(Newswire.net — January 8, 2021) — American horse racing fans will need to wait a couple more months before the first of the Triple Crown events, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t some huge racing to enjoy before then.
One of the biggest races on the thoroughbred calendar takes place at the end of January, as the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes takes place at Gulfstream Park.
The race is one of the richest in the world, with only the Dubai World Cup offering a bigger prize pot for the horses involved. The 2021 race once again promises to be one of the most exciting races of the year, but already gamblers are predicting a win for the market favourite, Charlatan.
Charlatan Comes Into Race With Huge Reputation
There isn’t much doubt that Charlatan comes into the race with the biggest reputation. The three-year-old that is trained by Bob Baffert has only appeared on the track on two occasions, and there have been mixed results. Charlatan was disqualified in his opening race at Oaklawn Park but managed to bounce back with a commanding win on his reappearance.
That second run of his career came on Boxing Day at Santa Anita, as he won by over four lengths from Express Train. That victory in the RunHappy Malibu Stakes was his first Grade 1 success, but there are still questions that need to be answered at the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes. Those questions hanging over the three-year-old mean that bettors may look elsewhere for their selection for the huge race.
Knicks Go Offers Reliable Pick
Those looking for a more reliable selection that has already proven that they can compete at the top level over a number of races shouldn’t look past Knicks Go. The Brad Cox-trained horse has been in excellent form over the past 12 months, as he has won on all four starts.
Two of those wins have come at Keeneland, with the first of those coming after a 225-day break from the track. The break, coupled with the change in trainer to Cox, has made for immediate improvement.
His return to the track came in the Allowance Optional claiming at Keeneland, as he won by over ten lengths from Casino Star. It was a more gruelling effort in his reappearance at the same track over a mile, as he won by three and a half lengths in the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. That Grade 1 success highlights that the four-year-old should be an outstanding choice for the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes.
Tax The Only Other Standout
There is only one other horse in the field that gamblers will be intrigued by, and that will be Tax. The five-year-old, who is trained by Danny Gargan, has been an inconsistent performer throughout his career.
However, a recent win at Gulfstream Park in December has seen him become a very intriguing horse since the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes takes place at the same track.
On that day, Tax was in excellent form as he won the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday Stakes by four and a half lengths from Eye Of A Jedi.
That could indicate that the five-year-old is now reaching his peak, but it is also important to remember that this was his first win in four. In his last run at Gulfstream, he finished in ninth position, which was 15 and a half lengths behind Mucho Gusto.
The inconsistency of Tax means that it will be a gamble to believe that he will win the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes, and bets could be better placed elsewhere.
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