Five races are in the books on today’s Pegasus World Cup card at Gulfstream, two of them over a main track that looks to me like it’s playing completely fairly.

So, with track bias considerations shelved, for the moment, anyway, I’m looking ahead to race 7, the Fred W. Hooper Stakes. I came very close to using the Hooper in my all-Gulfstream Weekend Warrior column this week, opting instead for the Hurricane Bertie and Gulfstream Turf Sprint to round out the piece led, not surprisingly, by the Pegasus.

I like Tommy Macho in the Hooper. Tommy Macho ran very well five starts back when third in the Grade 1 Carter while bucking a powerful speed bias. After that, he ran into powerhouse performances from the likes of Mor Spirit, Mind Your Biscuits, Drefong and Sharp Azteca in such races as the Grade 1 Met Mile, the Grade 2 Belmont Sprint, the Grade 1 Forego, and the Grade 2 Kelso.

Tommy Macho will find the level of competition in the Hooper to be much, much easier, and the cherry on top is he is backed by the juggernaut that is the Todd Pletcher barn.

Why didn’t I include the Hooper in the Warrior? Because I doubt Tommy Macho’s obvious attributes will be lost on the betting public. I don’t think he’ll be anywhere near his morning line price of 6-1. I mean, if he is, great. I’d love it. But I’d be happy to take 5-2 on him.