Pegasus World Cup Results – Top Longshots Crush The Superfecta!

By CandiceCurtis
Updated: January 29, 2018

Photo by Liz Lamont/Eclipse Sportswire

G1 Pegasus World Cup

The race we had all been waiting for delivered the expected result. There was no way anyone would come close to the Super Screener’s only “A” horses Gun Runner and West Coast. Note that it was over 10 lengths back from West Coast to the nearest runner. With Gun Runner now off to the breeding shed, think about the 2018 campaign we have to look forward to with West Coast. He showed grit and determination in trying to run down Gun Runner as the only threat to that one but Gun Runner was just too good on the day and leaves the sport as the 2017 Horse of the Year and is now $7 million richer to boot nearly doubling his $9 million in earnings that he had compiled coming into the race.

Perhaps the highlight of the race for the Super Screener was the selection of Fear the Cowboy as a top Super Screener Long Shot pick from among the 8 long shots in the race. He went off as the second longest odds in the field at nearly 75-1! He came from the back of the field having had only one horse beat to get up in time for a strong 4th place finish. Here’s what the Super Screener had to say about this “have-able” long shot bomber:

The multiple Super Screener Exacta wagers and the Superfecta wager combined to return $1,676 which, considering Gun Runner won at 4-5 and West Coast finished 2nd at 7-2, wasn’t too shabby.

G3 Fred W. Hooper

Todd Pletcher-trained, Tommy Macho, affirmed his penchant for the 1-turn mile at Gulfstream Park by winning his 3rd race in 5 starts at this distance. He pressed the pace and then was never in danger of relinquishing the lead he grabbed at the ¾ pole. Here’s what the Super Screener had to say about Tommy Macho before the race:

“Todd Pletcher’s #8 Tommy Macho is your classic “horse for course” and in his case “horse for distance” as well. He is quite productive going the 1-turn mile at GP with 2 wins and 2 third place finishes in 4 starts. He is coming into this race very similarly to how he did last year about this time. He actually won this race back in 2016. Has been running against top shelf Graded Stakes company finishing in the Superfecta in most of those races. Really hard not to see this one in the Superfecta.”

The Super Screener Top Board Hitter pick, Tale of Silence, delivered his usual reliable off-the-pace effort to firmly take 3rd place. Rated right behind him by the Super Screener, Giuseppe The Great, finished a closing 4th.

The suggested Super Screener Superfecta wagers hit and produced a better-than-expected pay out of $1,161.

South Beach Stakes

The Super Screener Top Board Hitter selection, Stormy Victoria, came from last to first at this 7.5F distance against that swift and pressured pace that would be so kind to closers as the Super Screener indicated. In fact, the Christophe Clement stablemates, Stormy Victoria and horse-for-course, Celestine, comprised the Exacta. Here’s what the Super Screener said about this pair prior to the race:

“The usually reliable trainer, Christophe Clement, is a bit chilly this meet with only 2 wins thus far but he has suffered through some close beats resulting in 8 second place finishes out of 28 starters. He has a pair in here and they are both contenders. #11 Celestine will be favored as she is a horse for course that has never missed the Trifecta in 8 starts and is dropping in against easier here for her 2018 debut. The long layoff is not a concern but her absolute best races may be behind her. She’ll press the multiple pace leaders and hopefully she won’t be too fresh off that layoff and expend too much energy in the early going. She is most comfortable on the lead but can win via a pressing trip. Her stablemate, #9 Stormy Victoria is quite the opposite. She is a deep closer that will need her stablemate’s help in ensuring the projected swift and pressured pace. Her best races have come sprinting from 6 to 7.5 furlongs so she’ll have no excuses for a top effort today and she’s the Super Screener Top Board Hitter pick.”

The Super Screener Top Long Shot pick, Always Thinking, attracted a lot of action late and was bet down to 9-1. She did what was expected coming from near the back of the pack to finish in the Superfecta.

“#6 Always Thinking has had a pace set up like this only twice before in her last 10 races and that resulted in a first place finish at 25-1 and a second place finish on this turf course and distance at odds of 41-1. She is a must-include Super Screener Top Long Shot bomber pick in both your vertical and horizontal Exotic tickets especially if you are attempting to be the lone ticket holder in the Rainbow Pick 6. She’s really at her best running any where between 6 and 7.5f coupled with a hot pace. On turf she hasn’t run worse than 5th in her last 7 starts against similar.”

The Superfecta came back chalky as a result of the top two betting interests completing the Exacta.

Gulfstream Ladies Turf Sprint

Just as she was about to reel in Girls Know Best, Super Screener Top Win pick, Blue Bahia, stumbled and nearly went down just yards from the wire and had to be pulled up and walked off the course. Brandy’s Girl, the Top Board Hitter pick lost all chance at the gate when she broke last of all and was then rushed into contention. Hats off to Castellano who was able to guide Girls Know Best through relatively moderate fractions from that ideal 1 post and then hold off all late comers. Unlike, for example the 5f turf races at Keeneland, keep in mind that while deep closers can hit the board, it is nearly impossible for them to win going 5 furlongs on the turf at Gulfstream Park.

G3 W.L. McKnight Handicap

Well, we now know which Oscar Nominated showed up. This victory now gives him 3 wins in 17 starts. We know he likes the Kentucky Downs turf course, the scene of his prior 2 victories, now add Gulfstream Park turf to his win resume. He was well ridden staying close to the dawdling pace and having enough energy in reserve to hold off the furious late run of both Nessy and Bullard’s Alley. The latter horse was the Super Screener top candidate to hit the board.

Something went wrong with top Super Screener win pick, Final Copy, as a top half of the field finish was assured but he seemed to struggle throughout. Perhaps he was in over this head but looking back, he should have at least finished better than Markitoff.

The suggested Superfecta and Trifecta wagers hit but with the top four favorites all finishing in the Superfecta the payouts were paltry.

G3 Hurricane Bertie

Jordan’s Henny exploded the board winning at odds of 59-l denying odds-on favorite Curlin’s Approval the victory and that one regressed off her last performance as anticipated.

Once again, racing luck did not play into our favor as the top Super Screener win pick, Marley’s Freedom, a presser type, broke dead last and was completely out of the race from the start. Top long shot pick Moonlit Promise did manage to complete the $1 Superfecta which paid a whopping $15k.

Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint

Rainbow Heir made his last career race a winning one sitting off the hot and contested pace before drawing away with ease. Oak Bluffs was fastest of all late and just got past Richard’s Boy for the 2nd place finish at odds of 35-1. Richard’s Boy continues to repeat the pattern of flattening out in that final furlong.

#6 Rainbow Heir

Cagey veteran can still deliver the big race and while his middle to late energy distribution profile is more ideal at other turf courses, he is a very serious board hitting threat here and should be used that way in forming wagers.

6-1

if spreading

#4 Oak Bluffs

Long shot closes with a rush in his races with makes him dangerous for a bottom of the Superfecta finish at a big price. He has won going this distance on this turf so if the pace collapses for some reason, he’ll be right there.

20-1

toss

With the 2nd running of the G1 Pegasus now in the history books, it is time to turn our attention back to the Kentucky Derby trail and this coming weekend gets us back in a big way with 3 prep races being run at three different tracks with each preceding the penultimate preps at each circuit. Gulfstream Park hosts the G2 Holy Bull Stakes. Not to be outdone, Santa Anita presents the G3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes and Aqueduct is home to the storied G3 Withers Stakes. In addition, Santa Anita, in particular, offers a strong undercard of stakes racing action. Plenty to look forward to as another exciting weekend of racing looms.

Until then, Go Fast and Win!

Mike