Horse racing news: Pegasus World Cup preview – Will White Abarrio go back-to-back?
With the 10th running of the Pegasus World Cup taking place at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, Sports News Blitz’s Kieran McHugh takes a look at the field.
The Pegasus World Cup is run over 1 1/8-mile (nine furlongs), with two turns in the race. It is the first major event of the American racing season.
The $3 million contest will see 12 horses go to post, with two in reserve for any scratches. Brad Cox–trained Disco Time is currently heading the market.
Last year’s winner, White Abarrio, also takes his place in the line-up as he bids to become the first horse to win the race back-to-back.
1) Disco Time
This four-year-old is undefeated in five starts, with his latest coming in the Dwyer Stakes in November.
He was expected to have a pretty good three-year-old campaign, but an injury ruled him out of that season.
The Pegasus is certainly the most impressive field that Disco Time has faced so far in his career and he needs to break well, lining up from gate one.
Disco Time is also the mount of Flavien Prat, who takes the ride for the first time after his nine-length romp in the Dwyer.
On Saturday, Prat could stamp his mark as a serious contender for major honours this year.
2) British Isles
David Fawkes’ five-year-old arrives at Gulfstream Park off the back of a career-best performance, finishing a half-a-length second to Nevada Beach in the Native Diver Stakes.
The key aspect about British Isles is that he has raced all but three of his starts on turf, with his latest outing being the best of the lot on dirt.
Victory here would be a major task, especially against a larger field than he encountered at Del Mar against Nevada Beach.
He would be a big-priced winner if he was to triumph.
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3) Full Serrano
A classy but perhaps temperamental sort, Full Serrano is one of the main protagonists for this race.
He ships in from the West Coast and comes into this off the back of a disappointing performance in the Breeders’ Cup Mile last year.
In 2024, he won the Mile before finishing runner-up in the Pacific Classic, so he’s no slouch by any means.
Full Serrano’s best performances have just come over a mile, so this distance should suit.
4) Banishing
An intriguing runner in this race, the six-year-old is a consistent performer who had a busy campaign last year.
Banishing was not at his best in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint but bounced back at Oaklawn afterwards.
He could struggle with the distance, especially in such a quality race, but he has pieces of form that put him in with a shout.
Jose Ortiz takes the ride and you certainly could not go against him placing, particularly if there is a pace collapse at the top end of the field.
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5) Skippylongstocking
Who does not love this gallant seven-year-old? It would be a fairytale for him to finally land that elusive Grade One honour.
He has won at Gulfstream Park four times and is another consistent performer.
After a no-show in this race in 2024, he improved to finish third in last year’s renewal – a neck behind Locked in second.
It is a tough ask for him to down White Abarrio and co., but it would be a sight to behold.
6) Madaket Road
The mount of ‘big money’ Mike Smith, Bob Baffert’s colt was last seen fourth behind now-retired stablemate Goal Oriented in the Malibu Stakes.
He is sure to be up with the early pace and given some stamina concerns, that could be costly.
Madaket Road is a serial runner-up, but with a strong pace expected and some classy closers in the field, it just seems like this race could get away from him.
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7) Tappan Street
There’s a lot of talk around Tappan Street after the four-year-old returned from a long lay-off with a hard-fought victory in an allowance at Gulfstream in December.
The principal reason why he is of such interest is that he remains the only horse to defeat reigning Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty – in the Florida Derby last year.
Injury ruled him out for nearly the remainder of the year and he is certainly entitled to come on for his return.
Tappan Street will also enjoy the step back up to a mile and one furlong, the same distance at which he beat Sovereignty.
If he retains any of that ability which allowed him to down Sovereignty, he stands a good chance at landing the Pegasus.
8) Poster
In a race full of questions, Poster only adds to that enigma.
He is another who missed a significant portion of last year with injury and won on his return albeit on turf.
Three of his four victories have been on turf, in fact, which begs the question as to why he is contesting this hot race on dirt.
Poster did at least run his last race on dirt, going down by a head to the aforementioned Skippylongstocking.
That is not bad form but when considering all the facts, it seems a tall order to do something here.
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9) Captain Cook
Todd Pletcher’s charge nearly caused a shock in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes at Saratoga, only just losing by a nose to Patch Adams.
He bumped into Barnes afterwards but has proved he can dine at the top table.
Captain Cook will be partnered with Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, which is a bonus, but he would still need to sail through uncharted waters to land this prize.
10) Mika
As a very interesting challenger for this edition of the Pegasus World Cup, Mika has found a new lease of life since becoming the pacesetter for races, posting a career best when just being caught and denied in the Cigar Mile.
If we go off the facts and form, though, this race is a big mountain to climb.
However, it is not out of the ordinary for front-runners to storm ahead in races and not come back. Surely that won’t happen here?
Discount this colt at your peril.
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11) White Abarrio
For me, the headline act is defending champion White Abarrio.
No horse has won this race twice in its admittedly short history, but he stands a good chance at being the first.
A former Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, he scooted home in this last year by six lengths.
This year’s edition is arguably a weaker race and despite the veteran’s form dipping towards the end of last year, he holds a mighty record around Gulfstream.
White Abarrio is the most seasoned in this and holds the best form. For me, he is the one the field will look to beat.
12) Brotha Kenny
Jose D’Angelo’s new recruit is very well travelled – this is his first start at Gulfstream and his sixth race at a new track.
He is a likable sort who rarely disappoints, and he is sure to give a good account of himself on Saturday.
That being said, it would be a pretty big shock if Brotha Kenny took victory in the big race.
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