Owner Ron Paolucci said Sunday he has completed a deal to lease Cigar Mile winner and Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile runner-up Sharp Azteca to run in the spot he has purchased for the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 27.

"I just completed details on a deal with Sharp Azteca's owner Ivan Rodriguez to lease the horse on a one race basis to run in my spot," said Paolucci.  "My partners and I have already leased War Story to run in one of Frank Stronach's spots in the race. 

Paolucci said he sent the contract to his attorney on Sunday and expected Rodriguez to sign off on the deal Monday.

"It's a one shot deal, just for this race," said Paolucci. "Believe me, I'll still be rooting for War Story to win the race. But as a racing fan, I feel having Sharp Azteca in the field makes this a better race. I also figured if he didn't run in my spot, he'd have gotten in anyway with someone else, perhaps in Frank's(Stronach) last spot."

  Both Sharp Azteca and War Story are trained by Jorge Navarro and worked Sunday morning at Gulfstream Park West. Sharp Azteca went five furlongs in 1:00.31 before galloping out strongly in 1:12.64. War Story, as has been customary of late, went an easier five-eighths in 1:03.67 up three-quarter's in 1:17.91. 

"It's a big relief knowing Sharp Azteca is now likely to run in Pegasus so we can really start to focus on the race," said Navarro. "The works this morning were typical for both. I thought Sharp Azteca was going in about 1:02 that's how easily he was going out there. War Story is an old horse who keeps himself fit. I'll put him with some company next week to give him a harder work before the race."

Navarro said he currently does not have a commitment on a rider for Sharp Azteca. Javier Castellano guided Sharp Azteca to his 5 3/4 length triumph in the Cigar Mile and is his first choice. Castellano is also reportedly being courted by the connections of West Coast, who he rode to a third place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

"I would love to have Javier," said Navarro. "Once a deal is finalized, we can sit down with him and talk more seriously, although I told him this morning I'd hate to be in his shoes if Sharp Azteca is in the race. It's really a tough decision he'll have to make."