For the ninth consecutive year the Pegasus World Cup will be contested at Gulfstream Park. Originally this race was designed to become the richest in the world, but then reality set in and the $16 million purse in 2018 became a $9 million purse in 2019 and is now at $3 million. Last time I checked, $3 million was not chopped liver and the race once known as the Donn Handicap is still the most valuable run over the South Florida dirt. The 2025 edition features a full field and is slated as race 13 on January 25. Let us now take a look at the runners lining up to run at a share of that nice Pegasus purse.
1 Mixto ( 10-1)- Trained by Doug O’Neill, this son of Good Magic pulled a rabbit out of the hat with an upset win in the 2024 Pacific Classic. Never afraid to take a swing with a healthy horse, O’Neill understands you can’t hit one out if don’t step into the batter’s box. Mixto needs to be Babe Ruth here.
2 Saudi Crown (9-2 )- With six wins, two seconds, and a third in twelve career starts, this son of Always Dreaming is usually there at the end. Draw a line through his 13th place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and focus on his Tenacious Stakes score at Fair Grounds on December 21. Trainer Brad Cox won this race in 2021 with Knicks Go and looks to have a real shot with another horse in good form.
3 Newgrange (20-1 )-Making his first start for South Florida based trainer Jose D’Angelo, this son of Violence has five graded stakes wins and seven overall in fifteen career starts. His last start was a fifth place finish in the San Diego Handicap for trainer Phil D’Amato on July 27.Big ask off this type of a layoff but he could be in the superfecta.
1 White Abarrio (3-1 )-With three grade 1 wins including the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic, this son of Race Day has been well traveled during his nineteen race career. Six wins in eight starts at Gulfstream Park and with Irad Ortiz Jr. riding, look for White to catch lots of money at the window. A real contender fo sho.
5 Crupi (15-1) – The last ten starts have ben in stakes company with three wins, two seconds, and two third place finishes. That means this son of Curlin has ran in good company and finished third in this race last year. Not sure this Todd Pletcher trainee can win, but he might ought to be in your superfecta.
6 Stronghold (10-1)-At one time, this Phil D’Amato trained son of Ghostzapper was thought to be the West coast power player in the three-year-old division. Three consecutive runner-up finishes in graded stakes company and no wins since the Santa Anita Derby in April of 2024 means he might not exactly be the figure four leglock, but he has been in the money in every career start except his seventh place finish in Kentucky Derby 150.
7 Steal Sunshine (30-1) – This son of Constitution is battle tested with thirteen graded stakes starts but has only one win in that baker’s dozen. Local trainer Bobby Dibona will have a Soth Florida experienced runnerthat has made eighteen starts at Gulfstream Park. Should he win it would be a real heist.
8 Vitality (50-1) Canadian import made his fist eight starts at Woodbine. Two wins in twelve career starts and no graded stakes scores means you know why he is 50-1.His last start was a dull sixth in the Harlan’s Holiday at Gulfstream. Not sure he belongs here.
9 Mystik Dan (8-1) Kentucky Derby champ is looking to break a recent curse. He has not won since his fantastic score on the first Saturday in May and the previous two Derby winners did not win another race after they earned the blanket of roses. Two crackerjack workouts have people forgetting about his lackluster comeback run in the Malibu Stakes on December 26. Should this son of Goldencents find his pappy’s stride again, he can be there at the end.
10 Skippylongstocking (10-1) His last twenty starts have all been in graded stakes company. This son of Exaggerator has seven wins in those twenty starts with one of them being at Gulstream in the Harlan’s Holiday. He has two previous Pegasus starts and the post draw will make it hard for his running style to get trainer Saffie Joseph his first Pegasus win.
11 Locked (5-2)- Fewest career starts (six) but the morning line favorite…hmmmm…Four wins and two thirds tells us this son of Gun Runner has the goods. Injury prevented him from running in the Triple Crown races and his Cigar Mile win was against older horses. This is his third start off the big layoff and trainer Todd Pletcher knows how to win these races.
12 Power Squeeze (30-1) As the first female to start in this race since the purse hike, does this daughter of Union Rags really belong? Well, this Jorge Delgado trainee has won some hard fought battles in the Delaware Oaks and Alabama ?Stakes. We are not saying a girl can’t win this race, but just not sure she is the one to make it happen.
