2021 Pegasus World Cup: Date, Odds and Favorites

There are always winners and losers at the post position draw for races run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Gulfstream Park because of the relatively short run to the first turn. And Saturday’s $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational was no exception.

Only 10 of the 225 horses who have started from posts 9 through 12 have won races carded at 1 1/8 miles on the dirt here over the past 13 years, or just over 4 percent. That statistic will not instill confidence in the connections of Last Judgment, Code of Honor, Mr Freeze, or Math Wizard, who drew posts 9 through 12 for Saturday’s main event.

On the other end of the spectrum is 5-2 morning-line favorite and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Knicks Go. The speedster figures to go postward an even shorter price after having drawn ideally in post 4 for his local debut in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup.

When is the Pegasus World Cup?

The 2021 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series will take place on Saturday, January 23 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. ET.

Where is the Pegasus World Cup?

The Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series is held at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Gulfstream Park is also home to several Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races, including the Florida Derby (G1), the Fountain of Youth (G2) and the Holy Bull (G2).

How can I watch the 2021 Pegasus World Cup?

NBC is home to the 2021 Pegasus World Cup, providing comprehensive race coverage and analysis live on TV, in the NBC Sports app and on NBCSports.com before, during and after the two headlining races.

Who won the Pegasus World Cup last year in 2020?

Last year, Hall of Famer Bob Baffert’s favorite Mucho Gusto won the fourth edition of the Pegasus World Cup with Eclipse Award-winner jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard. Mucho Gusto was invited back to the 2021 race but was later retired due to a soft tissue injury.

Mike Maker’s Zulu Alpha, jockeyed by Tyler Gaffalione, overtook Aidan O’Brien’s early favorite Magic Wand (IRE) to win the $1 million turf race. Zulu Alpha is currently out of action due to an ongoing ankle issue.

Pegasus World Cup Quick Facts

The Pegasus World Cup Invitational, first run in January 2017, is the vision of The Stronach Group founder, Frank Stronach.
The 2019 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Championship Series will offer a $16 million purse split between two Grade 1 stakes races.
The Pegasus World Cup Invitational is contested at 1 1/8 mile on the dirt and will offer at $9 million purse with $4 million awarded to the winner.
The Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational is run at 1 3/16 miles on the turf and will offer a $7 million purse with $3 million awarded to the winner.
The Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational will replace the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap.
The cost to secure an entry spot for both the Pegasus World Cup and the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational are $500,000 per race.
A $1 million bonus will be awarded to any horse owner who takes first place in both the Pegasus World Cup Invitational and the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational.
Past winners include Arrogate, the 2016 Eclipse Award Winning Champion Three Year Old Male and the top earning Thoroughbred of all time, and 2017 Horse of the Year, Gun Runner.
The Pegasus World Cup Championship Rings, are awarded to the winning owner, trainer and jockey for both the Pegasus World Cup Invitational and the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational and are valued at over $50,000 a piece!

Pegasus World Cup Contenders

PP	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Odds
1	Sleepy Eyes Todd	TBD	Miguel Angel Silva	Thumbs Up Racing, LLC	8-1
2	Coastal Defense	TBD	Dale Romans	Albaugh Family Stables LLC and Helen K. Groves Revocable Trust	15-1
3	Independence Hall	TBD	Michael W. McCarthy	Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Twin Creeks Racing Stables, LLC, Verratti, Kathleen and Verratti, Robert N.	20-1
4	Knicks Go	TBD	Brad Cox	Korea Racing Authority	5-2
5	Jesus’ Team	TBD	Jose D’Angelo	Grupo 7C Racing Stable	8-1
6	Kiss Today Goodbye	TBD	J. Eric Kruljac	John Sondereker	10-1
7	Tax	TBD	Danny Gargan	R.A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch	5-1
8	Harpers First Ride	TBD	Claudio A. Gonzalez	MCA Racing Stable LLc	10-1
9	Last Judgment	TBD	Michael J. Maker	Dubb, Michael, Hornstock, Steve, Bethlehem Stables LLC and Nice Guys Stables	20-1
10	Code of Honor	TBD	Shug McGaughey	W.S. Farish	9-2
11	Mr Freeze	TBD	Dale Romans	Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister	15-1
12	Math Wizard	TBD	Saffie Joseph Jr.	John Fanelli, Khalid Mishref, Cash is King LLC, LC Racing LLC, Collarmele Vitelli Stables LLC, Ioannis, Zouas, Bassett Stables	20-1

Horse

Jockey

Trainer

Owner

Odds

Sleepy Eyes Todd

TBD

Miguel Angel Silva

Thumbs Up Racing, LLC

8-1

Coastal Defense

TBD

Dale Romans

Albaugh Family Stables LLC and Helen K. Groves Revocable Trust

15-1

Independence Hall

TBD

Michael W. McCarthy

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Twin Creeks Racing Stables, LLC, Verratti, Kathleen and Verratti, Robert N.

20-1

Knicks Go

TBD

Brad Cox

Korea Racing Authority

5-2

Jesus’ Team

TBD

Jose D’Angelo

Grupo 7C Racing Stable

8-1

Kiss Today Goodbye

TBD

J. Eric Kruljac

John Sondereker

10-1

Tax

TBD

Danny Gargan

R.A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch

5-1

Harpers First Ride

TBD

Claudio A. Gonzalez

MCA Racing Stable LLc

10-1

Last Judgment

TBD

Michael J. Maker

Dubb, Michael, Hornstock, Steve, Bethlehem Stables LLC and Nice Guys Stables

20-1

Code of Honor

TBD

Shug McGaughey

W.S. Farish

9-2

Mr Freeze

TBD

Dale Romans

Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister

15-1

Math Wizard

TBD

Saffie Joseph Jr.

John Fanelli, Khalid Mishref, Cash is King LLC, LC Racing LLC, Collarmele Vitelli Stables LLC, Ioannis, Zouas, Bassett Stables

20-1

Miriam Lee

Miriam Lee has always been a horse racing fan thanks to trips to the tracks in her home state of Maryland with her father as kid. She owns an OTTB and is an advocate for promoting the sport among her peers. Miriam studies communication arts at Hood College and will receive her master’s degree in 2021, which she plans to use for a career in screenwriting. Her all-time favorite racehorse is Man O War.