12 runners, the richest race on the planet, US$ 7 million to the winner, total prize purse of US$ 16 million nicely sums up the Gr.1 Pegasus World Cup 2018. There is no place better that a respectable racing fan would want to be on 27 January, except in-front of his TV screen or at Gulfstream park. Ofcourse the fans of Gun Runner have an additional reason, it is his last race. His swan song. And he is expected to make splash. Why not, he deserves the glory, having recently beaten one the world’s greatest racehorses in the Breeder’s Cup Classic and last year’s Pegasus World Cup winner, Arrogate. (Click here to read more about what Arrogate is upto now) Let us take a look at all the 12 runners and their evaluate their chances in this spectacular 1800m race.

Bob Baffert’s charge finished in second place finish to Gun Runner in the Breeders Cup Classic. This horse should be on the lead and will make Gun Runner work early. But the question is whether he can last the distance? Before the San Antonio, he had posted 128/128/127 speed figures in three starts. He will need to get back to that level to win the Pegasus. Trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Mike Smith teamed to win the inaugural Pegasus last year with Arrogate, a horse Collected later defeated in the TVG Pacific Classic.

Purchased for $1500 as a yearling, now entered in a US$ 16 million race. This guy is going places. And he does appear to love the Gulfstream track. But do we ‘fear the cowboy’ in this race? This is a major step up in class for Fear the Cowboy, who has never raced in a Grade 2 race, much less a $16 million Grade 1 against four 2017 Eclipse Awards finalists.

The 5-year-old will surely utilize his early zip and probably will be on or near the lead. In his final major breeze, he went the five furlongs on the Santa Anita fast main track in a bullet 58 seconds flat under exercise rider Pepi Aragon. However, stretching even farther against this class of horses, could be stretching it. He’s definitely worthy of consideration for the top five with Hall of Famer Gary Stevens scheduled to ride. But can he outrun the Gunner??

This is the best closer in the race and he has proved capable against elite competition. A total pace meltdown is this horse's only shot at beating these. In that scenario, one could see Gunnevera sweeping past rivals in the stretch for a top-three finish.

He is the deserving favorite in this race and will be crowned 2017 Horse of The Year. Gun Runner has dominated his opposition last season, only losing one race to the mighty Arrogate. Although he has never raced at Gulfstream Park, he clearly is the best dirt horse in training on the planet right now. It will take a Herculean effort from another to beat him in the final start of his career.

Seeking the Soul enters the Pegasus off a visually impressive victory coming from off the pace in the Gr. 1 Clark Handicap. A solid horse and trainer Dallas Stewart can sure upset the apple cart in big races but not today.

This fellow loves Gulfstream Park, having won three races from five starts. A fairly versatile colt, as far as current form, perhaps only Sharp Azteca is in the same ballpark as Gun Runner. But distance is a major concern in this race. His longest race has been just shy of 1700 m.

There's a lot going on in this race for the 6-year-old daughter of Curlin.  Although she definitely threw a clunker for new trainer Chad Brown, the lone female in the group fits well with these horses. This will most likely be Stellar Wind's last race before being bred to Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah. She has been training well for her return and is a threat for a top-three finish at her best.

The wild card of this group, is definitely a talented and proven against elite competition, but it’s tough to trust a racehorse who spent a few years living the relaxing life of a stallion against a field with the likes of Gun Runner, Collected, and West Coast. The connections need to be given credit for having the confidence to race this horse in a $16 million race off of only one start in three and half years.

This 6-year-old is a consistent sort, who puts together some even efforts. He is the only returning runner from last year’s Pegasus World Cup, War Story finished fifth of 12 in 2017. He’s won only once since then — a 2 ½-length victory in the Grade 2, 1 ½-mile Brooklyn Invitational Stakes. He's coming into this race off a decent fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic. But having only won 5 times from 24 starts, it seems he'll have an uphill battle with this field.

This newly-turned 4-year-old viewed as one of the top threats to upset Gun Runner. He's won six races from nine starts. He is versatile, has tactical speed and has the advantage of his age. The only two horses that beat him in the Breeders Cup 2017 were the number one and number two rated dirt horses (currently in training) in the entire world. If he draws an inside post, he could possibly make up the lengths on Gun Runner.

No	Horse Name	Age	Origin	Pedigree	Trainer	Owner	Jockey	Race Form
1	Collected	5	USA	City Zip - Helena Bay	Bob Baffert	Speedway Stable LLC	N/A	3,2,1
2	Fear the Cowboy	6	USA	Cowboy Cal - Whom Shall I Fear	"Efren Loza, Jr."	Kathleen Amaya - Raffaele Centofanti	N/A	1,4,1
3	Giant Expectations	5	USA	Frost Giant - Sarahisittrue	Peter Eurton	Daniel J. Gatto, Ryan Exline	N/A	1,6,5
4	Gunnevera	4	USA	Dialed In  -  Unbridled Rage	Antonio Sano	Peacock Racing Stables, LLC	N/A	5,2,1
5	Gun Runner	5	USA	Candy Ride - Quiet Giant	Steven M. Asmussen	Winchell Thoroughbreds,LLC. - Three Chimneys Farm LLC	N/A	1,1,1
6	Seeking the Soul	5	USA	Perfect Soul  -  Seeking The Title	Dallas Stewart	Charles E. Fipke	N/A	1,1,3
7	Sharp Azteca	5	USA	Freud  -  So Sharp	Jorge Navarro	Gelfenstein Farm	N/A	1,2,1
8	Stellar Wind	6	USA	Curlin  -  Evening Star	Chad C. Brown	Hronis Racing LLC	N/A	8,1,1
9	Toast of New York	7	USA	Thewayyouare  -  Claire Soleil	Jamie A. Osborne	Al Shaqab Racing	N/A	1,2,2
10	War Story	6	USA	Northern Afleet  -  Belle Watling	Jorge Navarro	Loooch Racing Stables Inc	N/A	4,4,4
11	West Coast	4	USA	Flatter  -  Caressing	Bob Baffert	Gary L. West  -  Mary E. West	N/A	3,1,1