Pegasus World Cup (G1) Attracts Strong Supporting Cast

By David Joseph —-

Pegasus World Cup (G1) Attracts Strong Supporting Cast

Nine Stakes, Six Graded, Worth $4.2 Million Slated for Jan. 25

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – The Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series presented by Runhappy has attracted a strong supporting cast for the Jan. 25 program that will offer nine stakes, six graded, worth a total of $4.2 million in purses, at Gulfstream Park.

Judging from the nomination lists for the undercard stakes, the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1), will highlight an already outstanding day of Thoroughbred racing.

The $200,000 Inside Information (G2) presented by Runhappy Matchmaker Series, a seven-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares, attracted 22 nominations, including Spiced Perfection, a multiple Grade 1 stakes-winning 5-year-old daughter of Smiling Tiger. Trained by Peter Miller, Spiced Perfection, who captured the 2018 La Brea (G1) at Santa Anita and the 2019 Madison (G1) at Keeneland, is coming off a front-running victory in the Dec. 7 Go For Wand (G3) at Aqueduct. Pink Sands, who rallied from 10th to win the Dec. 14 Rampart (G3) at Gulfstream is also nominated for the 42nd running of the Inside Information.

The $150,000 Fred W. Hooper drew 28 nominations for the 34th running of the mile stakes for older horses, including Pegasus World Cup invitees Mucho Gusto, Diamond Oops and Bodexpress. Peter Miller-trained Gray Magician, who finished second in the UAE Derby (G2) and the Indiana Derby (G2) last year, is among a strong list of nominees that includes three Jason Servis-trained horses: Leitone, a Grade 1 winner in Chile who is coming off a triumph in the Claiming Crown Jewel; Sunny Ridge, a graded-stakes winner with $1.4 million in earnings; and Monongahela, the 2019 Iselin (G3) winner.

The $200,000 W. L. McKnight (G3), a 1 ½-mile turf stakes for older horses that is a Longines Gran Premio Latinoamericano qualifying race, drew 32 nominations, including Pegasus World Cup Turf invitees Arklow, Sadler’s Joy, Channel Cat, Admission Office and Zulu Alpha. Richard Baltas-trained Oscar Dominguez, the winner of the Hollywood Turf Cup (G2) at Del Mar last time out, is prominent among the other nominees for the 52nd running of the McKnight.

The $200,000 La Prevoyante (G3), a 1 ½-mile turf stakes for older fillies and mares, attracted 22 nominations, including multiple Group 2 stakes-placed Simply Beautiful, who is trained in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien. Touriga, a Graham Motion-trained Group 1 winner in Brazil who closed to win the Via Borghese Dec. 28 at Gulfstream; and Lady Paname, a Chad Brown-trained French import who captured the Long Island (G3) at Aqueduct last time out; are also prominent nominees for the 50th running of the Le Prevoyante.

The $150,000 World of Trouble Turf Sprint, a five-furlong turf dash for older horses, received 23 nominations, including Shakky Shebaz, the third-place finisher in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) who won the Claiming Crown Canterbury at Gulfstream last time out; and Pay Any Price, the multiple-stakes winner who holds the track record for five furlongs on turf.

The $150,000 Ladies Turf Sprint, a five-furlong turf stakes for older fillies and mares, drew 27 nominations, including Jean Elizabeth, who won her fifth straight stakes in the Abundantia Stakes at Gulfstream Dec. 28,

The $150,000 South Beach, a 7 ½-furlong turf stakes for older fillies and mares, received 28 nominations, including Mitchell Road, a Bill Mott-trained graded-stakes winner who captured the Dec. 14 My Charmer Stakes at Gulfstream last time out.

Gulfstream Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group race tracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, and is one of North America’s top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; XpressBet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry. For more information contact David Joseph at david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com or call 954.457.6451.