The annual Pegasus World Cup weekend of horse racing did not disappoint. Big stars, great betting opportunities, and a nice profit (at least for anyone who played along with the Inside Track to the Pegasus Wagering Guide!) made for exciting action at Gulfstream Park, while on the opposite side of the country, a new top threat in the dirt sprint division may have emerged.
See who made our latest Three Stars of the Week:
1. Knicks Go
The legend of Knicks Go continued Saturday when he extended his unbeaten streak (since moving to trainer Brad Cox) to 4 with a dominating gate-to-wire triumph in the Pegasus World Cup (G1). If he continues training (instead of retiring to stand stud in Korea), then he’s without a doubt the leading older dirt male in the country. He’s now shown that he’s untouchable anywhere from 1 to 1 1/8 miles.
2. Colonel Liam
Trainer Todd Pletcher had three strong chances to win Saturday’s Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) and nearly swept the trifecta when Colonel Liam outrallied stablemate Largent for the victory (Pletcher’s third runner, Social Paranoia, was close behind in fourth). The Todd Squad delivered in a major way all throughout the card, and the popular trainer seems to hold a heavy hand in this season’s older turf male division race.
3. Wildman Jack
Over on the west coast, a new threat in the dirt sprint division emerged when Wildman Jack dominated his rivals by over 4 lengths in Saturday’s Palos Verdes Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park. Already a multiple Grade 3 winner in turf sprints, the Doug O’Neill trainee has the versatility and talent to compete anywhere. Expect O’Neill to keep him on target for another appearance in the Breeders’ Cup when it returns to Del Mar this fal.
