Padding the bankroll early on Pegasus Day

The $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) headlines a monstrous day of racing at Gulfstream Park.

The 12-race program includes seven competitive graded stakes, and good betting opportunities exist throughout the card. It's a great idea to get your bankroll in fine order early on, before taking aim at the feature races on the second half of the card.

Race 2, a 1 1/16-mile dirt test for sophomores, has attracted a field of 12. Todd Pletcher’s #11 Dynamic One (5-2), a $725,000 son of Union Rags, appears to be the standout. The chestnut showed little on debut despite being favored when going seven-eighths at Aqueduct in November, but he showed marked improvement second time out when racing at Gulfstream Park.

The Kentucky-bred responded to the addition of blinkers when finishing a clear second in his route bow, earning a hefty 95 Brisnet Speed figure in the process. Dynamic One will get Lasix for Saturday, and despite the wide draw, he will be super tough with something resembling his latest offering.

Since getting value on the colt will be tough to do in the win pool, I will key Dynamic One on top in the exacta with a potentially live long shot.

#4 Skyro (12-1) was outrun by a fine winner in a 7-furlong debut on the course and has a lot of room for improvement on the stretch out for Brian Lynch. The chestnut son of Verrazano took a bit of money in that run when going off at 8-1 odds, and he did his best work in the stretch despite being wide down the lane. Colt shows two works in the interim, one from the gate, and also adds Lasix for a conditioner who wins at a solid 17% second time out.

I expect Skyro to be closer to the early pace with a race under his belt, and especially since he got a solid gate drill in two back. His dam is a three-quarters sister to Canadian classic winner Jambalaya, who was victorious in the 2007 Arlington Million (G1). The pedigree suggests that the second timer will only improve with added distance. Julien Leparoux has the call.

Exacta Play Race 2

• #11 Dynamic One with #4 Skyro