Pegasus World Cup Preview 2025: Horse by Horse Analysis

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00:00Well, we have to get right into race number 10.

00:02This is the horse by horse preview of the Pegasus World

00:05Cup Philly and Mare turf.

00:07And we'll get started with Bailey.

00:09Right off the bat, Bailey, we have the number one, Rekia,

00:12who's coming in off of a win in November at Del Mar.

00:15What are your thoughts about this horse's chances in here?

00:17Rekia's win in the Golda Cova was super impressive to me.

00:20This Irish bred British race Philly

00:22has just transferred to the Todd Fletcher Barn

00:24here in the United States.

00:25Now, she is stretching out to a mile

00:27and 16th for the first time in her eight-star career.

00:29But she's a pretty quick horse.

00:31She's a very early speed type when

00:33we don't have a ton of those in this race.

00:35I think if she breaks sharp from that inside post,

00:37especially the way that the start and finish runs here

00:40at Gulfstream in this mile and 16th distance,

00:42consistent seven-day work pattern, back-to-back bullets,

00:45two works back in late December, early January

00:48down here at Gulfstream.

00:49She really likes the track, and she's

00:51one to watch for me for sure.

00:52Major player here.

00:53The number two, Pounce, likes Gulfstream Park.

00:55She can sit close.

00:56What do you think about Pounce's chances in here?

00:58Jon Stewart's Philly, 15 to 1 on the morning line.

01:00She won the grade three Here Comes the Bride down here

01:03at Gulfstream last year in March.

01:05She's a little bit slower with some buyer numbers

01:07than other Phillies and mares in the race here.

01:09But Dylan Davis really knows how to ride this Philly

01:12and has an incredible run so far at Gulfstream

01:15since moving his tack down here.

01:16He's winning at a 25% win clip with an average ROI of $30.

01:21So don't count out Pounce just yet.

01:22Beat your best was off form, had not won in a while,

01:26and then recently put back-to-back victories

01:28together in graded stakes races.

01:30How do you think this one stacks up?

01:31She's definitely been back to being her best for sure.

01:34I love this post draw for her.

01:36She might sit right behind Rokia, the number one,

01:39based on her running style.

01:40Safi Joseph, of course we know him.

01:42We love him.

01:43South Florida staple down here,

01:44especially with horses transferring back to his barn.

01:46I would take be your best anywhere between three

01:49all the way up to 6 to 1.

01:50Alexa, we'll move to you to talk about Watchtower here

01:53coming off of a kind of a lackluster performance

01:55in the American Oaks.

01:56Yeah, big long shot at 20 to 1.

01:58Won the grade three Autumn Miss at San Antonio October

02:01and has hit the board in six out of eight starts,

02:02but did fall short when they stepped her up

02:05to grade one company.

02:05I just don't really think she's fast enough

02:07to contend in here against a lot of these strong closers.

02:10Fluffy socks, you kind of know what you're gonna get

02:11with her, right?

02:12She's gonna drop way back.

02:13She's gonna make that one late run.

02:15Yeah, I've been a fan of this mare for many years.

02:17You know, she got fourth place in this race last year,

02:19closing missing by under two lengths.

02:21Since then, she's only won the grade three Gallaret,

02:24but did hit the board

02:25in the grade one First Lady at Keeneland.

02:26Here's the thing, like you said,

02:28she's a powerful, powerful deep closer,

02:30but when you're a deep closer in a big full turf race,

02:32you're liable to run into traffic

02:34and have too much work to do at the end.

02:37So I'm always rooting for her,

02:39but her typical rider, I read,

02:40did opt for the 11 Bless My Stars here instead.

02:43So, you know, take that as you may.

02:46Chilean bread, Donna Clotta,

02:47kind of a wild card here too,

02:49a multiple group one winner.

02:51Just not sure where that form stacks up against a group

02:55like this.

02:55It's a wild card, first race in the States

02:56for trainer Ignacio Correas.

02:58I mean, this is the toughest she's ever faced.

03:01And in a group like this with so many seasoned horses,

03:04it's hard for me to play a horse with so many unknowns.

03:07Manushka is a little bit interesting here, the number seven.

03:10She's a deeper closer.

03:11She didn't get very much pace to run at last time.

03:13She faced a sharp horse named Kehoe Beach.

03:15If they go quick early, she can come running

03:18and she will pick up some pieces.

03:20Third start of the forum cycle.

03:21Keep an eye on her.

03:22Right next door, Papilio, the Irish bread,

03:25had kind of tailed off form a little bit.

03:27That was a really good second

03:28behind Be Your Best last time out.

03:30I know this is kind of a wise gal horse,

03:32this five-year-old mare now,

03:33who people are thinking can make some noise on Saturday.

03:37And then you have Ocean Club,

03:38probably a bit overmatched in this group.

03:41This is gonna be one of the tougher groups

03:43that she's ever faced.

03:44She was behind Be Your Best last time out.

03:46I'm gonna expect her to show some speed.

03:48I think she'll be forwardly placed in here

03:50and part of that early pace.

03:51Then Bailey, I'll set you up for your top selection

03:54in here, the number 10, Sacred Wish.

03:56The number 10, Sacred Wish.

03:57This five-year-old mare is an absolutely game race filly.

04:01George Weaver's horse, especially with John Velasquez

04:03and the Irons, who comes back to ride today,

04:05really loves to press that early pace.

04:07She's gonna press the number one, Rickia,

04:09and I think is gonna come flying home at the end.

04:11For me, I'm all in on the 10, Sacred Wish.

04:14Alexa, why don't you finish this up

04:15with Bless My Stars and see you around?

04:17Yeah, Bless My Stars, eight to one morning line,

04:19as previously mentioned.

04:21Hall of Fame jockey, Irana Ortiz,

04:23opted to hop aboard this mare instead of Fluffy Socks.

04:25Interesting choice considering how much lighter

04:28a resume she has, you know,

04:31but she's been out one time in the US a month ago

04:34in a grade three at Gulfstream,

04:35got sixth place by one and three quarters lengths.

04:38Similar to Fluffy Socks is a closer in here.

04:40Personally, I like Fluffy Socks more.

04:42The 12 is CU around at 20 to one,

04:45another long shot with two US starts.

04:47Big improvement in her second start winning

04:48here at Gulfstream, but it was a step down in class.

04:51And I do think probably a bit of a cut below

04:54some of the other major contenders in here

04:56as really slow workouts as well

04:58in preparation for this race.

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