Mike Curry serves takeout from the day of the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park, a weekend when a lot of the Midwest and East Coast had been coated in snow and ice. There, Skippy Longstocking and sunny Florida turned the point of interest.
A worthy winner: Skippy Longstocking’s victory within the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park on January 24 was a victory years within the making. He has gained 10 graded stakes and not using a win at G1 degree, and that is his fourth begin at Pegasus, along with his greatest end being third in 2025. The 7-year-old out of Exaggerator outlasted stablemate White Abarrio within the remaining sixteenth of a mile for a career-defining victory. Saffie Joseph Jr. trains Skippy Longstocking for proprietor Daniel Alonso. “He took us on an amazing journey,” Alonso stated. “Successful a G1 right here in my hometown in entrance of my family and friends means every little thing.”
Bravery in defeat: Final yr’s Pegasus winner, White Avario, made a deep advance in his re-attempt, however was defeated within the decisive race, ending second in his first begin since ending fifth within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup held at Saratoga Race Course on August thirty first. The horse, additionally educated by Saffie Joseph Jr. and seven years previous by race day, had been the topic of hypothesis and dialogue since he was scratched by a veterinarian earlier than the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Grime Mile. The 2023 Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional winner elevated his lifetime earnings to greater than $7.7 million along with his runner-up end. “I am so pleased with White Avario. I am unable to consider he got here again as ready as he did,” Joseph stated. “I’m very pleased with each horses and completely happy for each homeowners.”
Poetry in movement: Take a look at scores and one stripe gave coach Graham Movement the highest two spots within the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes. With a check rating of seven.60-1 odds, he handed the essential check by beating the stablemate who was second betting alternative at 4.30-1. 4-year-old colt Lookin’ at Fortunate competed solely in opposition to three-year-old horses in 2025 and gained the G1 stakes and two different graded stakes, however competing in opposition to older horses was a brand new problem. “As we speak was an enormous step for him,” Movement stated. “I believe he will be a power to be reckoned with. He is been actually constant all yr lengthy as a 3-year-old. … I believe he is confirmed he could be probably the greatest turf horses within the nation.”
No hedge knight: Undoubtedly, Knightsbridge has the look of a real knight. Forgive me for citing Recreation of Thrones. However “Knights of the Seven Kingdoms” is a extremely nice present. He was the favourite with 4 wins and 5 losses within the $175,000 Fred W. Hooper Stakes sponsored by Go to Lauderdale, the undercard of the Pegasus World Cup, and prolonged his profitable streak to 3 with an amazing victory by 4 3/4 lengths. Knightsbridge was pressured early on by the quick tempo of Life and Occasions, who was second alternative within the one-mile filth race, however proved as much as the duty beneath the assured driving of Junior Alvarado. The five-year-old Godolphin homebred horse simply defeated his challenger, incomes a convincing victory in his fifth of seven races. Knightsbridge is a half-brother to 2022 Hooper G1 winner Audio system Nook, whose grandfather (maternal grandmother) is 2006 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Spherical Pond.
dancing blues: On the Pegasus World Cup, Disco and Faucet topped with a easy skip, and the 26.10-1 longshot Skippy Longstocking confirmed strong motion, however promising 4-year-olds Disco Time and Tappan Avenue disenchanted within the $3 million race. The beforehand undefeated Disco Time was a significant winner with 3 wins and a pair of losses out of 12 horses, however after setting the tempo, he drained and completed in eighth place, 11 3/4 lengths behind the winner. Tappan Avenue, second alternative at 3.30-1 and the one horse to beat 2025 Horse of the Yr Sovereignty, was in a very good place inside 5 lengths of the tempo after half a mile, however stalled and completed final. For Brad Cox, who trains each colts, it was the primary time Tappan Avenue had raced exterior of back-to-back races. “I am disenchanted,” Cox stated. “They had been quick and (Disco Time) could not get any separation till the far flip. He simply could not get any separation and could not transfer ahead. I believed Tappan Avenue was having a very good journey. I used to be ready for him to point out up on the far flip, however he by no means did.”
