For one of the biggest days of the year at Gulfstream Park, you knew 1/ST BET and Xpressbet would roll out something special. Not to disappoint, the marketing team has not only offered horseplayers a Money Back Offer on the Pegasus World Cup's trio of features, but also a $10,000 Exacta-Thon. Based on the popularity of past Exacta-Thon promotions, most of you know how these work, but for those who do not the goal is to connect on as many $2 exactas as possible during the 13-race card. Those who hit them on 6 different races will split $7500. The customer(s) who hit the most, split the other $2500. As always, just remember to register on the promotional landing page.

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Here are a few of my favorite exacta plays on the monster card in Hallandale Beach on Saturday afternoon.

Race 8: Fred Hooper (G3)

This year’s Fred Hooper field is led by a pair of talented lightly-raced 5YOs for Hall of Fame conditioners, but both could have their chances compromised in the early stages. #1 Life and Times enters his first start in Florida off a pair of dominant wins at Aqueduct for Todd Pletcher. The son of Justify got off to a very late start to his career, but has done nothing wrong thus far. The rail draw presents a challenge, as does all of the early speed to his outside. If he can sit just off, he will be tough, but that is a big if. #7 Knightsbridge has raced three times as much as Life and Times for Bill Mott, but also had a bumpy early start to his career. That said, he has rattled off two consecutive easy wins and has already shown an affinity for this surface. Both have talent, but I expect one of them to give way late due a brisk first half-mile. I am hopeful #5 Tour Player takes advantage of the probable race shape. The son of American Pharoah took a while to figure things out, but rattled off three straight off the pace victories in elongated sprints in 2025. Then, he sold for $350k and winds up in the Whit Beckman barn. Tour Player should get a great trip at a big price, so I will use him as a key horse with the two favorites in this one-turn mile event over the Gulfstream main track.

Play: Exacta Key Box 5 with 1+6


Race 9: William L McKnight (G3)

Trainer Mike Maker has won the McKnight a record 5 times and has a big shot to do so once again on Saturday with #1 Zverev. Maker claimed the Oscar Performance gelding from Cherie DeVaux at Saratoga for $40k this summer. The newly turned 5YO has rattled off three consecutive victories since then over three different surfaces. He has never competed over the Gulfstream grass, but has the right pilot jumping aboard for the big day. Irad Ortiz was aboard three-back at Saratoga and will reunite with the Kentucky bred on Saturday. The inside draw is a huge edge for a horse that would be up against in this same spot if drawn to the far outside. I like his chances at 6-1 and will key him on top of a pair of logicals #3 Ohana Honor and #11 Divin Propos. Both have elite turf riders aboard and have shown an affinity for these types of long- distance turf races. Not creative, but both likely to run their races.

Play: Exacta 1 with 3+11


Race 12: Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1)

This 9-furlong affair for a cool $1M purse goes through 5-2-ML favorite Program Trading. The 6YO was not going to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), but was also completely stopped in the lane making the race an easy toss. Prior to that, he rattled off a pair of runner-up efforts, including a three-quarter length defeat in the Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland. He is going to be tough to beat with a move forward off the freshening and his likely trip along the inside under regular rider Flavien Prat. I will key Program Trading on top over a pair of horses that are double-digits on the morning line. The first is #4 One Stripe. The Graham Motion trainee is a bit tough to figure out because his last was against lesser with the addition of Lasix, but he kept outstanding company prior to his Gulfstream Park debut on December 26. If he runs similar on Saturday without the anti-bleeding medication, he has a big chance to be a factor late. I will use him underneath, as well as late running #12 Fort Washington. The son of War Front was not done any favors at the draw, but should be able to angle over early to save ground and come with one big run late. If the pace is contentious, it should be good enough for a minor share.

Play: Exacta 2 with 4+12

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