Defending Champion White Abarrio 4-1 for 10th Anniversary Running
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Juddmonte’s Disco Time was installed as the 8-5 morning-line favorite for a bid to remain undefeated in next Saturday’s $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park following Sunday’s Post Position Draw
The 4-year-old son of Not This Time, who drew Post #1 for the 10th anniversary running of the 1 1/8-mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up, will seek to run his career record to 6-for-6 while facing 11 rivals in the ‘Win and You’re In’ Breeders’ Cup Challenge race for the Classic, including C2 Racing Stable LLC, Gary Barber and La Milagrosa Stable LLC’s White Abarrio.
The Pegasus World Cup will be featured on the 10th anniversary celebration program, along with the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), a 1 1/8-mile turf stakes for 4-year-olds and up, and the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2), a 1 1/18-mile turf stakes for older fillies and mares.
Trainer Brad Cox, who saddled Knicks Go for a 2 ¼-length victory in the 2021 Pegasus World Cup, named Flavien Prat to ride Disco Time, who came off an eight-month layoff following his triumph in the Le Comte (G3) at Fair Grounds last March to romp to victory in the Sept.19 St. Louis Derby at Fairmount Park and the Nov. 8 Dwyer at Aqueduct.
Cox will also be represented in the Pegasus World Cup by WinStar Farm LLC, CHC Inc., Cold Press Racing and Qatar Racing’s Tappan Street, who drew Post #7. The son of Into Mischief, who is rated at 8-1 on the morning line, captured the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) last March at Gulfstream and recently returned from a long layoff to win an optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream Dec. 19. Luis Saez has the mount.
White Abarrio, who scored a 6 ¼-length victory in last year’s Pegasus World Cup, is rated second on the morning-line at 4-1 for his first start since finishing off the board in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga Aug. 31. The 7-year-old son of Race Day is slated to break from an outside Post #11 with Irad Ortiz Jr. up.
Gulfstream’s perennial leading trainer will also be represented by Daniel Alonso’s Skippylongstocking, who finished third behind White Abarrio in last year’s Pegasus World Cup. The 7-year-old son of Exaggerator, who captured the Dec. 20 Harlan’s Holiday (G3), drew Post #5 before being rated at 15-1 on the morning line. Tyler Gaffalione has the return mount.
Godolphin LLC’s Poster, who fell a neck short of holding off Skippylongstocking in the Harlan’s Holiday, was rated at 20-1 on the morning line after drawing Post #8. Trainer Eoin Harty has awarded the mount to Junior Alvarado.
St. Elias Stable’s Captain Cook will break from Post 9 for a bid to give Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher a second Pegasus World Cup success, joining Life Is Good (2022). The 4-year-old son of Practical Joke, who finished second in the Perryville (G3) at Keeneland and H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) at Saratoga in his last two starts, is rated at 15-1 on the morning line. Hall of Famer John Velazquez will ride Captain Cook for the first time Saturday.
SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC and partners’ Madaket Road drew Post #6 for his bid to give Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert a fourth Pegasus World Cup victory, joining Arrogate (2017), Mucho Gusto (2020) and National Treasure (2024). Hall of Famer Mike Smith has the mount aboard the 4-year-old son of Quality Road, who is rated at 10-1 on the morning line.
Hronis Racing LLC’s Full Serrano, the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner, will break from Post #3 for the Pegasus World Cup. The John Sadler-trained 7-year-old Argentina-bred, who is rated at 12-1 on the morning line, will make his return from a fifth-place finish in the 2025 Dirt Mile with Joel Rosario aboard.
Lawrence Roman and trainer David Jacobson’s Banishing, a multiple graded-stakes winner who is rated at 20-1 on the morning line, drew Post #4 for his second start back from troubled trip in the Breeders Cup Sprint (G1).
Nice Guys Stables’ Mika, runner-up in the Cigar Mile (G2) last time out for trainer Mike Maker, was rated at 8-1 on the morning-line after drawing Post #10. Manuel Franco has the return mount.
Slam Dunk Racing, Baltas Racing and `Jerry Mr Clanahan’s British Isles, a close-up second in the Native Diver (G3) last time out at Del Mar, will break from Post #2 and is rated at 20-1 on the morning line. Gulfstream-based trainer David Fawkes will saddle the 5-year-old Justify gelding and give a leg up to Diego Herrera.
Michael and Jules Iavarone’s Brotha Keny, who captured the Zia Park Derby last time out, was rated at 30-1 on the morning line after drawing Post #12 for his first start for trainer Jose D’Angelo. Hall of Famer Javier Castellano will ride the 4-year-old son of Mo Town for the first time.
Trainer Jose Castros’ Lightning Tones, who captured the Sunshine Classic for Florida-breds last time out, and Tami Bobo’s Catalytic, who finished third behind Skippylongstocking and Poster in the Harlan’s Holiday, are also-eligible. Both are listed at 50-1.
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, training centers and premier events including: Santa Anita Park and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); The Preakness Stakes, (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 1/ST TV. 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.