Gulfstream: Derby Winner Mystik Dan Among Pegasus World Cup (G1) Invitations

By David Joseph —-

Derby Winner Mystik Dan Among Pegasus World Cup (G1) Invitations

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan and fellow Grade 1-winning millionaires Saudi Crown, Senor Buscador, Stronghold and White Abarrio are among 12 horses and eight reserves on the initial list of invitations to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park.

The 1 1/8-mile Pegasus for 4-year-olds and up is the headliner on a blockbuster program featuring 10 stakes, seven graded, worth $5.55 million including the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) and $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2).

4G Racing, Valley View Farm, Lance Gasaway and Daniel Hamby III’s Mystik Dan won the Southwest (G3) on the road to the 2024 Triple Crown, opening the series with a determined nose victory in the Kentucky Derby at odds of 18-1. Second as the favorite in the Preakness (G1) two weeks later, he returned to be eighth in the Belmont (G1) and did not race again until running sixth in the seven-furlong Malibu (G1) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.

Trainer Ken McPeek also trains invitee Rattle N Roll. Lucky Seven Stable’s Rattle N Roll won the 2021 Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and four graded-stakes in 2023 including the historic Pimlico Special (G3). The 5-year-old raced only twice in 2024, finishing tird in the Lukas Classic (G2) off a year layoff and winning the 1 1/8-mile Clark (G2) Nov. 29.

Joe Peacock Jr. homebred Senor Buscador is the richest of the Pegasus invitees with more than $12.9 million in purse earnings from 23 starts, highlighted by a head victory in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) last February. The win came after the 6-year-old rallied to be second by a neck behind National Treasure in the Pegasus.

FMQ Stables’ Saudi Crown won the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) in 2023 after being beaten a nose in the Dwyer (G3) and Jim Dandy (G2). Third to Senor Buscador in the Saudi Cup, he won the Louisiana (G3) to open 2024 and most recently rebounded from a 13th in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) to capture the 1 1/16-mile Tenacious Dec. 21 at Fair Grounds.

C2 Racing Stable, Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Antonio Pagnano’s White Abarrio won the 2022 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream and 2023 Whitney (G1) at Saratoga, both going 1 1/8 miles, and 1 ¼-mile Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) in 2023. Eighth in the 2023 Pegasus, he has raced twice since returning to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., both sprinting seven furlongs, winning Nov. 22 allowance by 10 ¼ lengths and rallying from far back to be second in the Dec. 28 Mr. Prospector (G3).

Joseph is also represented by Daniel Alonso’s $3.09 million earner Skippylongstocking, who is aiming for his third straight Pegasus World Cup after running seventh in 2023 and being pulled up after six furlongs in 2024. He rebounded from that to win the Challenger (G3), Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and Charles Town Classic (G2) and owns three wins at Gulfstream including the 2022 Harlan’s Holiday (G3).

Eric Waller and Sharon Waller’s Stronghold, by Hall of Famer Ghostzapper, exits consecutive runner-up finishes in the Indiana Derby (G3), Pennsylvania Derby and Malibu (G1), the latter Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, for trainer Phil D’Amato. He ran seventh to Mystik Dan in the Kentucky Derby, earning his way there with a neck triumph in the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby (G1).

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, seeking his second Pegasus World Cup victory following Life Is Good in 2022, is represented by invitees Crupi and Locked. Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Crupi ran third in 2024, beaten 4 ½ lengths at odds of 34-1, and has banked nearly $1.7 million lifetime with his lone graded win coming in the 2024 Suburban (G2).

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm’s Locked, on the verge of millionaire status, has raced just six times with four wins including the 2023 Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and a last-out triumph in the Cigar Mile (G2) Dec. 7 at Aqueduct. It was the second straight win in one of only two 2024 starts following a third-place finish to champion stablemate Fierceness in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

Calumet Farm’s Mixto earned his Grade 1 credentials winning the 1 ¼-mile Pacific Classic Aug. 31 at Del Mar at odds of 22-1. Eleventh in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), he returned to be third by a length in the 1 1/8-mile Native Diver (G3) Nov. 23 at Del Mar, his most recent start.

No trainer has more Pegasus wins than Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who had success with National Treasure (2024), Mucho Gusto (2020) and Arrogate (2017), who set a track record of 1:46.83 in the inaugural edition. This year’s candidate is SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Robert Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan and Tom Ryan’s Imagination, beaten a neck as the favorite in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) after winning the San Felipe (G2). Most recently he ran third in the Malibu.

Rounding out the main invitation list is Purple Rein Racing’s J B Strikes Back, Mixto’s Doug O’Neill-trained stablemate that put together three consecutive wins to end 2024 capped by a 1 ¼-length triumph in the 1 1/16-mile Laffit Pincay Jr. (G2) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, his first try at two turns.

Leading the list of alternates are millionaires Newgrange, unraced since a fifth in the July 27 San Diego Handicap (G2), and three-time graded-stakes winner Red Route One; 4-year-old filly Power Squeeze, winner of the 2024 Alabama (G1) at Saratoga; Rocket Can, whose four wins include the 2023 Holy Bull (G3) and Dec. 21 Harlan’s Holiday (G3) at Gulfstream; Native Diver winner Skinner; 2024 Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) winner Steal Sunshine; Tumbarumba, winner of the Fred Hooper (G3) on the Pegasus 2024 undercard; and Cooke Creek.

Gulfstream Nominations: https://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbHorsemenAreaSNHW.cfm?trk=GP

Globetrotting Nations Pride and Johannes Lead $1 Million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) Invites

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Four Grade 1 winners, including Godolphin’s globetrotting star Nations Pride and Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) runner-up Johannes, lead an impressive group of invitees for the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) on Saturday, Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park.

Nations Pride, based in Newmarket, U.K., won two of trainer Charlie Appleby’s 14 graded stakes in North America last year. Winner of the Arlington Million (G1) and Canadian International (G1), Nations Pride is joined by three other Grade 1 winners on the Pegasus World Cup Turf invitation list in Hollywood Derby winner Formidable Man, Shoemaker Mile winner Johannes, and Woodbine Mile victor Win for the Money. Grade 2 winners include Get Smokin, Grand Sonata, Major Dude, Integration, and Mi Hermano Ramon.

The Pegasus World Cup Turf is part of Gulfstream’s innovative Pegasus World Cup Day including the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2).

Since first run in 2019, the Pegasus World Cup Turf has been won by 2019 Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar, two-time Group 1 European winner Warm Heart, and Colonel Liam, who won consecutive Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitationals in 2021-22.

Nations Pride, trained by Charles Appleby, has raced in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Dubai, Bahrain and Canada while winning 10 of 19 starts. Johannes, from the stable of Tim Yakteen, won the Shoemaker (G1) and City of Hope (G2) at Santa Anita and was second last time out in the San Gabriel (G2). Formidable Man, trained by Michael McCarthy, winner of the 2019 Pegasus World Cup Invitational with City of Hope, would enter the Pegasus Turf off victories in the Hollywood Derby and Del Mar Derby (G2). Win for the Money was third Dec. 21 in the Fort Lauderdale (G2) at Gulfstream.

Hall of Fame trainers Todd Pletcher and Shug McGaughey each have two horses on the invitation list. Pletcher, who won consecutive Pegasus World Cup Turf events in 2021-2022 with Colonel Liam, has invitations for Major Dude, winner Dec. 21 of the Fort Lauderdale and Kentucky Turf Cup (G2) winner Grand Sonata, fourth in the Fort Lauderdale.

Red Smith (G2) winner Integration, fifth in last year’s Pegasus World Cup Turf and second behind Nations Pride in the Arlington Million, is one of two horses invited from the barn of McGaughey along with Battle of Normandy, winner last out of the River City (G3).

Others invited include Seabiscuit (G2) winner Mi Hermano Ramon, Dinner Party (G3) winner Balnikhov, and Grade 2 stakes placed Redistricting, from Chad Brown, trainer of 2019 winner and Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar.

There are eight horses on the also-eligible list. Brown has two on the AE in graded stakes-winner Running Bee and stakes winner and New York-bred Spirit of St Louis. McGaughey also has a horse on the AE in Fort Washington, second in the Fort Lauderdale and a winner of the Monmouth Stakes (G3).

Trainer Mike Maker, a two-time winner of the Pegasus World Cup Turf with Atone (2023) and Zulu Alpha (2020), is represented on the AE by Wise Dan (G2) runner-up Chasing the Crown. Graded stakes placed Astronomer, Twilight Derby (G2) winner Atitlan, California Crown John Henry Turf (G2) winner Cabo Spirit and Grade 2 winner Gigante round out the AE.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park – home of The California Crown and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, The Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information email david.joseph@GulfstreamPark.com and visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.