Pegasus World Cup 2023 Picks: Cyberknife can finish on a high note
The richest race of the year in Florida will be here on Saturday, January 28: the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1)! Covering 1 ⅛ miles on the Gulfstream Park dirt, the race drew a field of the best dirt route horses in the world. At stake are a massive purse and the inside track toward the top of the handicap division: or, in the case of soon-to-be retired Cyberknife, more prestige at stud.
Though the Pegasus is one of horse racing’s newest traditions, dating back to only 2017, horseplayers look forward to betting this top Florida horse race every year. its winners have been among the best horses in recent racing history. Its winners include the likes of Arrogate, Gun Runner, and Knicks Go.
Who will add their name to this illustrious list this year? Read on to find out!
Betting the 2023 Pegasus World Cup Online
Even though we all want to go to Gulfstream Park to see the Pegasus World Cup in person, we can’t all make it to the big race. Fortunately, you can be a part of the action from anywhere by betting it at an online racebook! Betting online gives you access to great incentives that no racetrack or OTB offers, as well as the convenience of playing from home or on the go!
Online racebooks offer lucrative racebook bonuses like horse racing rebates, deposit and sign-up incentives, and referral bonuses for betting with your friends. All of our expert-reviewed racebooks offer great user interfaces, trustworthy money management, and smooth deposit and cash-out options, too, so you will have the best Pegasus betting experience!
These are the best online wagering options for Florida horseplayers:
Handicapping the 2023 Pegasus World Cup
Now that you have your online betting account set up, it is time to see the field and odds for the 2023 Pegasus World Cup. Keep reading for expert analysis that will help you cash tickets on the biggest race of the winter!
2023 Pegasus World Cup Horses
This is the official field for the 2023 Pegasus World Cup including draw numbers, 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
Keep in mind that the morning line is just the track’s best estimate for odds on race day. You won’t know the actual racetrack odds until the gates open on Saturday. Your best bet is to play the race at an online racebook! Since online racebooks offer fixed-odds betting, you can lock in the best price when you see it, and know you will get that price on your Pegasus pick.
These are the Pegasus World Cup odds for the leading contenders.
2023 Pegasus World Cup Favorites
The Pegasus World Cup drew an overflow field: 12 in the main field, plus two also-eligible entrants.
Cyberknife to Win
Favorites tend to show up strong in the Pegasus World Cup: every winner to date has been either the favorite or the second betting choice. Furthemore, horses from the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile tend to run well in the Pegasus, especially if they have proven they can stretch out past the flat mile.
Cyberknife, making his last start before retiring to stud, is the likely favorite in the 2023 Pegasus World Cup, and he has a lot of elements of a historically successful Pegasus horse. He is well proven at the Grade 1 level, and finished an excellent second in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. He is a two-time Grade 1 winner at 1 ⅛ miles, in the Arkansas Derby (G1) and the Haskell (G1). With tactical speed, he should thrive at Gulfstream, and trainer Brad Cox already won the Pegasus with Knicks Go.
The Other Favorites
Among the other favorites, Skippylongstocking also offers strong appeal. He looked better than ever when winning the Harlan’s Holiday, the local prep for the Pegasus. He has tactical speed, he is a well-proven Gulfstream horse, and the stretch out to a mile and an eighth fits within the bounds of his stamina. This is the right time for another good effort.
Proxy broke a losing streak in the Clark (G1) last out, though he faces a tougher field here. With that said? Though he is unlikely to win the Pegasus, he is both consistent and in good enough form to get one of his more customary underneath shares in the Pegasus. He appeals more for that purpose than Defunded, who needs the lead against good horses and has been beating inferior company out west.
2023 Pegasus World Cup Longer Shots
White Abarrio ran only third in the Cigar Mile (G1) last out and has to turn the tables on Get Her Number from that, but he should. He is most potent at Gulfstream. And, while Get Her Number will probably find 1 ⅛ miles too long, White Abarrio is already a Grade 1 winner going this distance in Hallandale Beach. Expect the striking grey to move forward.
Stilleto Boy has made a career on getting shares at big prices in good races. In fact, he did that in the Pegasus last year, running third behind Life Is Good and Knicks Go. He is pace-versatile enough to run on for a check from just about anywhere in the field, and he should be able to do that again here.
2023 Pegasus World Cup Free Picks
You have your betting account set up, and you have gotten to know the field. All that’s left is to place your bets! These are the best bets for Saturday’s 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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