As anticipated, the sphere for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) continues to vary within the week main as much as the post-position draw on Sunday.
On Wednesday, a number of days after invitee, Purpose Oriented was retired from racing, it was introduced that Grade 1 winner Madaket Highway would exchange his stablemate within the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park.
Each horses are skilled by three-time Pegasus World Cup winner Bob Baffert.
Touchuponastar out, British Isles in
As well as, Touchuponastar, a winner in 19 of 25 begins, has been faraway from consideration and changed by British Isles, a 5-year-old with simply three wins in 22 profession begins.
With the post-position draw and morning-line odds set for Sunday, a 10-horse discipline appears seemingly, though 12 horses stay on the checklist. The remaining invitees are 2025 Pegasus World Cup winner White Abarrio ($7 million in earnings), stablemate Skippylongstocking, 2025 Florida Derby (G1) winner Tappan Avenue, 2024 Remsen Stakes (G2) winner Poster, unbeaten (5-0) Disco Time, 2024 Breeders’ Cup Grime Mile (G1) winner Full Serrano, Banishing, Captain Cook dinner in addition to current additions Brotha Keny and Cigar Mile (G2) runner-up Mika. Doc Sullivan, a a number of New York-bred stakes winner, is the primary alternate.
Pegasus World Cup Day is in its 10th 12 months. This system additionally options the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) and the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
Baffert nonetheless has an opportunity for fourth Pegasus World Cup win
Baffert’s earlier Pegasus World Cup winners are Arrogate in 2017, Mucho Gusto in 2020, and Nationwide Treasure in 2024.
So, he’ll shoot for No. 4 with Madaket Highway, who has been third or higher in six of 9 profession begins with earnings of $580,000. Although primarily a sprinter, he’s had two earlier makes an attempt round two turns, ending second within the 1 1/16-mile Insurgent Stakes (G2) and fourth within the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby (G1).
Tappan Avenue is 3-for-4 at Gulfstream Park
Tappan Avenue, the one horse to defeat Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1), and Travers Stakes (G1) winner Sovereignty in 2025, and Disco Time give coach Brad Cox a robust hand within the Pegasus World Cup.
Tappan Avenue returned to the races on Dec. 19 after a nine-month absence with a victory in an allowance elective claiming race at Gulfstream on Dec. 19. He’s 3-for-4 with a second, all at Gulfstream.
Disco Time has received three consecutive stakes races heading to the Pegasus World Cup, most just lately taking the Dwyer Stakes at Aqueduct in November.
Skippylongstocking, a 10-time graded stakes winner, has earned $3.8 million heading into his 7-year-old marketing campaign for coach Saffie Joseph, Jr., who additionally saddled White Abarrio.
Two new potential starters: Brotha Keny, Mika
Brotha Keny, a 4-year-old gelding skilled by William Morey, wanted seven begins to interrupt his maiden and comes into the Pegasus World Cup off a win within the Zia Park Derby in New Mexico in November.
Mika, a 4-year-old colt skilled by Mike Maker, has received three of eight profession begins and was overwhelmed a neck by Bishops Bay within the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Dec. 6.
Winner Clinches Berth in Breeders’ Cup Traditional
For the primary time, the winner of the Pegasus World Cup will earn a fee-paid, computerized berth into the Breeders’ Cup Traditional as a part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In’’ Problem Sequence, yet one more incentive for homeowners and trainers planning out their horses’ campaigns.
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