by Jeremy Plonk
January 19, 2025
Headlined by 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (post 9) and 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic victor White Abarrio (post 4), one of the most accomplished casts of 12 entered today for Saturday’s ninth edition of the $3 million Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park. The South Florida winter showcase race will see Cigar Mile winner Locked (post 11) the 5-2 morning line favorite as established by track handicapper Brian Nadeau.
Horseplayers at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet on Saturday can enjoy up to a $10 money-back special on the Pegasus World Cup, PWC Turf and PWC Filly and Mare Turf if your win bet in any of those features finishes second or third. Also, 5 Million 1/ST Rewards Points will be up for grabs in Hit & Split promos for the early & late pick 5 as well as the late pick 4.
Mystik Dan and White Abarrio (pictured) are looking to rebound after sprint losses as they return to two-turn racing. Locked competes third off the layoff after missing this year’s Triple Crown pursuit while sidelined a year from racing. He won the Cigar Mile in New York in visually impressive style and, too, will be stretching back out around two turns. Mystik Dan hasn’t won since the first Saturday in May, while White Abarrio was an impressive Gulfstream allowance winner before a troubled second in December’s Mr. Prospector Stakes.
Pace in the 1-1/8 miles Pegasus World Cup figures to come from Saudi Crown (post 2) and third-time PWC entrant Skippylongstocking (post 10). Rail-drawn Mixto has been forward in most starts and could be hustled by Frankie Dettori to keep position. The 11-hole draw for Locked could see him used more in the early mix than previously expected in order to avoid ground loss. This does not project to be an overwhelmingly fast tempo.
Note that $13 million earner Senor Buscador, runner-up here a year ago, trained insufficiently this morning for a return bid in the Pegasus World Cup and was retired.
Saturday’s 13-race card (first post 11 am ET) also includes the Grade 1 $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf and the Grade 2 $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf. The PWC Turf lured 14 entrants (2 also-eligible), including Nations Pride – the 2-1 morning line favorite – for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby. The PWC Filly & Mare Turf has 14 entries (2 also-eligible), topped by lukewarm 4-1 morning line favorite Raqiya for Todd Pletcher.
//
Gulfstream Park // Race 13 // 5:45 pm ET // $3 million Pegasus World Cup // 1-1/8 miles
#1-Mixto (Frankie Dettori // Doug O’Neill) 10-1
#2-Saudi Crown (Florent Geroux // Brad Cox) 9-2
#3-Newgrange (Emisael Jaramillo // Jose D’Angelo) 20-1
#4-White Abarrio (Irad Ortiz Jr. // Saffie Joseph Jr.) 3-1
#5-Crupi (Luis Saez // Todd Pletcher) 15-1
#6-Stronghold (Antonio Fresu // Phil D’Amato) 10-1
#7 Steal Sunshine (Dylan Davis // Bobby Dibona) 30-1
#8 Vitality (Rajiv Maragh // Harold Ladouceur) 50-1
#9-Mystik Dan (Brian Hernandez Jr. // Kenny McPeek) 8-1
#10-Skippylongstocking (Tyler Gaffalione // Saffie Joseph Jr.) 10-1
#11-Locked (John Velazquez // Todd Pletcher) 5-2
#12-Power Squeeze (Javier Castellano // Jorge Delgado) 30-1
For more on the Pegasus World Cup Day card, be sure to check out the 1/ST Pegasus World Cup Wager Guide, which will be unveiled Monday and updated throughout the week.