Madaket Road has been withdrawn from today’s Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park, removing one of the more intriguing mid-price contenders from the Grade 1 lineup just hours before post time.
The news was confirmed on Friday, January 23, by Tom Ryan, racing manager for SF Racing, via social media.
The 4-year-old colt was scratched after developing an abscess, an unfortunate but not uncommon issue at this level. According to Ryan, the timing could not be worse, with the Pegasus World Cup just hours away from going off.
Madaket Road will be shipped back to California to recover, effectively ending his Pegasus World Cup bid before it began. He had been listed at 10-1 on the morning line, positioning him as a legitimate outsider capable of shaking up exotics.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Madaket Road entered the Pegasus World Cup off a solid fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes. While not a win, the effort suggested he belonged in top-level company and made him an interesting betting option in a wide-open field.
With his withdrawal, the race loses a lightly raced colt with upside and pace versatility, two traits that often matter at Gulfstream Park.
Madaket Road’s exit opens the door for Lightning Tones, who will draw into the Pegasus World Cup field. The newcomer now gets a surprise opportunity on one of the biggest stages in North American racing, with $3 million on the line.
Late scratches are never ideal, but they are part of the reality of elite Thoroughbred racing, especially on a high-pressure day like Pegasus World Cup Saturday.
| PP | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Disco Time | 8/5 | Flavien Prat | Brad Cox |
| 2 | British Isles | 20/1 | Diego Herrera | Richard Baltas |
| 3 | Full Serrano | 12/1 | Joel Rosario | John Sadler |
| 4 | Banishing | 20/1 | Jose Ortiz | David Jacobson |
| 5 | Skippylongstocking | 15/1 | Tyler Gaffalione | Saffie Joseph Jr. |
| SCR | SCR | SCR | ||
| 7 | Tappan Street | 6/1 | Luis Saez | Brad Cox |
| 8 | Poster | 20/1 | Junior Alvarado | Eoin Harty |
| 9 | Captain Cook | 15/1 | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher |
| 10 | Mika | 10/1 | Manny Franco | Mike Maker |
| 11 | White Abarrio | 4/1 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Saffie Joseph Jr. |
| 12 | Brotha Keny | 30/1 | Javier Castellano | Jose Francisco D'Angelo |
| 13 | Lightning Tones | 30/1 | Jose E. Morelos | Jose M. Castro |
Last Updated on 01/24/2026
Despite the loss of Madaket Road, the Pegasus World Cup Invitational remains one of the most anticipated races of the season. Bettors will need to reassess pace scenarios and exotic structures, while connections of the remaining runners catch a small break in an already competitive Grade 1.
The spotlight now shifts to the revised field as the countdown to post time continues in South Florida.
It has been a busy scratch list across the Gulfstream Park card on Pegasus World Cup Day, with multiple races affected leading up to the first post.
Several early races saw significant withdrawals, including Race 1, where four horses were scratched, and Race 2, which also lost four entries. Turf-heavy races later on the card were not spared either, with multiple scratches in Races 4, 7, and 8.
Most notably, as mentioned before, the Race 13, the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, lost Madaket Road, who was officially scratched due to an abscess earlier in the day.
With weather conditions listed as fair and no apparent track issues, the volume of scratches appears more related to individual horse circumstances than surface concerns.
As always on a marquee day like this, bettors should double-check late changes and adjust wagers accordingly before post time.
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.
