'It's tempting,' but McKinzie likely to skip Pegasus World Cup
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The 2019 Pegasus World Cup appears to be one horse short of a full field, as trainer Bob Baffert is still unsure of sending multiple Grade 1 winner McKinzie to Gulfstream Park for the Jan. 26 event
McKinzie last ran Dec. 26 on Santa Anita's opening day and won the Malibu Stakes (G1) by 4 3/4 lengths.
Owners Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman would have to pay $500,000 to purchase the vacant slot.
The Daily Racing Form reported earlier that Gulfstream Park officials were
Baffert won the inaugural Pegasus World Cup in 2017 with Arrogate and finished second with West Coast last year behind Gun Runner. Collected also ran fifth. The Hall of Fame conditioner has no other horses under consideration for the Jan. 26 renewal.
McKinzie's Malibu performance was a rebound from his 12th-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic, won by Accelerate. If he did run in the Pegasus, McKinzie would again be up against Accelerate, as well as Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile champ City of Light.
Baffert is also looking at the Feb. 2 San Pasqual Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita as an option. Both the San Pasqual and Pegasus are 1 1/8 miles.
McKinzie was a serious Kentucky Derby prospect in early 2018 before he was sidelined and Justify came along to win the Triple Crown. The son of Street Sense came off a six-month layoff to win the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) before running in the Breeders' Cup Classic and the Malibu.
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