The Lead:
Pegasus World Cup Day at Gulfstream Park is stacked to the rafters with important stakes action. Get full coverage of the Pegasus World Cup, Pegasus World Cup Turf and Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf inside the free 1/ST Pegasus World Cup Wager Guide. I'll look to a great betting race on the undercard in this space, as the Race 11 Inside Information is sandwiched between the big, featured trio. After a nice $451 return in last week's Race of the Week at GP, let's keep the waves building in South Florida.

Horseplayers at Xpressbet and 1/ST BET be sure to opt in and take part in the $10,000 Pegasus World Cup Day Exacta-Thon for Gulfstream Park. Also, players on those platforms can take advantage of up to a $10 money-back special on win bets in the Pegasus World Cup, PWC Turf and PWC Filly & Mare Turf.

​​Field Depth:
Grade 2 winners here include INDY BAY, JODY'S PRIDE and VERITY. JODY'S PRIDE and DAZZLING MOVE arguably have kept the strongest company lines in the field.
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Pace:
Several want to be pressing the tempo, but the most committed front-runners could be GRFAND JOB and DAZZLING MOVE, the latter coming out of a route. The pace should be solid, but not certain to overheat.

Our Eyes:
Here are my horse-by-horse notes.

#1-INDY BAY: Charles Town Oaks winner is 1 of 3 entrants here for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Consistent work pattern since being eased in September, but obviously a difficult read. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aims for a 3-peat in the Inside Information, winning with Olivia Darling and Mystic Lake (the latter also for Saffie Joseph Jr.) the past 2 years. Seven furlongs taking pressure from rail is a difficult assignment having never run fresh prior.

#2-NECESSITY: Rampart runner-up may be hard-pressed to get there going 7 furlongs, but fired a bullet workout of that race and seemingly holding form. Trainer Riley Mott makes rare pairing with Manny Franco.

#3-JODY’S PRIDE: Classy mare ran at the Grade 1 level at ages 2, 3 and 4. She’s proven better on dirt than turf and should appreciate the return to favored surface. Narrowly missed in this race last year when third by a neck and gets stakes ace Flavien Prat in the saddle. Contends.

#4-HER LAUGH: Second Riley Mott charge in the lineup, she returns off a dull fifth in the La Brea at Santa Anita. Lot of travel to and from, leaving spot for only 1 workout since and not much to glean from it. Jose Ortiz rides. Prefer others.

#5-CLARET BERET: Inconsistent mare fits well at the 7-furlong distance but you just never know which version will show up. Second of 3 Saffie Joseph Jr. charges in the lineup would require double-digit win odds to get interested. Her best could contend.

#6-BEYOND BELIEF: Back-to-back local 7-furlong allowance wins for Kelly Breen, who saddled 2016 Inside Information winner Stonetastic. Had been a cut below this level in prior stakes bids, but is in career form now and should be near the pace throughout.

#7-DAZZLING MOVE: Jockey John Velazquez seeks a record-padding seventh win in the Inside Information. Mare disappointed in the Rampart and has won just 1 of her last 11. The 0-5 record at 7 furlongs takes this third Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee in the lineup off my radar.

#8-STERLING SILVER: At age 7 would be the oldest winner of the Inside Information, which dates back to 1976 when run as the Shirley Jones. Rallied to win the Rampart over a mile here Dec. 26, but has won 4 times at the 7-furlong trip in her career. Jockey Javier Castellano is a 3-time winner of this stakes. Legit threat.

#9-PATRICIA ANN: Winless in 4 stakes while getting 3 minor checks, we’ll see if the barn change from Carlos Martin to Jose D’Angelo changes her fate. Has run well over 7 furlongs and should be part of the pressing brigade under Luis Saez.

#10-ONE MAGIC PHILLY: Looked like a future star in the second half of 2024, but plateaued and has lost 7 straight stakes (a Keeneland allowance win in October breaking up the skid). Brendan Walsh has gotten similar results to previous conditioner Phil D’Amato. Beaten favorite in the Rampart isn’t overmatched, but likely finds a few better.

#11-GRAND JOB: Speedster has made the front in all 5 starts since coming stateside from Ireland. She’s won 3 of those, narrowly missed in the 1-1/16 miles Royal Delta over this track and the caved late in November when last seen. That poor performance inflates her price (favored in 4 straight). She’s freshened, working fast, but sporadic. Trainer Bill Mott won this race in 2006 and 2007.

#12-VERITY: Solid 3-year-old sprint stakes filly last spring for Eoin Harty but the Godolphin charge has raced only once since May. Decent return second in a November allowance sprint at Churchill should set her up in terms of form cycle, but she’s unproven against elder stakes foes and over the GP main.

Most Likely Exotics Contender:
JODY'S PRIDE is 6-6 in the superfecta in 1-turn dirt races in her career, including a photo-finish third in this race last year.

Best Longshot Contender:
GRAND JOB should be much bigger price than her previous tries, and his proven over the track and distance with a chance to get bold on the lead.

Sending it in ($100 bankroll):
$50 win GRAND JOB. $10 exacta key-box GRAND JOB with JODY'S PRIDE and STERLING SILVER ($40). $.50 trifecta part-wheel GRAND JOB with JODY'S PRIDE, STERLING SILVER with ALL ($10).