The fourth time was the present of veteran 7-year-old horse Skippy Longstocking, who made his fourth consecutive look in a Grade 1 race at Gulfstream Park on January twenty fourth, profitable the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes.
Skippy Longstocking raced 1 1/8 miles in 1.48.49 on a quick fundamental course and paid $45.20 for a $2. Skippy Longstocking’s White Avario, educated by Saffy Joseph, got here in second by 1 3/4 lengths. third place goes to Furserano.
Skippy Longstocking lastly recorded his first Group 1 win after incomes $3.7 million in 35 begins. He additionally emerged from the shadow of Joseph Steady’s different 7-year-old horse, White Avario. White Avario received final 12 months’s Pegasus World Cup after additionally profitable high-profile races just like the Breeders’ Cup Traditional, Whitney Stakes and Florida Derby earlier in his profession. The chances mentioned all of it, with White Avario at 3-1 on the tote board and Skippy Longstocking at 21-1.
“He deserves it,” Joseph mentioned of Skippy Longstocking. “Skippy has been quick sufficient to win a G1, however he is by no means received one. Folks will knock you if you have not received a G1. Now he is received it.”
Mr. Joseph mentioned Skippy Longstocking may subsequent be in line for the $12 million Dubai World Cup, and Pegasus’ designation as a Breeders’ Cup Problem Collection occasion for the primary time additionally earned him a free spot on this fall’s $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional.
However whereas there was loads of drama surrounding Skippy Longstocking’s victory, it was White Avario’s efficiency that overwhelmed Joseph with emotion.
“In the course of the sport, I used to be rooting for White Avario to win,” Joseph mentioned. “I really feel dangerous saying this, however I’m telling you the reality.”
Gulfstream is normally pleasant to early velocity across the second flip, however Skippy Longstocking bounced again from ninth within the 12-horse area.
Disco Time, a 3-2 favourite within the tenth Pegasus race, posted early occasions of twenty-two.25 seconds, 46.08 seconds and 1:09.87, however halfway via the ultimate flip White Avario and Irad Ortiz Jr. took the lead and started to drag away. He led by 1 1/2 lengths within the straight and was the one secure horse to make a robust cost. Gaffalione left the No. 16 pole to place Skippy Longstocking within the lead, ending 1 1/8 miles in 1 minute, 48.49 seconds.
“Every little thing went in line with plan,” Gaffalione mentioned.
Furserano completed third, 5 1/2 lengths behind White Avario. Disco Time completed eighth, struggling his first loss in six profession matches.
Skippylongstocking’s lifetime earnings are presently $5,461,250.
A Pegasus Day document $48,558,149 was wagered on Gulfstream’s 13-race card, a major enhance from final 12 months’s $41,700,225.
Take a look at scores outperformed stablemate One Stripe within the $1 million G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes to be held at Gulfstream Park on January 24, giving coach Graham Movement a win and second place. Take a look at Rating, who completed his second season close to the highest of the 3-year-old turf division, made his first 4-year-old debut on Pegasus Turf.
Take a look at Rating, who received three graded stakes final 12 months as a three-year-old, suffered a visitors downside in his remaining race in 2025, and bounced again from an in depth third place within the G1 Hollywood Derby to accept third place. There have been no such challenges on Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile Pegasus Turf, the place Cabo Spirit held the lead and set the tempo with occasions of 23.71, 47.23 and 1:10.58, saving positions at each corners and settling for fourth for a lot of the race.
The take a look at rating, angled by jockey Manny Franco coming into the straight, outperformed his rivals halfway via the straight on behalf of Cabo Spirit. His main take a look at rating was sufficient to dethrone former South African champion miler One Stripe. He received by a landslide with a distance of 1 minute 47.04 seconds on exhausting grass.
“So each horses ran nice,” Movement mentioned. “Manny gave me the proper journey to at this time’s take a look at scores.”
Almendares, a Southern California-bred colt of coach Phil D’Amato, completed third, one size behind second place. Astronomer completed in 4th place. Favourite Program Buying and selling had no excuses as he crashed via a big hole on the rail into the straight and completed fifth.
Take a look at Rating earned the highest wage on Saturday, accumulating a winner’s share of $516,000 in prize cash. This elevated his lifetime earnings to $2,000,525, with a 5-3-3 document in 13 begins. He paid $17.20 to win.
Movement mentioned Take a look at Rating will get a well-earned break after an extended season via most of his 3-year-old season main as much as Pegasus. He additionally expressed pleasure about what we’ll see from One Stripe this 12 months. — Byron King
Destino d’Oro improved to 2-2 at Gulfstream Park with a come-from-behind victory within the $490,500 G2 Pegasus World Cup Filly Turf Invitational Stakes offered by TAA on January twenty fourth.
“She loves it right here,” coach Brad Cox mentioned. “She had a superb setup at this time and a superb journey. It went properly.”
Destino d’Oro got here out of the gate in eleventh place in her first begin towards older fillies and mares on Saturday, however has since steadily moved into rivalry below jockey Junior Alvarado. Heading dwelling in ninth place within the 12-horse area, Alvarado turned to the surface and surged ahead, breaking a late rally from Creverre d’Oro and Movin’ On As much as win by half a size in 1:40.33. She paid $33.20 to win.
“I could not imagine what number of horses have been below me,” Alvarado mentioned. “She got here out with an important run on the finish.”
The second main prize win was Destino d’Oro’s fifth win out of eight races, and the fifth of his profession, growing his lifetime prize cash to $829,884. — Sean Collins
