Since its inception in 2017, the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes introduced by Baccarat at Gulfstream Park has been an enormous success on the North American horse racing calendar, leaving an impression corresponding to the hoofprints of the large statue of the winged horse image of Greek mythology on the Hallandale, Florida monitor.
Greater than 9 years in the past, the Stronach Group revised the present Don Handicap at Gulfstream, rising the race’s funding to a then-world report $12 million. That call paid off in spades when two of the game’s 2016 superstars, California Chrome and Arrogate, returned for a rematch of the Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic. Since then, Pegasus’ purse has waxed and waned, however the race continues to draw many of the prime filth horses in coaching. (First held in 1973, the Don Handicap was Gulfstream Park’s annual flagship race for older filth horses. Winners included Forego, Silly Pleasure, Deputy Minister, Crème Fleisch, Crypt Clearance, Cigar (twice), Skip Away, Harlan’s Vacation, Medaglia d’Oro, Saint Liam, Invasor, and High quality Highway.)
Beneath, we begin the dialogue by trying again at 9 earlier Pegasus World Cup winners and rating them so as of dominance. These rankings are roughly 50/50 primarily based on every horse’s efficiency at Pegasus and total profession efficiency.
9. Mucho Gusto (2020)
Mucho Gusto entered Pegasus as a four-time G3 winner and completed second within the G1 race behind Most Safety and Unbelievable, two of 2019’s prime 3-year-olds. In his first begin underneath new proprietor Prince Faisal bin Khaled of Saudi Arabia, the son of Mucho Macho Man was despatched off as a 3.40-1 second betting alternative in Pegasus behind favourite and 2019 TVG Pacific Basic winner Greater Energy. Whereas Rent Energy completed a depressing 10-horse race, Mucho Gusto obtained off to a robust begin underneath Irad Ortiz Jr. and got here out robust on the entrance to win by 4 and a half lengths over second-place Mr. Freeze. The win gave him a career-best 117 Equibase Velocity Determine, however it was the final win of his profession. Coach Bob Baffert completed fourth within the Saudi Cup abroad a month after Pegasus, and he once more completed fourth in his closing begin, the San Antonio Stakes, in December. He was getting ready for a re-tender for Pegasus, however retired in early January 2021 as a consequence of a smooth tissue harm.
8. Artwork Collector (2023)
Trying again, Artwork Collector was one of the vital underrated racehorses of the early 2020s. The son of Bernardini emerged as a proficient 3-year-old in the summertime of 2020 throughout the coronavirus pandemic, successful the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, scheduled for a weekend in entrance of empty stands in July, in a really weird run. After ending fourth within the Preakness Stakes that fall, sure, that fall, he resurfaced in 2021 underneath the path of Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Mott and racked up some spectacular stakes wins, together with the Woodward Stakes at Belmont Park. Artwork Collector had two extra stakes wins in 2022, however was drained and completed fifth within the Lucas Basic Stakes in October. Consequently, he was ignored by many bettors within the January 2023 aggressive version of Pegasus, dropping at odds of 15.50 to 1 in a 12-horse subject. Junior Alvarado, using for the primary time, was in third place within the early phases behind the main Stiletto Boy and the pacing Defiant, however Artwork Collector took over at will as soon as he entered the straight and gained simply by 4 and a half lengths over the latter’s opponent. Artwork Collector shot up the rankings of older filth horses after Pegasus’ win, however completed second in his subsequent two races in 2023. Sadly, the horse developed foot illness, adopted by laminitis, a painful inflammatory illness, and was euthanized in August of that yr. Bruce Lunsford’s homebred horse gained 11 of 23 begins and earned greater than $4.2 million in his profession.
7. Nationwide Treasure (2024)
When Nationwide Treasure introduced his ‘A’ recreation, he was among the best middle-distance filth horses in years and, mixed along with his win at Pegasus final yr and a dominant victory within the Hill and Dale Metropolitan Handicap this summer time, could also be sufficient to safe him the Eclipse Award as Champion Older Grime Stallion in 2024. The Bob Baffert-trained High quality Highway foal examined his stamina as a 2.60-1 favourite. At 1 1/8 miles at Pegasus, he confirmed admirable braveness deep within the straight, holding off a slower challenger on the end, simply as he did when successful at 1 3/16 miles on the 2023 Preakness Stakes. Señor Buscador got here near defeating Nationwide Treasure in his Pegasus, however in a rematch the place they competed as a pair within the $20 million Saudi World Cup, they turned the tables and gained, however Nationwide Treasure completed in fourth place. After coming near successful one other Grade 1 within the California Crown Stakes Offered by Sir Davis American Whiskey, Nationwide Treasure retired final November and went to Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky, the place he completed his profession with 4 wins, 3 seconds, 3 finishes and a pair of finishes in 15 begins and greater than $5.5 million in prize cash.
6. Metropolis of Lights (2019)
Like Artwork Collector, Metropolis of Mild is among the most underrated racehorses of current classic, and for house owners William Warren Jr. and Suzanne Warren, and coach Mike McCarthy, he hit his finest kind within the closing two races of his profession. Already a two-time Grade 1 winner within the California Dash in 2017-2018, this high quality highway horse stretched out to 2 corners to win a Grade 2 stakes at Oaklawn Park within the spring of 2018, adopted by robust performances in each sprints and routes that summer time and early fall. Nonetheless, he improved his efficiency a notch within the Breeders’ Cup Grime Mile at Churchill Downs in November of the identical yr, successful the one-turn occasion by 2 3/4 lengths and incomes a 126 Equibase Velocity Determine. Transported to Gulfstream for the 1 1/8-mile, two-turn Pegasus, Metropolis of Mild confronted a formidable subject that includes 2018 champion older filth colt and Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic winner Speed up. Surprisingly, the race lacked any sense of pleasure as the favored horse Speed up, who had 3 wins and a pair of losses, was unable to maintain his run and ended up in a disastrous third place. Metropolis of Mild, who was despatched off in second place at 1.90 to 1, executed an ideal tempo press underneath the path of Javier Castellano and jumped out to a 5-3/4 size lead on the slopes in opposition to long-shot horse and Pegasus World Cup common In search of the Soul. The Metropolis of Mild earned a formidable Equibase Velocity Determine of 124 within the match that was the finale of his profession. He’s now a preferred stallion at Lane’s Finish in central Kentucky, along with his first horse racing in 2022 and a breakthrough in 2023 when his son Fierceness gained the TAA FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and gained the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old stallion.
5. White Avario (2025)
Probably the most attention-grabbing racehorses of the final decade, and undoubtedly an underrated one, White Avario may transfer up a spot or two on this listing if he provides one other Pegasus win to his portfolio on Saturday. His profession dates again to the spring of 2022 and has seen its ups and downs. He appeared on the Kentucky Derby path with two decisive wins in Gulfstream Prep, after which didn’t run within the Derby itself. Since then, he has combined up memorable wins in big-name races just like the 2023 Whitney Stakes, Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic and final yr’s Pegasus with invisible efforts in different big-name races (2023 Pegasus, 2024 Met Mile). Nonetheless, the greater than $7 million he earned on the monitor speaks for itself, and his profession report of eight of 10 wins at Gulfstream exhibits he is a menace once more on this race, even when he is just a little previous his prime.
4. Life is Good (2022)
Life is Good entered the 2022 Pegasus as one of the vital proficient racehorses in coaching, as much as that time having run his finest within the mile (he missed the Triple Crown race with a rear ankle harm and was transferred from Bob Baffert to Todd Pletcher in the summertime). The Into Mischief mare dominated his closing two begins of 2021, capping off with a giant 5-3/4 size victory within the Large Ass Followers Breeders’ Cup Grime Mile, however he has by no means competed at Pegasus’ 1 1/8-mile distance earlier than. Moreover, he was competing in opposition to 2021 Pegasus Champion Nix Go (see beneath). He gained 4 out of six races on the season and was simply days away from being named Horse of the 12 months primarily based on his efficiency within the mile-and-a-quarter Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic. It seems the betting public was on to one thing, because the Pegasus vs. Knicks Go 9-10 odds favored Life Is Good at 4-5 odds, and he made that shut lead look silly as soon as the gates opened. Life Is Good and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aggressively took the lead and usurped Nix Go’s standard spot, leaving the three-and-a-half size run unchallenged as Nix Go settled for second in his closing profession begin. Life is Good gained three of 5 races in his closing racing yr, scoring twice within the 1 mile and eight miles, however hit a brick wall of his personal superiority when he misplaced to Flight Line within the Breeders’ Cup Basic at Keeneland. Life Is Good at present stands at WinStar Farm in Kentucky.
3. Knicks Go (2021)
The delight of the Korea Racing Affiliation, Nix Go has risen from a robust G1 winner as a two-year-old in 2018, to a G1 winner in 2020 underneath new coach Brad Cox, to a star racehorse who silenced any doubts about his means to run longer distances with an authoritative rating on the 2021 Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic. His win at Pegasus in 2021 confirmed that Nicks Go can deal with much more favorable circumstances, because it was his first win at 1 1/8 miles. As standard on this race, jockey Joel Rosario was ridden by Iron, and he led from begin to end, simply successful by two and three-quarters of a size over 13-10 favourite Jesus Steam. Nick’s Go’s closing Pegasus time of 1:47.89 ranks him fourth amongst all-time Pegasus winners, however when it comes to sustaining elite kind, he is corresponding to the 2 horses talked about beneath…and successful the Horse of the 12 months award. He has moved as much as third place on this listing, forward of 2022 Pegasus winner Life is Good (Life is Good sadly spent lots of his finest months within the “Flightline 12 months”, however hey, life is not honest).
2. Gun Runner (2018)
Actually, the Horse of the 12 months for 2017 is from 1A to Arrogate on this listing. A convincing argument will be made for each horses as two of the highest 5 North American filth racehorses of the second decade of this century. Gun Runner continues to be skilled by Steve Asmussen and house owners Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm after successful 5 of six races in 2017, together with the Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic, and was the favourite with 11 wins and 10 losses within the race, which additionally featured 2016 Travers Stakes winner (West Coast) and runner-up (Gunnevera). The pair would end second and third respectively to Gun Runner in Pegasus, and there was by no means any doubt about that. Jockey Florent Geroux caught early pacesetter and Breeders’ Cup Basic runner-up Collected down the backstretch, took over on the far flip and coasted to the win by two and a half lengths, posting a 128 Equibase pace determine to prime this listing. Having simply been named Horse of the 12 months at a ceremony at Gulfstream Park two days earlier, and with no world left to beat, the son of Sweet Experience is off to Three Chimney in Kentucky as a stallion. Gun Runner’s first colt to run in 2021 had a wonderful efficiency in 2021, taking house the consideration of being the highest new stallion in North America. He continued to keep up his momentum and was ranked third on the general stallion listing in 2023 and 2nd in 2024.
1. Arrogate (2017)
The late, nice Arrogate tops this listing by a nostril over Gun Runner, and the victory within the first Pegasus is available in a run of finest performances by a racehorse this century (most individuals, myself included, would say Flightline’s 2022 run surpassed that). Owned by Judd Monte Farms and skilled by Bob Baffert, Unbridle’s Music emerged from the California circuit a couple of months in the past and made nationwide information by successful the 2016 Travers Stakes by an astonishing 13 and a half lengths and setting a mile and a half monitor report at Saratoga. Subsequent, within the Breeders’ Cup Basic, he defeated 2014 Kentucky Derby winner and Horse of the 12 months California Chrome in a hard-fought battle by a half-length. When it was introduced that each Arrogate and Chrome would meet once more in Pegasus’ premier run, the protection and public curiosity within the showdown approached ranges corresponding to the Breeders’ Cup, if not the Triple Crown. Because it turned out, Arrogate rode Pegasus so nicely, with a wide ranging leg flip close to the entrance of the straight, that the 9-10 favourite gained by 4 and three-quarters of a size over Mike Smith (California Chrome, 6-5, completed ninth, however was nonetheless named 2016 Horse of the 12 months). Arrogate set a 1 1/8-mile report of 1:46.83 at Gulfstream Park, which nonetheless stands, and earned him an Equibase Velocity Determine of 124. However in his subsequent begin, half a world away, he overcame a poor begin to beat Gun Runner by 2 1/4 lengths on the Emirates-sponsored Dubai World Cup. The win ended Arrogate’s successful streak, as he missed the winner’s circle in his final three begins in California and ended his profession with a tough loss to Gun Runner within the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Basic. Tragically, he was euthanized in June 2020 after an sickness, and whereas he has solely represented three stallions, his finest runner was Arcangelo, winner of the 2023 Belmont Stakes Offered by New York La Betts and Travers Stakes. Arrogate’s stellar efficiency in 2016-2017 is not going to be forgotten anytime quickly.
