As expected, the field for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) continues to change in the week leading up to the post-position draw on Sunday.
On Wednesday, a few days after invitee, Goal Oriented was retired from racing, it was announced that Grade 1 winner Madaket Road would replace his stablemate in the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park.
Both horses are trained by three-time Pegasus World Cup winner Bob Baffert.
In addition, Touchuponastar, a winner in 19 of 25 starts, has been removed from consideration and replaced by British Isles, a 5-year-old with just three wins in 22 career starts.
With the post-position draw and morning-line odds set for Sunday, a 10-horse field seems likely, although 12 horses remain on the list. The remaining invitees are 2025 Pegasus World Cup winner White Abarrio ($7 million in earnings), stablemate Skippylongstocking, 2025 Florida Derby (G1) winner Tappan Street, 2024 Remsen Stakes (G2) winner Poster, unbeaten (5-0) Disco Time, 2024 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Full Serrano, Banishing, Captain Cook as well as recent additions Brotha Keny and Cigar Mile (G2) runner-up Mika. Doc Sullivan, a multiple New York-bred stakes winner, is the first alternate.
Pegasus World Cup Day is in its 10th year. The program also features the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) and the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
Baffert’s previous Pegasus World Cup winners are Arrogate in 2017, Mucho Gusto in 2020, and National Treasure in 2024.
So, he’ll shoot for No. 4 with Madaket Road, who has been third or better in six of nine career starts with earnings of $580,000. Though primarily a sprinter, he’s had two earlier attempts around two turns, finishing second in the 1 1/16-mile Rebel Stakes (G2) and fourth in the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby (G1).
Tappan Street, the only horse to defeat Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1), and Travers Stakes (G1) winner Sovereignty in 2025, and Disco Time give trainer Brad Cox a strong hand in the Pegasus World Cup.
Tappan Street returned to the races on Dec. 19 after a nine-month absence with a victory in an allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream on Dec. 19. He’s 3-for-4 with a second, all at Gulfstream.
Disco Time has won three consecutive stakes races heading to the Pegasus World Cup, most recently taking the Dwyer Stakes at Aqueduct in November.
Skippylongstocking, a 10-time graded stakes winner, has earned $3.8 million heading into his 7-year-old campaign for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr., who also saddled White Abarrio.
Two new possible starters: Brotha Keny, Mika
Brotha Keny, a 4-year-old gelding trained by William Morey, needed seven starts to break his maiden and comes into the Pegasus World Cup off a win in the Zia Park Derby in New Mexico in November.
Mika, a 4-year-old colt trained by Mike Maker, has won three of eight career starts and was beaten a neck by Bishops Bay in the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Dec. 6.
For the first time, the winner of the Pegasus World Cup will earn a fee-paid, automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Classic as part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In’’ Challenge Series, yet another incentive for owners and trainers planning out their horses’ campaigns.
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.
