Expert Pick of the Week: 2024 Pegasus World Cup

Jan 25, 2024 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

An overflow field of 13 will go postward in Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile, $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. (G1) at Gulfstream Park. The well-matched field features a bit of everything in what appears to be a fantastic, and challenging, handicapping endeavor.

In a race with ample speed in it, I am going to go with the late-running Senor Buscador for conditioner Todd Fincher. The six-year-old son of Mineshaft faced many of the best horses in training last campaign while giving a fine account of himself on numerous occasions. Bred in the Bluegrass State, the bay eclipsed the San Diego H. (G2) in the summer, while also earning placings in both the Awesome Again S. (G1) and Cigar Mile (G2).

#11 Hoist the Gold takes the G2 Cigar Mile at 8/1 under @ljlmvel for trainer @dallasstewart3! 🥇🏆

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/O6OtaC9YQ5

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) December 2, 2023

Senor Buscador is a one-run closer who will have to pass each horse to win the race, but I do expect him to have a lot of tired legs in front of him in the stretch. The soon-to-be millionaire has posted a quartet of morning moves on the oval to acclimate to his surroundings in preparation of his local bow, and he will be moving best of all inside the final furlong with Junior Alvarado back in the silks.

Skippylongstocking was last seen finishing a clear third in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Santa Anita and is a three-time winner on the course for trainer Saffie Joseph. The five-year-old son of Exaggerator has the tactical speed to overcome this imposing post slot, his form is excellent, and the Kentucky bred is also proven to do some of his best work off of the layoff, as well.

The bay has been training in swift fashion at Palm Meadows in advance of the lucrative contest, and he will get first run on the deep closing types at the top of the lane with Tyler Gaffalione in the stirrups.

Of the major place players in the event, I give the nod to the Brad Cox-trained First Mission who will make just his sixth lifetime run on Saturday. By Street Sense, the Godolphin homebred has been first or second in each of his five career engagements to date and has a lot of room for improvement being so lightly raced, too. The dark bay finished a nose second in the Clark (G2) in his 2023 finale, and his morning activity in the interim hints that he will be ready to roll in his seasonal bow with Luis Saez in the controls.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #6 Senor Buscador on top of #12 Skippylongstocking and #8 First Mission in the 2024 Pegasus World Cup is the Best Bet of the Week.