Test Score is a step ahead in the Pegasus World Cup Turf

The son of Lookin At Lucky faces a field that is as competitive as it gets, this Saturday at Gulfstream Park

Test Score is a candidate for the Pegasus World Cup Turf / ADAM COGLIANESE / NYRA

HALLANDALE BEACH, Florida (Special for Turf Diario).— This Saturday’s appointment at Gulfstream Park is not just one of the richest races of the American winter; it is the stage where history and class will shake hands. The eighth edition of the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), contested over 1,800 meters with a $1,000,000 purse, presents a dream field: 6 millionaires in earnings, 4 G1 winners, and a trio of trainers—Chad Brown, Todd Pletcher, and Mike Maker—each seeking an unprecedented third victory in this event.

While the names of Brown and Pletcher always resonate, Graham Motion enters this edition with a formidable "one-two punch." On one hand, he presents Test Score (Lookin at Lucky), the Amerman Racing colt coming off a breakout 3-year-old season with victories in the Belmont Derby (G1) and the Twilight Derby (G2). This will be his first time facing older horses, a challenge Motion embraces with optimism: “He is an absolute class horse; after his bad luck in the Hollywood Derby, this is the ideal opportunity to graduate against his elders.”

The other card held by the English-born H. Graham Motion is the South African One Stripe (One World), a multiple G1 winner in his homeland who has already proven his adaptation to the local circuit after a commanding allowancewin this past December over this same turf course. “After a Breeders’ Cup to forget, we’ve managed to get him back on track. He arrives in great form,” the trainer stated.

The experts' vote of confidence (5-2) falls on Program Trading, the Klaravich Stables runner trained by Chad Brown. With three top-level victories under his belt and a near-perfect record of eight podium finishes in ten starts, the son of Lope de Vega seeks to return the trophy to Brown, who previously tasted success with Bricks and Mortar (Giant's Causeway) and Spirit of St Louis (Medaglia D'Oro).

Shug McGaughey is not far behind, sending out Fort Washington (War Front), the millionaire coming off a win in the Arlington Million (G1), and Cugino (Twirling Candy), a horse that "flies" on the Gulfstream course and arrives after finishing second to Wolfie’s Dynaghost (Ghostzapper) in the Fort Lauderdale (G3), clocking blistering times. “I’ve never seen horses run so fast on the turf as in that race; Cugino is ready for redemption,” McGaughey declared.

Arriving from the West Coast is a delegation led by Cabo Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile), a 7-year-old warrior who surpassed the million-dollar mark after his wire-to-wire victory in the San Gabriel (G3). Joining him is Call Sign Seven (Speightstown), a Michael McCarthy trainee coming off an upset win in the Seabiscuit Handicap (G2) at Del Mar.

Finally, the local specialists cannot be overlooked. Todd Pletcher relies on the consistency of Major Dude (Bolt D'Oro), a winner of over $1,400,000 who comes in well-rested, while the experienced Mike Maker bets on Chasing the Crown (Skipshot), an individual who finished third last year despite numerous troubled trips and arrives sharp in search of a rematch.