Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf offer a golden opportunity to find value

The $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational Stakes, presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance on Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park, is my kind of race with a deep, talented cast of turf ladies that even the morning line oddsmaker couldn’t make heads or tails of. How else do you explain 11 of the 12 runners with odds between 9-2 and 12-1?

You could make a compelling case for most runners – also eligible #14 Awesome Czech would require a drop or two, but would be a strong consideration for my exacta and trifecta tickets – and the lukewarm favorites are not without obvious flaws.

#7 Whiskey Decision (9-2) has never won above Grade 3 level and is likely to be an overbet based on her trainer-jockey tandem of Chad Brown and Flavien Prat, but she did give a serious kick with a final eighth in :11.13 in her most recent win. Likewise, #11 In our time (5-1) has finished in the top three in each of her last five starts, but she hasn’t won a race since November 2024 and was caught short-distance late in her last two races. I like to be hit by her and look for better value.

I like three 12-1 longshots the most: #3 Golden destination, Proctor Street #8And #9 Crevalle D’Oroand I play my favorite of the trio, Proctor Street, to win and box them together in an exacta.

Proctor Street is coming off back-to-back wins for trainer Brendan Walsh, with jockey Tyler Gaffalione riding 3-for-3 on the Street Sense mare. She goes 4-for-5 at this distance and has the ability to finish quickly, with multiple wins clocking the final furlong in :11.51 or faster. She has been working steadily for this race and appears to be on an upward trajectory.

Destino D’Oro is 2-for-3 at this distance and won impressively on this grass course in her most recent start at the Tropical Park Oaks on December 13. Similarly, Crevalle D’Oro is coming off a stakes victory at a mile on the Gulfstream turf in the Suwanee River Stakes on Dec. 20 with a powerful late rally.

The only participant who makes me both afraid to bet and leave my exacta ticket behind is #4 Breathe away (8-1)who may be the top finisher in the race but has only one timed workout since December 24 and two since her last race on November 30.

My betting strategy on a $10 budget:

$10 profit on #8 Proctor Street

What to say during the betting window: Gulfstream Park, Race 10, $10 win on #8

My betting strategy on a $30 budget:

$12 profit on #8 Proctor Street

What to say at the betting window: Gulfstream Park, Race 10, $12 win on #8

$3 exact box: 3,8,9 ($18)

What to say at the betting window: Gulfstream Park, Race 10, $3 exacta box: 3,8,9

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