Pegasus World Cup: Madaket Road, British Isles join lineup
Madaket Road, five times graded-stakes placed including last summer’s Woody Stephens (G1), replaces recently retired stablemate Goal Oriented representing Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert on the final list of invitees for the Grade 1, $3 million Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus for 4-year-olds and up, headlining a program featuring 10 stakes, seven graded, worth $5.55 million in purses.
SF Racing et al.’s Madaket Road has been third or better in six of nine career starts for purse earnings of $580,000. Though primarily a sprinter, he has had two attempts around two turns, finishing second in the 1 1/16-mile Rebel (G2) and fourth in the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby (G1), the latter at Gulfstream, last winter.
Baffert previously won the Pegasus World Cup with Arrogate, whose victory in the inaugural 2017 running came in a still-standing track record 1:46.83, Mucho Gusto in 2020 and 2023 Preakness winner National Treasure in 2024. Goal Oriented, winner of the Dec. 28 Malibu (G1) in what turned out to be his career finale, was retired to stud duty at Spendthrift Farm Jan. 11.
Tappan Street, winner of the 2025 Florida Derby over subsequent Kentucky Derby, Belmont and Travers (G1) hero Sovereignty, and Brad Cox-trained stablemate Disco Time, undefeated through five career starts including three consecutive stakes, continue to top the list of Pegasus invitations along with $7 million earner White Abarrio, who won last year’s race by a Pegasus record 6 1/4 lengths.
White Abarrio’s Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained stablemate, Skippylongstocking, is invited to make an unprecedented fourth start in the Pegasus. The 7-year-old has 12 wins, 10 in graded-stakes, and nearly $3.8 million in purses from 35 career starts.
Touchuponastar, 19-time career winner of more than $1.6 million in purses, has been removed from Pegasus consideration, replaced by alternate British Isles. Slam Dunk Racing, trainer Richard Baltas and Jerry McClanahan’s British Isles exits a second in the Nov. 22 Native Diver (G2) at Del Mar.
Remaining on the invitation list are 2024 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Full Serrano, millionaire Banishing, 2024 Remsen (G2) winner Poster, stakes winners Brotha Kenny and Captain Cook, and Cigar Mile (G2) runner-up Mika. Doc Sullivan, a multiple New York-bred stakes winner, is the first alternate.
Stakes-winning millionaire Chasing the Crown has been promoted from reserve to the main list of invitees to the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1). He replaces Wolfie’s Dynaghost, front-running winner of the local Pegasus Turf prep, the Fort Lauderdale (G3), Dec. 20.
Chasing the Crown has placed three times in graded-stakes including a third to Spirit of St Louis in last year’s Pegasus Turf. His trainer, Mike Maker, won the Pegasus Turf previously with Zulu Alpha in 2020 and Atone in 2023.
The primary Pegasus Turf invitees remain headed by three-time Grade 1 winner Program Trading, fellow millionaires Cabo Spirit, Fort Washington, Major Dude and Test Score, and two-time South African Group 1 winner One Stripe along with Grade 2 winners Call Sign Seven and Cugino and stakes winners Almendares, Astronomer and Beach Gold.
Stakes winner Movin’ On Up, twice graded-stakes placed, joins the primary list of invitees to the $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G2), replacing Grade 3 winner Medoro. Movin’ On Up was most recently beaten by a head when second in the local Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf prep, Gulfstream’s Suwannee River, Dec. 20.
Entries will be taken and post positions drawn for all three Pegasus World Cup races Sunday.