Bet Now

2022 Pegasus World Cup Profile: Stilleto Boy

In the days leading up to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida, usracing.com is publishing profiles of the horses in the race set for Saturday, Jan. 29. The profiles will be updated with morning-line odds and post positions following the draw on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. ET.

By Margaret Ransom

Stilleto Boy – Photo courtesy of Coady photography

Stilleto Boy has been knocking on the door to gain entrance into the big kids’ club for the better part of the last six months. He’ll get another chance in the Pegasus World Cup.

The 4-year-old gelding, a son of 2011 Preakness winner Shackleford, won the Grade 3 Iowa Derby and ran second in the Grade 1 Awesome Again and third in the Grade 1 Malibu last time out.

When he took on the top horses in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 6, he was a non-threatening fifth of eight, 13 ½ lengths behind the winner Knicks Go, the favorite in Saturday’s Pegasus. Running third in the Malibu could be deceptive since it was Flightline winning by 11 ½ lengths, with Stilleto Boy a length behind runner-up Baby Yoda. We don’t know how good Flightline can be at this point, so on paper the loss was unlikely due to a poor effort. Possibly, a repeat of his Malibu effort could produce a decent payday at a better distance for him going around two turns.

With options of earning an invite to both the $20 million Saudi Cup next month and the $10 million Dubai World Cup in the next few months, the Pegasus is a good race to open his 4-year-old campaign.

Betting advice: This could be a tough spot for a front-runner that has to try to keep pace with the favorites Knicks Go and Life Is Good. May have enough to get a piece of the pie (fourth is worth $145,000).

Post position: 3

Odds: 20-1

Jockey: Kent Desormeaux

Trainer: Ed Moger, Jr.

Owner: Steve Moger

Career record: 12-2-3-4

Career earnings: $540,675

Top Equibase speed figure: 106

Pedigree: Shackleford-Rosie’s Ransom, by Marquetry

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Front-runner/stalker

Notes: Owner Steve Moger, who is trainer Ed Moger Jr.’s brother, paid $420,000 for the then 3-year-old gelding at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July selected horses of racing age sale last year… This will be a first starter for both owner and trainer in the race… Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux has won just about every major stakes event in his career but will be riding in his first Pegasus World Cup.

Proudly featured on: