The $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) is Saturday, Jan. 25, at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The race is for 4-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles. usracing.com is publishing profiles of the horses entered.
Jorge Delgado, who saddles Power Squeeze -- the first filly to run in the Pegasus World Cup since 2018 -- put it this way: “There are not many chances that you’re going to have to be in these races, so you have to embrace it and make the best out of it. We believe in the filly and that’s the reason why she’s in the race.”
The 4-year-old daughter of Union Rags sports a career record of 6-2-1 from 12 starts, notably taking the Alabama Stakes (G1), the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) and the Delaware Oaks (G3). The Pegasus will not only be her first start against males, but her first start against males who have combined earnings of more than $21 million, seven of which are millionaires.
Power Squeeze is close behind with $937,450 in career earnings, and Delgado thinks this could be a prime spot for her.
“We could have run in the Royal Delta (G3) next month [against fillies and mares],” Delgado said, “but we feel like she’s a really nice filly. She’s won multiple graded stakes, and she appreciates the distance a lot. I think with the right pace she can beat whoever she faces in there.”
Owned by Lea Farms, the chestnut filly tuned up for the Pegasus on Dec. 26 against older fillies and mares in the Rampart, finishing a neck back in second in the 1-mile race at Gulfstream. Prior to that she was seventh in the 1 1/16-mile Cotillion Stakes (G1) Sept. 21 at Parx to Thorpedo Anna, the top 3-year-old filly in the country and likely Horse of the Year. She also ran behind Thorpedo Anna when sixth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and third in the Acorn Stakes (G1).
Betting advice: Power Squeeze drew the outside post, but that should not be a problem under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano. She runs best as a closer, but has enough tactical speed to stay in the mix in what seems to be a race lacking in speed. Use underneath.
Post position: 12
Odds: 30-1
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Trainer: Jorge Delgado
Owner: Lea Farms
Career record: 12-6-2-1
Career earnings: $937,450
Last race: Rampart Stakes, Gulfstream Park, Dec. 26, 2nd
Top Equibase speed figure: 97
Pedigree: Union Rags-Callmethesqueeze, by Awesome Again
Age: 4
Color: Chestnut
Running style: Closer
Notes: Will be the second filly to run against the boys in this race; Stellar Wins finished sixth in 2018. She has had two works since the Rampart, covering 5 furlongs in 1:01.73 on Jan. 11 and turning in her final serious move on Jan. 18, breezing a half-mile in 49.88 ... Power Squeeze was elevated to the top dozen horses on the second invitation list for the Pegasus along with Skinner (who was not entered), replacing J B Strikes Back and Rattle N Roll on Jan. 9.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
