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.
2025 Pegasus World Cup Contenders: CRUPI
Crupi had been racing for nearly a year before he got around to breaking his maiden last July at Monmouth Park, in his eighth career start. Something must have clicked, because he won three of his next four races, capped by victories in a pair of listed stakes at Aqueduct to close out his sophomore season on a high note.
Crupi. NYRA/Coglianese Photo.
Consistent Crupi seeks to better a third-place finish in the Pegasus from a year ago
Although he’d been working steadily towards his 4-year-old debut in last year’s Pegasus World Cup, he was, shall we say, overlooked. Sent off as the longest shot in the field of 12, the chestnut son of Curlin shocked many when he closed from last to finish third at odds of 34-1 behind multiple Grade 1 winner National Treasure and Senor Buscador, who would go on to win the Saudi Cup in his next start.
Neither of those horses will be in Saturday’s race, with both having been retired, but the now 5-year-old Crupi, still in search of a Grade 1 win and with an overall record of 5-4-5 from 19 starts, is listed at 15-1.
Which does not surprise his Hall of Fame trainer, Todd Pletcher, in the least.
“He’s the kind of horse that needs things set up for him,” said Pletcher, who also will saddle 5-2 favorite Locked. “He needs a solid pace up front, but he’s been pretty consistent.”
Nevertheless, Pletcher said he has been pleased with the way the horse is coming into the race.
“He’s been training really well,” Pletcher said. “I think he looks as good as he’s ever looked, physically. He’s an older horse now, he’s fully matured and filled out, and his works have been solid.”
2025 Pegasus World Cup Contender Odds and Post Positions
Betting advice: It’s never easy for a closer to navigate through a full field in a 1 1/8-mile race, and Crupi will be without Irad Ortiz, Jr., who rode him for all but one of his races last year. Luis Saez, who has ridden Crupi twice has the call this time. Use underneath.
Post position: 5
Odds: 15-1
Jockey: Luis Saez
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owners: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable
Age: 5
Career record: 19-5-4-5
Career earnings: $1,169,000
Last race: Clark Stakes (G2), Churchill Downs, Nov. 29, 4th
Top Equibase speed figure: 112
Pedigree: Curlin-Don’tforgetaboutme, by Malibu Moon
Color: Chestnut
Running style: Deep closer
Notes: Crupi has had three timed works in 2025, most recently covering 4 furlongs in 49.33 seconds on Jan. 18. The move followed those of Jan. 10 (5f, 101.79) and Jan. 3 (5f, 1:03.07) … Crupi was named in honor of the late horseman J. C. Crupi … Co-owner Mike Repole credits the late horseman for selecting future champion Uncle Mo, who passed away last month, for $220,000 out of the 2009 September yearling sale at Keeneland.
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.
