Mucho Gusto, Charlatan lead invitees to Pegasus World Cup Invitational

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – As expected, defending winner Mucho Gusto and his talented stablemate Charlatan top a list of 12 horses invited to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park. A dozen turf specialists also have been invited to the $1 Pegasus Turf Invitational, with both races to be decided here Jan. 23.

Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Knicks Go and 2020 Pegasus World Cup runner-up Mr Freeze are also among the invitees to this year’s edition of the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus. Four other horses were placed on a reserve invitation list.

Mucho Gusto rallied to a 4 1/4-length victory over Mr Freeze in last year’s edition of the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup. He would make just two more starts the rest of the year, going to the sidelines after a fourth-place finish in the Saudi Cup before returning to finish fourth as the 1-2 favorite in the Grade 2 San Antonio on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.

Charlatan has been virtually untested in four lifetime starts, although he was disqualified from an apparent victory in the Arkansas Derby because of a medication violation. He became an official Grade 1 winner with a one-sided victory in the seven-furlong Runhappy Malibu on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.

Trainer Bob Baffert has not confirmed the status for the Pegasus of either Mucho Gusto or Charlatan. Both horses also are under consideration for the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 20 at King Abdulaziz Racetrack.

Knicks Go is perfect in three starts since being transferred to trainer Brad Cox’s barn prior to the beginning of his 2020 campaign, topped by a wire-to-wire 3 1/2-length triumph in the Dirt Mile.

Mr Freeze came out of the Pegasus here a year ago to register an easy three-length tally in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile. He ended the season finishing sixth, beaten 5 3/4 lengths by Knicks Go, in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and fifth in the Grade 1 Clark at Churchill Downs. He earned more than $950,000 last year.

“He ran as good as he could in this race last year, he was just beaten by a better horse,” trainer Dale Romans said. “He’s doing great and really seems to like it here on this track, so we’ve got to take a shot.”

On Sunday, Mr Freeze worked for the second time since shipping locally, breezing an easy half-mile in 52.78 seconds.

“I don’t have to do a whole lot with him in the morning between now and the race,” Romans said. “He’s as fit as he can be at the moment.”

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The other invitees to the Pegasus World Cup are Code of Honor, Harpers First Ride, Jesus’ Team, Kiss Today Goodbye, Sharp Samurai, Sleepy Eyes Todd, Tax, and True Timber. The also-eligibles, listed in order of preference, are Anothertwistafate, Math Wizard, King Guillermo, and Idol.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said he’s looking forward to running Grade 1 winner Math Wizard in the Pegasus, but he needs two defections to get in. Math Wizard, winless in six starts in 2020, returned from a 14-week hiatus to finish fourth in the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday here Dec. 12.

“Every time we give him a break he jumps forward in his second start back,” Joseph said. “I thought he ran a solid race in the Harlan’s Holiday, and if he moves forward into this race, I think we have a chance.”

Grade 1 winners Say the Word and Storm the Court top the list of invitees to the 1 3/16 mile Pegasus Turf. The others are Anothertwistafate, Breaking the Rules, Colonel Liam, Cross Border, Doswell, Largent, North Dakota, Pixelate, Sharp Samurai, and Social Paranoia. The also-eligibles, in order of preference, are Next Shares, Field Pass, Analyze It, and Greyes Creek. Colonel Liam, Largent, and Social Paranoia are all trained by Todd Pletcher.