ARCADIA, Calif. – Semper Fortis, the former maiden claimer who finished third in three stakes for 3-year-olds this year, is being pointed to the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 28. Paul Reddam, who owns Semper Fortis with his wife, Zillah, said Thursday that the colt is a default selection to start after retirement and injuries hit two of the stable’s leading hopes – Nyquist, the winner of the Kentucky Derby in May, and the older horse Donworth. Reddam purchased a berth for the Pegasus for $1 million last spring when the race was introduced. Reddam said Thursday he does not expect Semper Fortis to challenge the two leading contenders for the race – Arrogate and California Chrome, who were first and second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 5. “When we signed up, we had Nyquist and Donworth as a backup,” Reddam said. “You can’t predict where they’ll be seven or eight months out. My view is with California Chrome and Arrogate, anything can happen, but I don’t see how people think they have a realistic shot of beating them. “We’ll run a horse to get some of the money back. If you don’t have a realistic shot of running 1-2 and you’re more likely to finish in the pack, you have to take your lumps.” Reddam said that selling the berth in the coming weeks is unlikely with two clear standouts at the fore of the race. “My view is that as long as the top two are running, it would be difficult to make a deal that would make sense for anyone,” he said. The Pegasus World Cup will pay $7 million to the winner, $1.75 million for second, $1 million for third, and $250,000 to the remaining starters. If there are 12 runners, the race will be worth $12 million. Semper Fortis has won 2 of 12 starts and has earned $179,405. He won a $62,500 claimer for maidens at Del Mar in November 2015 and an optional claimer for 2-year-olds at Los Alamitos in December 2015. This year, Semper Fortis is winless in seven starts, including second-place finishes in the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar, the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Derby and the Zia Park Derby in New Mexico. Semper Fortis was sixth Monday in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs, finishing 6 1/4 lengths behind race winner Mind Your Biscuits.