There’s a bit of buzz surrounding One Stripe heading into the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
The Pegasus World Cup Turf is part of the dynamite undercard supporting the main event, the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1).
One Stripe, a South African import, is 12-1 on the morning line from post 4, odds that are tempting for bettors looking for a value play.
At the end of the day, we think the buzz will turn out to be mere static. This is a deep and talented field of runners with more impressive credentials, starting with Program Trading, a three-time Grade 1 winner and the 5-2 morning-line favorite.
This will be his first start since finishing 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), where he was blocked and steadied in the lane.
He’ll be a major force here, with a cleaner trip under Flavien Prat. The 6-year-old trained by Chad Brown is the undisputed class of the race with his Grade 1 victories in the Saratoga Derby, the Hollywood Derby, and the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs.
An added edge: Program Trading is 2-1-0 in the three starts at this 1 1/8-mile distance. He rarely turns in a poor effort, as he missed the board only twice in 10 races (5-3-0).
Brown is a two-time winner of this race with Bricks and Mortar (2019) and Spirit of St Louis last year.
Todd Pletcher is also a two-time winner here (Colonel Liam 2021 and 2022). He’s back for another try with Major Dude (8-1). The winner of $1.4 million, Major Dude, ran sixth in this race last year.
The Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational has only been run seven times, and three trainers have won it twice. Mike Maker joins Brown and Pletcher in that exclusive circle with victories by Zulu Alpha (2020) and Atone (2023). He returns with Chasing the Crown (20-1), third in this race last year. The 7-year-old is still looking for his first graded stakes victory.
Trainer Shug McGaughey entered a pair of runners, and both drew poorly. Cugino (7-2), a brave second in the Fort Lauderdale (G3) last month, drew post 10 while Fort Washington (10-1) landed post 12 again.
He had the outside draw in last year’s edition and did well to finish fifth despite the post.
One of the more intriguing outsiders is Call Sign Seven (15-1) for trainer Mike McCarthy, who is coming off a banner campaign with Journalism.
Call Sign Seven, upset winner of the Seabiscuit Handicap (G2) at Del Mar, will make his first start outside California.
Which brings us back around to One Stripe, a stakes winner in South Africa, making his fourth North American start for trainer H. Graham Motion.
He was overly ambitiously placed in his first two starts for Motion: a fifth in the Woodbine Mile (G1) and a 13th-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) after setting the early pace.
He piqued interest and stirred the buzz with a sharp allowance win at Gulfstream last month. Gavin Lerena, a leading rider in South Africa, will be aboard. Lerena guided the horse to four of his seven wins.
It’s a nice story, but not one we see finishing in the winner’s circle.
Bainikhov (Umberto Rispoli, Phil D’Amato)
Richard Rosenblatt is an award-winning journalist and former Associated Press Horse Racing Editor. Currently, he serves as the news editor at US Racing, overseeing exclusive content from contributors worldwide.
