The upper echelon of the older-horse dirt division gets underway this week with the Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park, on Saturday, January 28! The 1 ⅛-mile dirt race drew a full field of 12 older horses plus two also-eligible entrants to vie for a $3 million purse and the fast track to the top of the handicap division going into the year.
One of the newer traditions in horse racing, the Pegasus World Cup takes its name from a Pegasus and Dragon statue at Gulfstream Park. Since its inauguration in 2017, the Pegasus World Cup has featured winners like Arrogate, Gun Runner, Knicks Go, and Life Is Good. Though Life Is Good does not return to try and defend his crown, a field of worthy contenders tries to join the list.
Who will win this rich race in 2023? Read on to find out, and to see the best places to bet horse racing online!
Pegasus World Cup Field
This is the official field for the 2023 Pegasus World Cup including post positions, trainers, jockeys, and morning lines:
- Proxy (Michael Stidham/Joel Rosario) - 9/2
- Simplification (Antonio Sano/Paco Lopez) - 15/1
- Ridin with Biden (Robert Reid/Emisael Jaramillo) - 20/1
- White Abarrio (Saffie Joseph, Jr./Tyler Gaffalione) - 10/1
- Defunded (Bob Baffert/Irad Ortiz) - 6/1
- Art Collector (Bill Mott/Junior Alvarado) - 10/1
- Skippylongstocking (Saffie Joseph, Jr./Jose Ortiz) - 5/1
- Get Her Number (Peter Miller/Luis Saez) - 15/1
- Last Samurai (D. Wayne Lukas/Frankie Dettori) - 20/1
- Cyberknife (Brad Cox/Florent Geroux) - 5/2
- Stilleto Boy (Ed Moger, Jr./Mike Smith) - 30/1
- O’Connor (Saffie Joseph, Jr./Javier Castellano) - 10/1
- Hoist the Gold (Dallas Stewart/Brian Hernandez, Jr.) - Also Eligible
- Endorsed (Michael Maker/Julien Leparoux) - Also Eligible
These morning lines are just the best guess from Gulfstream’s public handicapper about how the odds will look come post time. You are not guaranteed these odds. If you are serious about locking in the best odds on your Pegasus World Cup pick, your best bet is to make an account on an online sportsbook. They let you lock in your odds as soon as you place your bet!
The current Pegasus World Cup odds at all of the top online sportsbooks are featured below:
 |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyberknife | +175 | +175 | +150 |
| Defunded | +500 | +500 | +375 |
| Proxy | +600 | +600 | +500 |
| Art Collector | +700 | +700 | +600 |
| Skippylongstocking | +750 | +750 | +700 |
| White Abarrio | +800 | +800 | +750 |
Pegasus World Cup Online Betting
Before you start handicapping the Pegasus World Cup, you first need to create your online betting account. Choosing the right sportsbook can seem difficult at first, since there are so many options. Fortunately, our online betting experts have done the research. Our expert reviews tell you what you need to know about each of your options!
All the sites we recommend give you the basics of a great betting experience: smooth user interfaces, trusted deposit and cash-out features, and true Vegas odds on races all year long. They all also provide great bonuses and incentives like deposit bonuses, referral offers and rebates. Take a few minutes now to find the best one for you, and then you will bet the races like a pro!
Pegasus World Cup Handicapping
You have your betting account set up, so now it’s time to move on to the even more fun part: meeting the field and picking a winner of the 2023 Pegasus World Cup!
Pegasus World Cup Favorites
The Pegasus World Cup tends to be the playground of favorites, and if there is a good short-priced horse they tend to be hard to beat. Cyberknife fits the profile of a Pegasus World Cup winner beautifully. He comes out of a great second in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, and the extra furlong suits him well. His trainer Brad Cox has already won the Pegasus, and his tactical speed should suit Gulfstream well.
Another horse with a strong chance in the 2023 Pegasus World Cup is Skippylongstocking. He looked better than ever when winning the Harlan’s Holiday (G3), the local prep race. The extra half-furlong should not challenge his stamina, and he has the tactical speed to work out a good trip at Gulfstream Park.
One horse to take a stand against is Defunded. Though his trainer Bob Baffert has won the Pegasus twice, Defunded is not tested against horses of the quality he will face. Expect him to get used on the front end, and then run down by the horses lying in wait just behind him in the lane.
Pegasus World Cup Exotics Horses
Proxy broke a string of underneath finishes with a win in the Clark (G1) last out. However, this is a deeper field than that, suggesting he still needs to find more to win. That said, he has found underneath shares against horses of this level before, and he should be able to parlay a good tracking trip into a piece of the money.
White Abarrio is already a Grade 1 winner over this course and distance, winning the 2022 Florida Derby. He ran a good third in the Cigar Mile (G1), a race on the short side for him, and has upside to improve on the stretch back out to two turns. Expect a good effort back at his home track.
Stilleto Boy finished third in this race last year at a big price. He has made a career out of cashing checks in major races as a long shot, and his tactical speed should allow him to do just that this time around, too. A win would be a major surprise, but he is consistent enough to find the frame again.
Free Pegasus World Cup Picks
These are your free expert picks for the 2023 Pegasus World Cup:
- $20 to win - #10 Cyberknife
- $1 exacta key - #10 Cyberknife with #4 White Abarrio, #7 Skippylongstocking
- $0.50 trifecta key - #10 Cyberknife with #1 Proxy, #4 White Abarrio, #7 Skippylongstocking
- $0.20 superfecta - #10 Cyberknife with #1 Proxy, #4 White Abarrio, #7 Skippylongstocking, #11 Stilleto Boy
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