The 10th annual Pegasus World Cup Invitational is set to go on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
The Grade 1, $3 million-dollar, 1 1/8-mile contest is a Win and You’re In race for the $7 million-dollar Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 31st at Keeneland.
Here then is a brief look at the field for this year’s Pegasus World Cup:
1. DISCO TIME [ML 8-5] Jockey: Flavien Prat. Trainer: Brad Cox. The son of hot young sire NOT THIS TIME was briefly on the 2025 Kentucky Derby trail before being injured, but he returned with a pair of dominant wins at Fairmount Park. In his last out he won the Dwyer Stakes November 8th at Aqueduct. This will be the toughest field he’s faced by far at a distance he’s never tried, and he’ll need to break clean from the inside post position under first-time rider Prat in order to avoid traffic.
2. BRITISH ISLES [ML 20-1] Jockey: Diego Herrera. Trainer: David Fawkes. He ships in from California for a tough assignment in his first start for trainer Fawkes. He should have no issues covering the distance, but 18 of his 22 career starts have been on the turf. He’s in some deep water here.
3. FULL SERRANO [ML 12-1] Jockey: Joel Rosario. Trainer: John Sadler. Another West Coast shipper, he has shown flashes of brilliance along with disappointing efforts over the past couple of years. He comes in off of a disappointing effort in the 2025 Dirt Mile at Del Mar, where he had a rough trip, tired and finished 5th, beaten by 12 ¼ lengths. He’s done his best running at the one-mile distance since coming to this country from his native Argentina, so look for him to be on or near the early lead.
4. BANISHING [ML 20-1] Jockey: Jose Ortiz. Trainer: David Jacobsen. Has finished in the top three 18 times in 26 career starts and had only one bad effort in 12 starts last year. Last time out he ran a solid 2nd in a Stakes race at Oaklawn Park on December13th. The biggest obstacle for this talented gelding will be distance- most of his success has been in races up to one mile and his only win at 1 1/8 miles came last year in the Charles Town Classic Stakes.
5. SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING [ML 15-1] Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione. Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr. Will the fourth time be the charm? This fan favorite has appeared in the Pegasus the last three years with his best finish being last year when he ran 3rd, 6 ½ lengths behind runaway winner WHITE ABARRIO. The now 7-year-old has never won a Grade 1 Stakes and may not on Saturday, but he has won four times at Gulfstream and finished in the top three 11 times in 17 starts in races held at 1 1/8 miles.
6. MADAKET ROAD [SCRATCHED] Jockey: Mike Smith. Trainer: Bob Baffert.
7. TAPPAN STREET [ML 6-1] Jockey: Luis Saez. Trainer: Brad Cox. In the winter of 2024-’25 he ran 2nd in the Holy Bull Stakes followed by a 1 ¼-length win in the Florida Derby in which he bested eventual Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner SOVEREIGNTY. After a break of more than 8 ½ months due to injury, TAPPAN STREET returned to Gulfstream in late last month and won a one-mile Allowance-optional claiming race. He needs to improve his speed-figure in order to win the Pegasus and could do just that considering he’s making only his fifth career start and the second after his return.
8. POSTER [ML 20-1] Jockey: Junior Alvarado. Trainer: Eoin Harty. Was pointed to the Kentucky Derby briefly last spring but missed the race and the rest of the Triple Crown series due to injury. He came back in September with a solid win in a one-mile turf race at Churchill Downs. The newly turned 4-year-old will be fitted with blinkers for the Pegasus to help him focus and there are several forwardly placed runners entered, which should create a good early pace to set up his rally. Three of his four career wins have been on the turf.
9. CAPTAIN COOK [ML 15-1] Jockey: John Velazquez. Trainer: Todd Pletcher. He was active on the 2025 Kentucky Derby trail last winter and spring but did not Run for the Roses. He instead was shortened up in distance for his final three starts of last year, finishing 2nd twice and 3rd once in Stakes races all held at seven furlongs. He seems geared toward one-turn races at this stage of his career and will be hard-pressed to prevail against a handful of contenders that have better credentials at 1 1/8 miles- although he did win the Withers Stakes at that distance nearly a year ago.
10. MIKA [ML 10-1] Jockey: Manny Franco. Trainer: Mike Maker. This swift colt should help ensure an honest pace in Saturday’s Pegasus as he comes in off a near-miss December 6th in the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct. MIKA didn’t show much ability in his first five career starts before realizing his ability as a front-runner with wins in May at Delaware Park and November at Laurel. He led from start to finish in both races and as mentioned, nearly did the same against a tougher field in the Cigar Mile.
11. WHITE ABARRIO [ML 4-1] Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr. The defending Pegasus champion has the most impressive résumé in this year’s field, including last year’s dominant 6 ¼-length victory and scores in the 2023 Whitney Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Classic. Even if his form has slipped a bit recently, this now 7-year-old has a record of 8-1-0 in 10 lifetime starts at Gulfstream Park.
12. BROTHA KENY [ML 30-1] Jockey: Javier Castellano. Trainer: Jose D’Angelo. This a 4-year-old gelding has done some traveling— this will be the sixth different track he’s run at in his last six races. He has not finished worse than 4th in his last 11 starts, dating back to October 2024. He’ll make his first start for the south Florida-based trainer Saturday, and it will also be his first start at Gulfstream Park.
13. LIGHTNING TONES [ML 30-1] Jockey: Jose Morelos. Trainer: Jose Castro. This Florida based racehorse will be a huge longshot even though he’s finished in the top three positions 20 times in 30 career starts at Gulfstream Park. His most recent effort was one of his best – a 3 ¼-length repeat victory in the 1 1/16-mile Sunshine Classic Stakes against fellow Florida-breds just two weeks ago.
14. CATALYTIC [ML 50-1] Jockey: David Egan. Trainer: Antonio Sano. Speaking of longshots- CATALYTIC needs another defection from the main Pegasus field to draw into the race, which seems unlikely. He’s mainly competed at Gulfstream Park, where he’s compiled a 3-6-1 record over 10 starts, including a runner-up finish in the 2024 Florida Derby at 29-1 odds.
The Pegasus World Cup Invitational is the last race on a card of 13 with a scheduled Post Time of 5:40.
Best of luck however you play it.
