Pegasus World Cup Invitational
By Richard Rosenblatt
McKinzie.
Photo by: Zoe Metz
Maximum Security, the disqualified Kentucky Derby first-place finisher, Santa Anita Derby winner Roadster and Santa Anita Handicap winner Gift Box are no longer on the invite list to run in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25.
The Stronach Group, which owns Gulfstream Park, announced Sunday an updated main list of 12 invitees for the World Cup, along with four reserve invitees. The maximum field for the race is 12. New horses on the list include Midcourt (main), Tenfold and Bodexpress (reserve).
Magic Wand has been dropped to the reserve invitees list for the 1 1/8-mile World Cup. The 5-year-old mare remains on the main list of invites for the $1 million World Cup Turf (G1) on the same day.
Upgraded from the World Cup reserve list to the main list are Diamond Oops, True Timber and War Story. Total invites are now 16, down from the original 17.
The post-position draw is Jan. 22.
For now, the main list of invitees is Diamond Oops, Higher Power, Math Wizard, McKinzie, Midcourt, Mr Freeze, likely favorite Omaha Beach, Seeking the Soul, Spun to Run, Tax, True Timber and War Story. The reserve invitees are Mucho Gusto, Magic Wand, Tenfold and Bodexpress.
Omaha Beach – Photo courtesy of Ryan Thompson
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has indicated he doesn’t expect McKinzie or Mucho Gusto to run in the World Cup, meaning more changes.
The purse of the World Cup was recently reduced from $9 million last year to $3 million this year.
The World Cup Turf also underwent changes, with Admission Office and Sacred Life moved up from reserve invitee to the main list.
United, Starship Jubilee, A Thread of Blue – all on the original main list — and Lucullan – a reserve invitee — are no longer Turf invites, and new reserve invitees are Synchrony, Tusk and American Tattoo.
The main list for the Turf now includes Admission Office, Arklow, Channel Cat, Henley’s Joy, Instilled Regard, Magic Wand, Mo Forza, Next Shares, Sacred Life, Sadler’s Joy, Without Parole and Zulu Alpha.
The reserve list, reduced from five to four, is Mr. Misunderstood, Synchrony, Tusk and American Tattoo.
Omaha Beach, winner of the Malibu Stakes (G1) is his last start, arrived in South Florida from California on Dec. 31 and has been training well for the World Cup The 4-year-old colt has come on strong after missing the Triple Crown races with a throat ailment, winning two Grade 1’s and finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).
Top contenders for the 1 3/16th-mile Turf include Arlow, Mo Forza and a trio of Chad Brown-trainees, Sacred Life, Without Parole and Instilled Regard.
| Horse | Owner | Trainer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond Oops | Diamond 100 Racing Club, Amy E. Dunne, D P Racing, Patrick Biancone Racing | Patrick Biancone | |
| Higher Power | Hronis Racing | John Sadler | |
| Math Wizard | John Fanelli, Khalid Mishref, Cash Is King, LC Racing, Collarmele Vitelli Stables, Ioannis Zoumas, Bassett Stables | Michael Maker | |
| McKinzie | Karl Watson, Michael Pegram, Paul Weitman | Bob Baffert | |
| Midcourt | CRK Stable | John Shirreffs | |
| Mr Freeze | Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister | Dale Romans | |
| Omaha Beach | Fox Hill Farms | Richard Mandella | |
| Seeking the Soul | Charles Fipke | Dallas Stewart | |
| Spun to Run | Robert Donaldson | Juan Carlos Guerrero | |
| Tax | R.A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch, Corms Racing Stable | Danny Gargan | |
| True Timber | Calumet Farm | Kiaran McLaughlin | |
| War Story | Imaginary Stables, Glenn K. Ellis | Elizabeth Dobles | |
| Horse | Owner | Trainer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mucho Gusto | Michael Lund Petersen | Bob Baffert | |
| Magic Wand | Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Mr. M.J. Jooste | Aidan O’Brien | |
| Tenfold | Winchell Thoroughbreds | Steve Asmussen | |
| Bodexpress | Top Racing, Global Thoroughbreds, GDS Racing Stable | Gustavo Delgado | |
| Horse | Owner | Trainer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Office | Amerman Racing | Brian Lynch | |
| Arklow | Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger, Peter Coneway | Brad Cox | |
| Channel Cat | Calumet Farm | Todd Pletcher | |
| Henley’s Joy | Bloom Racing Stable | Michael Maker | |
| Instilled Regard | OXO Equine | Chad Brown | |
| Magic Wand | Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier | Aidan O’Brien | |
| Next Shares | Debby Baltas, Richard Baltas, Christopher Dunn, Jules Iavarone, Michael Iavarone, Jerry McClanahan, Ritchie Robershaw, Mark Taylor | Richard Baltas | |
| Sacred Life | Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables, Bethlehem Stables | Chad Brown | |
| Sadler’s Joy | Woodslane Farm | Tom Albertrani | |
| Without Parole | John D. Gunther, Tanya Gunther | Chad Brown | |
| Zulu Alpha | Michael Hui | Michael Maker | |
| Horse | Owner | Trainer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Tattoo | Calumet Farm, John Anthony Stables | Todd Pletcher | |
| Mr. Misunderstood | Flurry Racing Stables | Brad Cox | |
| Synchrony | Pin Oak Stable | Michael Stidham | |
| Tusk | Jordan V. Wycoff | Saffie Joseph, Jr. | |
For more information/tickets: PegasusWorldCup.com
Over the years while working at The Associated Press, Rich Rosenblatt became a familiar name to legions of the horse racing fans and industry insiders with his award-winning articles on horse racing and his stories from the backstretch.
In addition to being an astute observer of sports, Rosenblatt is the co-author of The All-American Chili Cookbook. His work has been seen in just about every publication in the world, including The New York Times, The Washington Post and Time Magazine.