The $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) is Saturday (Jan. 27) at Gulfstream Park. The 1 1/8-mile race is for 4-year-olds and up. usracing.com will publish profiles of all the contenders.
After a 16-month break, Dynamic One returned to the races with an uninspiring fifth-place finish in an allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 22.
Nonetheless, the 2022 Suburban (G2) winner trained by Todd Pletcher will be seeking a first Grade 1 win after failing to hit the board in three previous attempts – 18th in the 2022 Kentucky Derby, seventh in the Travers and sixth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
This does not sound like a winning proposition for a Hall of Fame trainer, yet without an overwhelming favorite in the Pegasus, why not take a shot? After all, three of the 6-year-old son of Union Rags victories have come at the Pegasus distance of 1 1/8 miles.
A $725,000 purchase at the 2019 Keeneland yearling sale, Dynamic One is one of two Pletcher horses in the field – Grand Aspen is the other.
Pletcher won the 2022 Pegasus with Life is Good.
While not a leading contender, Pletcher rarely sends out a horse he doesn’t think can win.
Dynamic One has two solid works under his belt leading up to the Pegasus, 4 furlongs in 49.29 seconds on Jan. 5 and 5 furlongs in 59.31 on Jan. 13, both at Palm Beach Downs.
Betting advice: A Pletcher longshot is always intriguing, but this closer just doesn’t seem like a winner in this spot. A strong finish could put him in the top 3.
Post Position: 3
Odds: 15/1
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owners: Repole Stable, Phipps Stable, St. Elias Stable
Age: 6
Career Record: 14 4-3-1
Career earnings: $730,520
Most recent race: Optional claimer, Gulfstream Park, Dec. 21 (fifth)
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 109
Pedigree: Union Rags-Beat the Drum, by Smart Strike
Color: Chestnut
Running style: Off the pace
Notes: The match between Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags and the Smart Strike mare Beat the Drum was chosen by Daisy Phipps Pulito. Beat the Drum, a daughter of the Phipps family’s 2002 juvenile filly champion Storm Flag Flying was unplaced in two starts.
| 1 | Nimitz Class | 20-1 | George Weaver | Edgard J. Zayas |
| 2 | O'Connor | 8-1 | Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. | Paco Lopez |
| 3 | Dynamic One | 15-1 | Todd A. Pletcher | Irad Ortiz, Jr. |
| 4 | Hoist The Gold | 12-1 | Dallas Stewart | John R. Velazquez |
| 5 | Trademark | 12-1 | Victoria H. Oliver | Fernando De La Cruz |
| 6 | Senor Buscador | 6-1 | Todd W. Fincher | Junior Alvarado |
| 7 | National Treasure | 9-5 | Bob Baffert | Flavien Prat |
| 8 | First Mission | 7-2 | Brad H. Cox | Luis Saez |
| 9 | Grand Aspen | 8-1 | Todd A. Pletcher | Jose L. Ortiz |
| 10 | Il Miracolo | 20-1 | Antonio Sano | Javier Castellano |
| 11 | Crupi | 20-1 | Todd A. Pletcher | Lanfranco Dettori |
| 12 | Skippylongstocking | 8-1 | Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. | Tyler Gaffalione |
| 13 | Castle Chaos | AE | Robert N. Falcone, Jr. | Tyler Gaffalione |
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
