The eyes of the sporting world will be on Florida on January 25 as the ninth edition of the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes is staged at Gulfstream Park.
The event generates a ton of interest on sportsbooks, and Florida sports betting platforms are guaranteed to be inundated with wagers on race day.
The Grade 1 race features multiple horses which have recorded wins at the top level, making it one of the most eagerly anticipated sports events in North America.
Read on as we look at some of the latest developments relating to the meeting, starting with a look at the preparations of the one of the more fancied runners for the big race.
Trainer unsure whether Mystik Dan will run
Kentucky Derby victor Mystik Dan hit the track at Gulfstream last weekend for a five-furlong workout which he completed in just under one minute.
Trainer Ken McPeek was pleased with how the horse performed, but has yet to decide if he will line-up in the Pegasus World Cup.
Mystik Dan finished last on his most recent outing in the Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita over the festive period, but looked on good terms with himself at Gulfstream.
However, McPeek is eager to get another workout into the horse before deciding if he will take up his engagement in the Florida showpiece.
“We wanted a nice, solid breeze out of him so he got something out of it,” McPeek said. “It was a good next step. We’ll go over him this afternoon and this morning to make sure he’s okay.
“One more work next week, either Friday or Saturday, I haven’t decided, and then we’ll make a decision whether we’re going to go or not.”
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White Abarrio sparkles during Gulfstream workout
White Abarrio surprised connections ahead of the Pegasus World Cup with a hugely impressive workout over four furlongs at Gulfstream.
The six-year-old covered the distance in 47.81 seconds over the main track. His time was the fastest recorded by the 23 horses who worked out.
“We were kind of looking for a steady kind of half with a long gallop out, and it kind of went beyond our expectations,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr said.
“It went really, really well. He worked super with an even longer gallop out than we wanted, but he did it the right way. We’re very pleased with where he’s at.
“If he can hopefully stay this kind of form into the Pegasus, he’ll be very tough. He’s in good order right now.
“We need it to continue like this and we feel like we’re bringing a horse in with a very good chance.”
Redistricting setback rules him out of the Turf
Top American trainer Chad Brown has confirmed that Redistricting will not run in the Pegasus World Cup Turf after suffering a ‘minor setback’.
The horse ran a fine race to finish second in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar on November 30, and was expected to be competitive in the race.
Redistricting joins Johannes as another high-profile absentee from the Turf and organisers will hope there are no further withdrawals over the next couple of weeks.
Brown’s Running Bee will likely be called up from the alternate list, while the Simon Callaghan-trained Astronomer may also be added to the line-up.
Mark Casse’s Get Smokin could miss the Turf. He is expected to rely on Win For The Money, who finished third in Grade 2 at Gulfstream on his last run.
Win For The Money was a surprise winner of the Woodbine Mile in Canada in September and Casse fancies his chances of upsetting the odds again at Gulfstream.
