Collected Can Get Revenge on Gun Runner in the Pegasus World Cup
Gun Runner is forecast to go off around 4-5 in the U.S. pools and only a fraction bigger with the U.K. bookies for this 16.7 million dollar race at Gulfstream Park. Gun Runner had a fantastic season last year and capped it off with an authoritive win in the Breeders Cup classic in November. While he is clearly the best horse in here, he has been handed a poor draw in stall 10 of the 12 runners; especially for a horse that likes to make the pace this has to be a big negative.
Gun Runner finished in front of Collected, West Coast, War Story and Gunnevera in the Breeders Cup Classic, but there are reasons to think the second place finisher Collected can reverse form with him this time around with a good draw today.
While Collected had to start widest of all in the Classic in stall 11, Gun Runner started from a plum draw in 5. Today’s race sees Gun Runner with a really tough draw in 10, especially as the runners will hit the first bend very quickly while Collected has an ideal starting stall in 5 where he should be able to track the other pace horses Sharp Azteca and West Coast who are drawn on his inside.
Collected is a best priced 8/1 for this race which rates as a great bet for me. He would have probably have been clear second favourite for this race had he not ran in the grade 2 San Antonio stakes at Santa Anita where he could only finish third, when sent of the 30/100 favourite. That race result may have been disappointing, but it will have put him spot on for this race since he last ran in the Classic on November the 5th. Mike Smith who rides for Bob Baffert has ridden both West Coast and Collected and he usually rides the stables first string so that has to be a positive for Collected tthat he is on-board considering how good West Coast was last year.
The Jamie Osborne trained Toast Of New York has run some great races internationally and he could go off at a really big price in the field in the U.S. pools if you fancy backing him. If they go off really quick, Gunnevera could pick up some place money at a decent price, he is currently 20/1 with the bookies but if bigger becomes available I would be tempted, he has a decent chance to place if they cut each other’s throats upfront.
Recommended bet
Collected, 8/1 Coral
