Pegasus Day late pick five play for Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024

RACE 9: Horse-for-course MARYQUITECONTRARY is 7 for 9 at Gulfstream, and she won this Grade 2 fixture last year going away. The closer has some speed to run at under regular rider Luca Panici, who was aboard when she prevailed off a layoff in the Dec. 30 Rampart Stakes, a one-turn mile. INTREPID DAYDREAM possesses effective tactical speed and rarely finishes worse than second while often favored. Eight-time winner BLUEFIELD wasn’t far behind Intrepid Daydream when fifth in her second race off the shelf in the Grade 3 Sugar Swirl. (3)

RACE 10: DIDIA won five of her first six stateside starts after coming from Argentina, where she was a Group 1 winner. She’s been off since a subpar showing in the ultra-tough Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita and is unbeaten when fresh. STAR FORTRESS blew away Grade 3 opposition with a 104 Beyer Speed Figure in her debut on this side of the pond in the Cardinal at Churchill, and the third-place horse returned to win a listed stakes at Fair Grounds. California shipper RUBY NELL has won three of her last four stakes outings for red-hot trainer Richard Mandella. (3)

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RACE 11: STEAL SUNSHINE wasn’t far back in fourth after getting hung out to dry on the first turn in the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday, the prep for the Grade 1 Pegasus, while earning his third consecutive Beyer in the mid 90s. HEJAZI benefited from a speed bias when second to favored stablemate Speed Boat Beach in the Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita. He could be the controlling speed under Baffert’s go-to rider Flavien Prat. CASTLE CHAOS peaked in the fall at Aqueduct and could make some noise if he stays in the zone. (3)

RACE 12: WARM HEART looks imposing as she takes on the boys in this $1 million event. A multiple Group 1 winner in Europe, she was beaten just a neck by the brilliant Inspiral in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita before ending up third in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase. (1)

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RACE 13: O’CONNOR got a dream run along the inside on the far turn en route to landing the Grade 3 prep for this $3 million contest. He drew well in post 2 in this longer two-turn route and could ride the rail to another score with a hot Paco Lopez aboard. HOIST THE GOLD is charting unknown territory going 1 1/8 miles off an easy win in Grade 2 Cigar Mile and could be the dominant speed. TRADEMARK and FIRST MISSION ran one-two in the Grade 2 Clark at Churchill. SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING drew poorly but still should be considered off a wide third in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile behind National Treasure, who seems like a vulnerable favorite in this spot. (5)

THE PLAY: 1, 3, 9 / 4, 6, 9 / 1, 3, 7 / 9 / 2, 4, 5, 8, 12 = $67.50 ticket

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