Updated Pegasus World Cup Horses
By Ed McNamara
True Timber – Photo Courtesy of NYRA/ Chelsea Durand Photo
Distance limitations are the Kryptonite for True Timber, who would be a contender at a one-turn mile.
Unfortunately for this sprinter/miler, the $3 million Pegasus World Cup is run around 1 1/8 miles, and True Timber is 0-for-7 going two turns. He’s also 0-for-14 in graded stakes, including a seventh-place finish in last year’s Pegasus World Cup.
True Timber was third in last year’s Cigar Mile (G1) after running second in the 2018 Cigar, but he’s lost his last eight starts. It’s hard to imagine him breaking his three negative streaks in the Pegasus World Cup.
True Timber
Odds: 20-1
Post position: No. 1
Jockey: Joe Bravo
Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
Owner: Calumet Farm
Career record: 22-4-4-7
Career earnings: $950,550
Pedigree: Mineshaft-Queen’s Wood, by Tiznow
Age: 6
Running style: Stalker
Handicapping Insights:
“He’s 0-for-7 going two turns, so forget him.” – Ed McNamara
“Nearly achieved millionaire status with third-place finish in Cigar Mile … Seventh in 2019 PWC, but has proven himself capable of hitting board against top competition … could round out exactas or trifectas.” – Noel Michaels
Notes: McLaughlin’s take: “He’s had two good races this fall and he’s training super. We just hope things keep going well.” … Before True Timber got off the reserve list and received an official invitation to the Pegasus on Jan. 12, McLaughlin said it was “no slam dunk” that he would get in. He said he was considering the Grade 3 Fred Hooper, a one-turn mile on the Pegasus undercard, as a fallback option … McLaughlin, 59, a native of Lexington, Kentucky, is a former champion trainer in Dubai, where he spent 10 years. He trained 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor and 2006 Belmont Stakes winner Jazil. He’s one of the nicest and most approachable people in racing, and he’s remained an elite trainer while battling multiple sclerosis since 1998.
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | True Timber | Joe Bravo | Kiaran McLaughlin | 15-1 |
| 2 | Tax | Jose Ortiz | Danny Gargan | 8-1 |
| 3 | Diamond Oops | Julien Leparoux | Patrick Biancone | 15-1 |
| 4 | Seeking the Soul | John Velazquez | Dallas Stewart | 30-1 |
| 5 | Omaha Beach (SCR) | Mike Smith | Richard Mandella | SCR |
| 6 | Higher Power | Flavien Prat | John Sadler | 6-1 |
| 7 | War Story | Joel Rosario | Elizabeth Dobles | 30-1 |
| 8 | Mr Freeze | Luis Saez | Dale Romans | 20-1 |
| 5 | Spun to Run (SCR) | Javier Castellano | Juan Carlos Guerrero | SCR |
| 10 | Mucho Gusto | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Bob Baffert | 9-2 |
| 11 | Tenfold | Tyler Gaffalione | Steve Asmussen | 30-1 |
| 12 | Bodexpress | Emisael Jaramillo | Gustavo Delgado | 30-1 |
Find more Pegasus World Cup Picks and Pegasus World Cup Turf Entries Profile here:
Ed McNamara is an award-winning journalist who has been writing about thoroughbred racing for 35 years. He has handicapped races for ESPN.com, Newsday and The Record of New Jersey. He is the author of “Cajun Racing: From the Bush Tracks to the Triple Crown” and co-author of “The Most Glorious Crown,” a chronicle of the first 12 Triple Crown champions.