at Belmont Park last July at a mile. He also won the Appleton (G3) and Dueling Grounds Derby and was second in the Belmont Derby (G1). He has landed in the money in 11 of his 13 career starts on turf. There is enough of a run to the first turn the outside post should not be too much of a disadvantage. Irad is sticking with the morning line favorite Colonel Liam but this guy picks up a very capable replacement in Luis Saez.

Colonel Liam

This colt was a smart looking winner of the Tropical Park Derby last out in his first trip off a four-month break. The colt raced mid pack toward the outside and took command heading for home, drawing off to win by 3 ¼ lengths. His only other stakes try was a close up fourth in the Saratoga Derby two back at today’s distance, beaten just ¾ of a length. The colt should be tighter second off the bench and still appears to have plenty of upside.