Horse Racing Picks for Saturday, January 24
Make sure to check out VSiN At The Track to catch up on the latest horse racing news and picks in all the major stakes this weekend! Subscribe on Apple or Spotify to make sure you don’t miss an episode!
Pegasus World Cup Turf, Gulfstream Park, Race #12
Let’s kick it off with a price in the turf, #4 One Stripe, sits on the board at 12-1 and for a good reason. The two previous efforts in Grade 1 company have been less than stellar, but there are excuses in both. At Woodbine, the trip was less than ideal on the back stretch and around the turn. He has no chance in the Breeders’ Cup once he drew the rail and had to send. The comeback at Gulfstream Park was awesome, and Motion moved right back to the Grade 1 level. He’s worth a play at the price.
#8 Cabo Spirit has been a fun horse on the West Coast, but will now try that luck in Florida. He’s fast, very fast, and needs the lead. Lucky for Cabo, he is clearly lone speed here, and this is a great course to be alone on the lead. He has a real shot to go gate to wire.
#2 Program Trading has yet to return to the level we saw him before the layoff in 2024. He’s got the best pair of races on paper and is definitely a logical contender here, but none of his efforts since have been good enough. I am just not willing to take a short price.
#1 Test Score will take on older horses for the first time, but was impressive in his 3-year-old campaign in dancing every dance. We have seen younger horses win this race before, and improving is not out of the realm of possibility.
Top 4: 4-8-2-1
The Bets: $50 Win #4
Pegasus World Cup, Gulfstream Park, Race #13
The main event on Saturday is a fascinating race. We will start with the undefeated favorite, #1 Disco Time, for Brad Cox. He was awesome in the Dwyer, but that was the toughest field he has faced to date and that was not a tough field. He’s quick and will want to get to the front early, but it will be crowded up front. He may be a superstar after Saturday, but at 8-5 it is tough to run to the window.
#11 White Abarrio is back for more after winning the 2025 version of the race in a romp. His lead up last year included two foundational races here at Gulfstream Park. Those are missing this year, and that is a big-time concern when you look up and see 4-1.
Despite having the favorite, #7 Tappan Street is also entered for Brad Cox. He is famously the only horse to beat Sovereignty last year, but missed months with an injury after that victory. He returned in December and won while not being overly impressive. Despite that, here he is entered in the Pegasus. It sure feels like he fires his shot here, and the price is right at 6-1.
#8 Poster is the bomber that I am interested in here. I mentioned the pace with Disco Time. There are as many as six horses who want to be forward from the jump. That sets up for Poster to be flying home late. He will need to improve, but his last out was the best dirt race of his career and adds blinkers, a 27% move for his trainer.
Top 4: 7-1-8-11
The Bets – $50 Win #7
