Favored Omaha Beach draws post 5 for Saturday’s Pegasus Cup

Omaha Beach, who drew post 5, has been established as the 7-5 morning-line favorite to land in the winner’s circle of the $3 million Pegasus World Cup on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

A winner of 5 of 10 career starts and never out of the money, Omaha Beach also was the morning-line favorite for the Kentucky Derby only to be scratched on the eve of the race with an injury that sidelined him for six months. Most recently, he captured the

Malibu Stakes, a seven-furlong dash at Santa Anita. He will be asked to run a quarter-mile farther in the Pegasus. However, he won last spring’s Arkansas Derby at the Pegasus distance of a mile and an eighth. Mike Smith, who won the first Pegasus in 2017 aboard Arrogate, will be aboard.

Spun to Run, who defeated Omaha Beach in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, is the 7-2 second choice with Javier Castellano from post 9 in the 12-horse field.

Bob Baffert, who trained Arrogate, is shipping in Mucho Gusto from California, listed at 9-2 from post 10. Irad Ortiz Jr., favored to win an Eclipse Award Thursday as America’s leading rider in 2019, will ride.

The only other entrant in single-digit odds is Pacific Classic champion Higher Power, 6-1 from post 6 with California star Flavien Pratt in the saddle.

True Timber will start from the rail with Joe Bravo at an estimated 20-1. Tax is 12-1 from No. 2 with Jose Ortiz, Irad’s younger brother. Diamond Oops breaks from No. 3 with Julien Leparoux at 30-1.

Belinda Stronach, president of Gulfstream owner The Stronach Group, said she hopes this becomes a model for all races.

Magic Wand, second last year in the co-featured Pegasus Turf, is the early 7-2 favorite for this year’s renewal despite drawing the outside No. 12 post for the 1 3⁄16ths mile grass race with a $1 million purse.

Nine stakes will be run on the 12-race card with an 11:30 a.m. first post. NBC will televise the Pegasus races in a 90-minute show at 4:30 p.m.