The Pegasus World Cup Turf Tipsheet

A well-matched field of 12 will go 1 3/16 miles on the Gulfstream Park lawn in Saturday’s $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1).

Pegasus Turf Picks

• #5 Colonel Liam
• #11 Say the Word
• #2 Breaking the Rules
• #6 Largent
• #8 Anothertwistafate

Pegasus Turf Wagers

• $20 Win #5 Colonel Liam
• $5 Exacta 5 with 2,6,8,11
• 10-cent Superfecta 5 with 2,6,8,11 with 2,6,8,11 with all

Pegasus Turf Contenders

#1 NEXT SHARES has failed to win in eight straight races and finished last of 12 in the race in 2020 for Baltas. The 8-year-old gelding has returned to solid form as of late, however, with a pair of third-place results in the graded stakes ranks in the Golden State. Son of Archarcharch could grab a minor share with a lifetime best under Van Dyke.

#2 BREAKING THE RULES comes in following a third-place showing in the local Ft. Lauderdale (G2) for McGaughey. War Front 6-year-old has won or placed in each of his trio of local assignments, and I expect him to move forward in his first try at the distance. John Velazquez will guide the tactical Kentucky-bred.

#3 STORM THE COURT seeks his initial turf triumph on Saturday. Champion son of Court Vision was last seen finishing a game second in the Mathis Brothers Mile (G2) at Santa Anita, and he will be an early presence in his first run on the Gulfstream sod. Julien Leparoux has the assignment.

#4 NORTH DAKOTA is the second McGaughey pupil in the field and comes in off a nice victory in the Red Smith (G3) in the Empire State. The steadily improving son of Medaglia d’Oro has never faced this kind, but he is training in fine fashion and will have Jose Ortiz in the saddle. The 5-year-old will be rallying from well off the early tempo.

#5 COLONEL LIAM has run a trio of fine races since moving to the green for Pletcher, which includes a stylish stakes tally on the course last time out. Lightly raced 4-year-old has a lot of room for improvement, and the $1.2 million yearling purchase is the one to beat with an expected move forward on Saturday. Irad Ortiz retains the mount atop the ultra-talented gray.

#6 LARGENT is the second of three from the Pletcher shedrow with a solid chance in the deep cast. Recent Ft. Lauderdale winner has been first or second in all nine lifetime performances to date, and the son of Into Mischief sports a superb 5-4-1-0 mark at Gulfstream Park overall. The bay gelding can run from on or well off the pace with equal effectiveness, as well. Paco Lopez will be in the stirrups.

#7 AQUAPHOBIA earned his best win to date when bagging the United Nations (G1) at Monmouth Park in July. The son of Giant’s Causeway is winless in three outings since, and he will need a big step forward to upset this field under the guidance of Joe Bravo.

#8 ANOTHERTWISTAFATE was an open-length winner of the San Gabriel (G2) last time out for Miller, and a move forward will give him every chance in the stretch on Saturday. The 5-year-old responded to the addition of blinkers most recently and has the early presence to be in the hunt from the opening bell in his local bow. Joel Rosario will pilot the win threat.

#9 CROSS BORDER has done his best work running marathon distances to this point for Maker. The Grade 2 winner had a nice prep for this endeavor at Fair Grounds most recently, but he will need a career best to take this field down from off the pace beneath Gaffalione.

#10 PIXELATE defeated lesser in the Woodchopper S. in his 2020 finale and takes a big class rise in this spot. Godolphin homebred has been quite consistent in his career on the lawn, though, and the City Zip colt could get a share late with something close to his best outing. Edgard Zayas takes the reins.

#11 SAY THE WORD has strung together four excellent races in succession and rates a big chance in a superb form cycle. Northern Dancer (G1) hero was a late-running third in the Hollywood Turf Cup (G2) last time out, in his debut for conditioner Phil D’Amato, and he has trained in good fashion in the interim as well. Flavien Prat will be atop the son of More Than Ready.

#12 SOCIAL PARANOIA shows a trio of tallies from four local tries to date, led by a visually impressive triumph in the Appleton (G3) here in March. Street Boss 5-year-old draws widest of all in the field, and I fear that he is at his best when contesting races at a mile, as well. Luis Saez inherits the mount atop the talented dark bay.