Pegasus World Cup: Top 12 are unchanged, alternates are pared

Prominent Grade 1 stakes winners Cyberknife, Defunded and Proxy are prominent on the second invitation list released Wednesday for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) on Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park.

There are no changes from the first invitation list for the seventh running of the 1 1/8-mile stakes for older horses.

The names of all 12 horses on the first invitational list are included in the second invitation list.

Cyberknife, a multiple Grade 1 stakes-winning son of 2018 Pegasus World Cup champion Gun Runner, was one of the most successful 3-year-olds of the 2022 racing season, during which the Kentucky-bred colt won the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn and the Haskell Invitational (G1) at Monmouth Park. He most recently finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland, where he finished a head behind winner Cody’s Wish.

Cyberknife, who is scheduled to make his final career start in the Pegasus before embarking on a stallion career, is trained by Brad Cox, who saddled Knicks Go for a victory in the 2021 Pegasus World Cup prior to the 2021 Horse of the Year’s second-place finish last year behind Life Is Good.

Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who saddled Arrogate for a Pegasus World Cup triumph in 2017, trains Defunded, a 4-year-old gelded son of Dialed In, who closed out the 2022 season with victories in the Awesome Again (G1) at Santa Anita and Native Diver (G3) at Del Mar.

Proxy, a 5-year-old son of Tapit, earned Grade 1 credentials in his 2022 finale in the Clark (G1) at Churchill Downs. The Godolphin homebred is trained by Michael Stidham.

White Abarrio, Get Her Number, Art Collector, Super Corinto and O’Connor are other Grade 1 or Group 1 winners on the invitational list for the Pegasus World Cup.

Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained White Abarrio has the distinction of being a Grade 1 winner at 1 1/8 miles over the main track at Gulfstream Park, having captured the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) in April. The 4-year-old son of Race Day, who also won the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream, most recently finished third in the Cigar Mile (G1) at Aqueduct, beaten just a half-length by winner Mind Control.

Peter Miller-trained Get Her Number, who captured the 2020 American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita, was Grade 1 stakes-placed twice in 2022, including a runner-up finish in the Cigar Mile, finishing a half-length ahead of White Abarrio.

Bill Mott-trained Art Collector, who captured the 2021 Woodward (G1) at Belmont, successfully defended his Charles Town Classic (G2) title this year.

Amador Sanchez-trained Super Corinto and Joseph-trained O’Connor were both Group 1 winners in Chile this year who have been victorious at Gulfstream.

Joseph is also represented on the Pegasus World Cup invitation list by Skippylongstocking, the third-place finisher in the 2022 Belmont Stakes (G1) who captured the Harlan’s Holiday (G3) at Gulfstream Dec. 31. The 4-year-old son of Exaggerator also claimed a graded-stakes victory in the West Virginia Derby (G3) at Mountaineer Park.

Stilleto Boy, a multiple Grade 1 stakes-placed son of Shackleford who finished third in last year’s Pegasus World Cup, made this year’s invitation list after winning the Californian (G2) this season for trainer Ed Moger Jr.

Simplification is another on the Pegasus World Cup invitation list with experience at Gulfstream, having captured the 2022 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream. The Antonio Sano-trained son of Not This Time most recently finished third in the Harlan’s Holiday.

Last Samurai, who captured the Oaklawn Handicap (G2), represents Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas on the Pegasus invitational list.

The number of reserve invitees was reduced from eight on the first invitation list to five on the second invitation list.

The list (in alphabetical order):

• Barber Road, runner-up to Cyberknife in the Arkansas Derby (G1);

• Endorsed, who finished fourth in last year’s Pegasus World Cup;

• Hoist the Gold, who finished third in the Malibu (G1) at Santa Anita last time out;

• Law Professor, who finished second behind Life Is Good in the Woodward (G1);

• Ridin With Biden, who won the Greenwood Cup (G3) at Parx.