Watch the Pegasus Post Position Draw Live Sunday—Begins at 1 P.M.
• Locked, Crupi & Power Squeeze All Prepare for $3 Million Race • Pegasus Turf Favorite Nations Pride Arrives at Gulfstream
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan put in his final work for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) by breezing five furlongs over a “good” track Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park under Robby Albarado in :59.98.
Trainer Ken McPeek said it was just what he was looking for from the 4-year-old son of Goldencents.
“What I’d call a happy five-eighths,” he said. “It was just a maintenance breeze. I didn’t have a horse I really felt good about him being in company with, and I don’t think he needed the company. But he took a deep breath coming out of the work and that’s what he needed.
“I like the time, he did it well within himself, so, yeah, I think it sets us up pretty good. As long as he has a good next few days, week, we plan on running.”
At Palm Beach Downs, Pegasus invitees Locked and Crupi worked in company for trainer Todd Pletcher in 1:01.91. Locked enters the Pegasus off a victory Dec. 7 in the Cigar Mile (G2) while Crupi, third in last year’s Pegasus, comes into the race off a fourth-place finish in the Clark (G2).
Power Squeeze, the only filly in the Pegasus, worked four furlongs at Gulfstream in :50.02.
In California, Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Stronghold worked five furlongs in 1:02 at Santa Anita Park.
Pegasus Turf Favorite Nations Pride Arrives at Gulfstream
Nations Pride (Ryan Thompson)
Godolphin’s Nations Pride, likely favorite in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), arrived at Gulfstream Park Saturday at approximately 12:30 p.m.
The globetrotting star, winner of the Arlington Million (G1) last year, will likely step onto Gulfstream’s track Sunday “with the idea of regular canters from Monday onwards, and ideally, we might get one breeze in before the big day on Saturday,” said Chris Connett, assistant trainer to Charlie Appleby.
Nations Pride flew along with McKnight (G3) starter Bold Act and La Prevoyante (G3) starter Beautiful Love from the UK Monday and spent a night in Amsterdam and then arrived Tuesday evening in Miami and quarantine.
“We’re very happy with the way they traveled over on the plane,” Connett said. “They drank well. They ate well. That’s one of the main things you want to see on a flight, is them drinking, and they all went through a nice amount of water. That was pleasing. And to be fair, all three of them are pretty well versed in travel. Nations Pride has been out to Bahrain this winter already.”
Watch the Pegasus Post Position Draw Live Sunday. Begins at 1 P.M.
National Treasure breaking from post #7 holds off #6 Senor Buscador’s late charge to win the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in 2024 (Courtesy Pegasus World Cup)
Who will be the favorites on Pegasus World Cup Day at Gulfstream Park, and what post positions will they draw?
Fans can find out live Sunday, Jan. 19 when the post-position draw presented by My Racehorse is streamed on PegasusWorldCup.com and Gulfstream Park’s YouTube channel beginning at 1 p.m.
The $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) presented by Qatar Racing and the $500,000 TAA Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2) presented by SirDavis American Whiskey will bring together the world’s biggest stars on the track and off Saturday, Jan. 25.
Pegasus World Cup Day will feature seven graded stakes worth $5.2 million in purses along with entertainment from Black Coffee, Diplo, and a guest performance by Dasha.
First race post Pegasus World Cup Day is 11 a.m. There will be live coverage beginning at 10 a.m. on GulfstreamPark.com, HipicaTV, and FanDuel TV. Coverage on NBC begins at 4:30 p.m.
