The primary Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes, held on behalf of Don Handicap, was held at Gulfstream Park in 2017, with Arrogate profitable by a landslide. Saturday’s tenth version of North America’s premier race was a sold-out occasion with 12 members plus two eligible members. Seven of the runners are graded stakes winners, and the 12 main horses have a complete of greater than $17 million in lifetime prize cash. This yr’s Pegasus World Cup is the Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic Breeders’ Cup Problem Sequence “win-it-or-get-in,” headlined by a powerful Gulfstream card that includes seven graded stakes races on Saturday. White Avario, who gained final yr’s occasion by 6 1/4 lengths, shall be again aiming for consecutive wins towards a powerful batting lineup.
Here is what the sector appears to be like like from the rails.
disco time Unbeaten in 5 video games because the begin of his profession. He railed to coach Brad Cox and rider was modified to Flavien Prat. The 4-year-old Not This Time colt has gained his final two begins by a mixed 15 1/4 lengths after profitable the G3 Le Comte Stakes in January 2025 and taking a nine-month break. british isles After narrowly shedding within the G3 Native Diver S at Nevada Seashore in his final race, he’s aiming for his first win on dust, however this 1.5 mile race at Del Mar shall be his important horse debut. Full Serrano, This would be the 2024 Large Ass Followers Breeders’ Cup Filth Mile winner’s first begin exterior of California since relocating to North America in 2024. Joel Rosario rode Full Serrano in each the 2024 and 2025 Breeders’ Cup Miles, with coach John Sadler persevering with to journey him. vanishing The final two races have been contested six-furlong sprints over the identical 1 1/8-mile distance, following a 3rd place within the G2 Lucas Basic S in September. Jockey Jose Ortiz shall be reunited with coach David Jacobson’s 6-year-old Ghost Zapper gelding for the primary time since June. skippy lengthy stockingsThe horse, who completed third in final yr’s Pegasus World Cup and has greater than $3.7 million in profession prize cash, is recent off a slim victory within the G3 Harlan’s Vacation Stakes final raced at Gulfstream Park for coach Saffie Joseph Jr. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione at present has 4 wins driving the 7-year-old out of Exgalator and retains the mount following his win within the earlier race. Madaket Highway He shall be shipped from Santa Anita Park for coach Bob Baffert, who has three Pegasus World Cup wins with Arrogate, Mucho Gusto (2020) and Nationwide Treasure (2024). Madaket Highway shall be competing within the graded stakes for the eighth consecutive yr, aiming for his first stakes victory. tappan roadis the 4-year-old Into Mischief colt, Cox’s second entry, and has began all 4 of his profession at Gulfstream. After profitable final yr’s Curlin Florida Derby offered by Hill and Dale Farms in Xalapa, Tappan Road was out for eight and a half months, however returned in December to win the allowance-option race and earn a career-best 104 Equibase Pace Determine. poster He simply misplaced to Skippy Longstocking within the Harlan’s Vacation Stakes at Gulfstream. Coach Eoin Harty will add Brinker for the primary time and Junior Alvarado will journey the 2024 Remsen Stakes winner for the primary time. captain cook dinner Returning to this 1 1/8-mile distance after three consecutive 7-furlong begins on dust. Since becoming a member of Todd Pletcher’s steady in August, Captain Prepare dinner has completed second within the G1 H. Allenger Ken’s Memorial Stakes and the G3 Perryville Stakes. John Velazquez takes Captain Prepare dinner aboard Pegasus for the primary time. Mika He completed second by a margin within the Grade 2 Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct on December 6, incomes a career-high and final-starting 114 Equibase Pace Determine within the subject. The 4-year-old Catholic Boy colt shall be Mike Maker’s second begin. Final yr’s Pegasus World Cup winner white avario He was one in all coach Saffie Joseph Jr.’s two horses to obtain publish No. 11. The horse, who was 7 years outdated by race day, has gained eight of his 10 profession races at Gulfstream and has earned $7,151,920 in profession prize cash. So long as there aren’t any scratches, brother kenny He was educated by Jose D’Angelo and simply gained the Gia Park Derby in November by a half-length.
Evaluation and important candidates:
tappan road He’s no stranger to the principle monitor at Gulfstream Park. Though being educated at Payson Park this winter, the stallion Into Mischief has by no means raced exterior of Gulfstream. Simply earlier than he turned three years outdated, he made his debut in a seven-furlong maiden particular weight occasion, profitable by three-quarters of a size. Two months later, within the Grade 3 Holy Bull S, he prolonged his result in two corners for the primary time, and though he entered the race as the favourite, he completed second at Burnham Sq., 9 1/4 lengths behind third place. Coach Brad Cox has prevented the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes for the 2025 Florida Derby. Tappan Road, who was handed over at odds of two.40 to 1, settled in the course of the pack earlier than leaping out to the entrance within the straight and profitable by 1 1/4 lengths over Sovereignty, the eventual winner of the 2025 Kentucky Derby offered by Woodford Reserve and the Belmont Stakes offered by NYRA Bets. Per week earlier than Rose’s 151st begin, Cox suffered an unexpected damage in apply, forcing him to overlook the Tappan Road Derby. Nonetheless, he stays the one horse to beat Sovereignty within the 3-year-old race, which makes his Florida Derby win much more vital. After practically 9 months on the sidelines, Tappan Road made his return towards Allowance Choice Billing Firm working the mile in Gulfstream and gained by a size whereas rising his pace to 104. This “come-back” race noticed him come again in profitable type and proceed to be a Grade 1 contender. Cox has had good outcomes with horses competing for the second time after greater than 180 days of relaxation, and this transfer has given him a 26% win charge over the previous 5 years. One other optimistic is the return of jockey Luis Saez, who rode Tappan Road within the first three races, together with the Florida Derby. Over the previous yr, Saez has reunited with horses he beforehand ridden however by no means rode, and has gained 57 occasions with a profitable proportion of 26% and a return on funding of 30%. There are doubts about this promising stallion, particularly when competing towards older horses on the highest degree, however Tappan Road has carried out properly towards elite competitors and continues to progress by all the correct metrics.
skippy lengthy stockings He has had a formidable profession, persistently competing towards lots of the greatest horses within the nation over a number of seasons. The 7-year-old son of Exaggerator has competed in graded stakes 27 occasions, profitable 10 occasions and ending inside the prize cash 18 occasions. His sturdiness and sophistication make him a risk in any Grade 1 occasion, particularly at his dwelling course, Gulfstream Park, the place he has gained 4 occasions. Skippy Longstocking earned his first profession victory at Gulfstream in September 2021 and capped off his sixth season with a victory at Gulfstream within the Harlan’s Vacation Stakes on December twentieth. His efficiency was notably noteworthy contemplating his earlier two begins, through which he completed seventh within the G1 Whitney Stakes by 12 3/4 lengths and final place within the G2 Charles City Basic by 39 1/4 lengths. Skippy Longstocking was raised on the 2024 Pegasus World Cup and has repeatedly proven the power to bounce again from downturns, profitable again the graded stakes in his subsequent two races. His tenacity, consistency and aptitude for 9 furlongs has seen him win 4 graded stakes at this distance. Boasting odds of 15-1 on the morning line, Skippy Longstocking gives nice worth as a veteran with a historical past of success on the highest degree.
disco time He has been excellent all through his profession, profitable 5 video games in probably the most begins of his profession regardless of taking practically 9 months off between his third and fourth begins. The Not This Time stallion started his profession at Churchill Downs in November 2024, profitable the primary particular weight and allowance possibility claimer by a mixed 7 1/4 lengths that month. In his debut race as a 3-year-old in January final yr, he jumped to the highest prize, and within the Lecomte Stakes, he took the second nook for the primary time on the tough monitor on the fairgrounds, getting back from a particularly exterior place to win by a slim margin. Disco Time took a break till September after that spectacular win, however returned with a dominant five-and-a-half size victory within the 1 1/16-mile St. Louis Derby at Fairmount Park, enhancing his Equibase pace determine to 94. Within the final Dwyer Stakes at Aqueduct Racecourse, he gained by 9 and three-quarters of a size within the one-turn mile, as soon as once more rising his pace determine to a formidable 112. He hasn’t run 9 furlongs but, however given his pedigree and previous efficiency, he should not have any downside going one other half-furlong. This may be seen as a notable plus contemplating Pratt is a first-time rider and has gained 34% from 59 mounts up to now in 2026. Trainers Cox and Pratt have loved nice success collectively over the previous three years, profitable 33% of their 291 begins in all races in any respect racetracks. Throughout the identical interval, he had an astonishing 27% win charge in 98 graded stakes begins and an astonishing 55% in-the-money efficiency. Cox has additionally had nice success with horses owned by Juddmonte. Over the previous 5 years, horses owned by Juddmonte have entered 85 main stakes races, with a profitable proportion of 32%. Disco Time has proven a eager skill to search out the winner’s circle and has all the correct connections. The query stays: How will he fare towards a horse of his age, particularly at 8-5 on the morning line? He ought to run properly on Saturday and is a powerful candidate.
The remainder of the sector (with the very best Equibase pace numbers in comparable races): British Isles (108), Full Serrano (115), Vanishing (116), Madaket Highway (109), Poster (106), Captain Prepare dinner (108), Micah (114), White Avario (122), and Brotha Kenny (107).
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