The man behind the microphone at Gulfstream Park, Pete Aiello will join us to dissect their most outstanding day of racing. There will be six graded stakes races for Pete to put paint with his colorful litany of story lines and pinpoint race calls. In what may go down as one of the best races of the year 11 months from now, will pit two of the most talented horses currently in training against each other – probable 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go against the near-perfect Life is Good in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup. Leading up to the day’s main event is a talent-laden undercard. The two turf tests are the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational and Grade 3 Pegasus Filly& Mare. The competition continues on the main track with the Grade 2 Inside Information; Grade3 Fred W. Hooper; and Grade 3 Wm. McKnight. Pete will familiarize us with the top competitors of each test.
Byron King from the Blood-Horse will weigh in on the much-anticipated Pegasus World Cup and then take a turn on the weekend’s handicapping map and head for Hot Springs. Spotlight on the 3-year-olds will take place on Saturday in the $750,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Post positions were drawn Monday for the Southwest, along with two other stakes races Jan. 29. The 1 1/16-mile Southwest is Oaklawn’s second of four Kentucky Derby points races, offering 17 to the top four finishes (10-4-2-1) toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. Dash Attack, Barber Road, Ignitis, Vivar and Barber Road, the 1-2-3-5-7 finishers, respectively, in the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 1 are expected to return for the Southwest. The 1-mile Smarty Jones was Oaklawn’s first Kentucky Derby points race. From there, Saturday’s 3-year-old action switched to Santa Anita. The Grade 2, $200,000 San Vicente is a west coast “stepping stone” race that will be contested at 7 furlongs. What has come to serve as the norm in such events, Bob Baffert will enter three impeccably bred colts as they take their baby steps to the Santa Anita Derby.