The $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) is Saturday, Jan. 25, at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The race is for 4-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles. usracing.com is publishing profiles of the horses entered.
Trying to make a case for Steal Sunshine in the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park is a tough task.
Here goes: He won the Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) nearly a year ago by a nose. He then ran third, fourth, and fifth, respectively, in the Ghostzapper (G3), the Alysheba (G2), and the Stephen Foster (G1) before winning an optional claimer in November and finishing third in the Harlan’s Holiday on Dec. 21.
The horse runs best at Gulfstream. He’s won six times and finished second or third eight other times from 18 starts. Let’s stop here.
He runs best at shorter distances, say 7 furlongs, and has only raced 1 1/8 miles once over the past two years – fifth in the Stephen Foster.
The 6-year-old son of Constitution is taking huge step up in class, facing Grade 1 winners that include Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan, White Abarrio, and favorite Locked.
Dylan Davis has the call leaving from post 7 for Bobby DiBona, a longtime trainer seeking his first Grade 1 victory. Steal Sunshine is his best horse to date, having given the trainer his first Grade 2 victory the Gulfstream Park Mile win.
Thanks to the last-minute entries of Steal Sunshine and Vitality, the Pegasus has a full 12-horse field.
Betting advice: Toss.
Post position: 7
Odds: 20-1
Jockey: Dylan Davis
Trainer: Bobby DiBona
Owner: Michael and Julia Iavarone, Carrie Brogden, Kevin Pollard, Ed Gorry, David Menard.
Career record: 25-7-2-7
Career earnings: $612,160
Last race: Harlan’s Holiday (G3), Gulfstream Park, Dec. 21, 3rd
Top Equibase speed figure: 110
Pedigree: Constitution-Warm Sunshine, by Tapit
Age: 6
Color: Dark bay
Running style: Closer
Notes: Dylan Davis will be riding Steal Sunshine for the first time ... Steal Sunshine (and Vitality) were moved into the field from the reserve list on Sunday after Imagination and Senor Buscador were not entered.
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.
