Happy Pegasus Day! 

Gulfstream Park hosts the first big day of racing of the year headlined by the $3 million Pegasus Invitational. Also on the card is the former Le Prevoyante Stakes which has been renamed for the late, great Christophe Clement. It’s a fitting honor given that Clement won the race six times. He should already be in the Hall of Fame – hopefully that honor comes soon, albeit posthumously.  

Trivia Question: Which jockey has won the most Pegasus World Cups Invitational Stakes? 

Race 12  The Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational  Stakes – Grade I 

One Mile and a Furlong on the Turf for Four Year Olds and Upward  

1. Test Score:Was consistent against three year olds hitting the board in seven of eight starts with three stakes wins including the Grade I Belmont Derby. Last out in the Hollywood Derby he finished third after being blocked (85 Beyer). Water is too deep today. 
2. Program Trading:First off a year plus layoff he just missed in the Bernard Baruch (98 Beyer) and then was second in the Turf Mile (99 Beyer). That led to a start in the BC Mile where he rode the rail but was blocked and finished 10th. He’s the class of the field and you get Prat. Underlay at the ML price. Pass for top spot given the likely price. Logical favorite. 
3. Beach Gold:Prepped for this race locally in the Ft. Lauderdale and was a decent third but was no match for Wolfie’s Dynaghost (95 Beyer). That was his first nine furlong race. Would be a surprise but could get a piece with a repeat performance. Don’t see it. 
4. One Stripe:South African bred didn’t show much in either the Woodbine Mile (91 Beyer) or the BC Mile but did come back in a conditioned allowance race in December and won handily (94 Beyer) for the Motion barn. South African jockey ships into ride. Is he a Grade I type? 
5. Almendares:Seemingly over his head today as he hasn’t won an open company race in over two years. Most recently in the Seabiscuit he was fifth in a blanket finish (93 Beyer). Lacks the late pop you need to win graded turf stakes. Passing. 
6. Call Sign Seven:Won the Seabiscuit first off an eight month layoff as he shot through at the opening of the rail at the turf chute (94 Beyer). Five year old has only made it to the track six times but he does show improvement. Dangerous with a move forward. 
7. Major Dude:Won twice from three starts at today’s distance although he has primarily gone shorter. He was decent going eleven furlongs in the United Nations last summer. Won the Artie Shiller going a mile (90 Beyer) last out. Irad is up and should get a nice set up. Hits the board. 
8. Cabo Spirit:Nice win in the San Gabriel as he took them all the way (97 Beyer). That’s his typical style – go to the front and play “come and catch me”. If he gets comfortable on the front end he could surprise. Lean against. 
9. Chasing the Crown:Preppedin the Ft. Lauderdale but was outrun in the lane (94 Beyer). Came from the back of the pack in this race last year to finish a strong third. Better going a bit shorter. Bottom side of gimmicks.  
10. Cugino:Won both the Red Bank and Grade III Red Smith (94 Beyer) last Fall. In the Ft. Lauderdale he was a good second but couldn’t catch Wolfie’s Dynaghost (99 Beyer). He’s tactical and should stalk the speed drawn to his inside but will need to get into position from this post. Johnny V had other mounts to choose from and stayed here for Shug. The Pick. 
11. Astronomer:SoCal invader just missed in the Seabiscuit two back (93 Beyer) and then was a second behind Cabo Spirit in the San Gabriel as he got a clear run but hung (94 Beyer). He often hits the board but hasn’t won a race in over two years. Passing.  
12. Fort Washington:Two back he won the Arlington Million with a good late kick (99 Beyer). Was a close up fifth in this race last year after being wide. Should drop out the back from this tough post. Will need a pace collapse. Could fill out a super. 
13. Balnikhov(AE): Cross Entered in the Wiliam McKnight and runs here off a troubled trip in the Hollywood Turf Cup (81 Beyer). Hasn’t won a graded stakes race since May 2024. Passing. 

Picks 10-7-2-6 

Race 13 The Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes – Grade I 

One Mile and a Furlong on the Dirt for Four Year Olds and Upward   

1. Disco Time:Was off for six months after being injured in winning the Lecomte last year but easily won the St. Louis Derby (101 Beyer) on return. Then in the Dwyer he dominated a short field earning a 107 Beyer to remain undefeated. Draws the rail and should be forward, where the pace might get hot. There are questions as he faces older horses for the first time and he’ll need to get away clean from the rail. Prat takes over for Geroux. Faces much tougher today. Possible. 
2. British Isles:Primarily a turf allowance horse but runs here after a second in the Native Diver at Del Mar on dirt (95 Beyer). Lasix came off for that race. Major class test today. Passing. 
3. Full Serrano:Competes here after a fifth place in the 2025 BC Dirt Mile where he couldn’t handle Nysos and Citizen’s Bull (85 Beyer). Normally is on the pace but faces a lot of other speed today. Can’t see it. 
4. Banishing:Runs here off a decent second in the Ring The Bell where he couldn’t get by the leader (98 Beyer). Decent going two turns although he has primarily been sprinting. Last win was in the Charlestown Classic (97 Beyer) – not sure that form will translate here. Not today. 
5. Skippylongstocking:Won the Harlan’s Holiday last month and outdueled Poster after being in traffic (92 Beyer). That was off a four month layoff and maybe it reset the clock for this one who wasn’t going in the right direction last Summer. Race flow should suit as he should be able to sit in behind the speed. Finished third in this race last year. Gets a piece. 
6. MadakatRoad: Latest effort was in the seven furling Malibu where he was setting the pace but was no match for the top ones. Still eligible for the N1X condition. Not sure how he pulls this off, but it’s Baffert soooo…. Looking elsewhere. 
7. Tappan Street:Won last year’s Florida Derby and then suffered a fracture while training for the Kentucky Derby. Made a winning return by beating conditioned claimers going a mile (90 Beyer) over this surface. Will need an improvement second off the layoff, but he likes two turns and the distance suits. Workout reports are super positive off the comeback race. The Pick. 
8. Poster:Eoin Harty trainee comes here after a narrow loss to Skippylongstocking in the Harlan’s Holiday after a great stretch duel (92 Beyer) as he tried to go last to first. Blinkers go ON. Not fast enough. 
9. CaptainCook: Looked promising a year ago winning the Withers but hasn’t won in five starts since but did just miss in the Jerkens (103 Beyer). Showed promise at two turns. Exotics. 
10. Mika:Was strong in the Cigar Mile as he got loose on the lead but was caught at the wire (106 Beyer). Lasix came off for that race. Same front end tactics two back resulted in a win (100 Beyer) in an N1X race. He will be sent from this post. Can he get nine furlongs against this group where the pace should be strong. Passing. 
11. WhiteAbarrio: Defending champ hasn’t raced since August in the Jockey Gold Cup when he was interfered with shortly after the break. The was a late vet scratch from the BC Mile, but the connections assert he was sound. Trained up to this race rather than using a prep race – and only has three works, the last one wasn’t great. Can be fantastic but he is mercurial. Loves Gulfstream, but he’ll be an underlay. Pass. 
12. BrothaKeny: In November he went last to first to win the listed Zia Derby. Hit the board in two graded stakes attempts last year but wasn’t a threat. Dirt Beyer top is 93, not fast enough. 
13. Lightning Tones(AE):Locally based gelding won the state bred Sunshine Classic two weeks ago with a stalk and pounce move (90 Beyer). Don’t see it. 
14. Catalytic(AE):Cross entered in the Fred Hooper. If he goes – here he will be 50-1, and even that’s too short a price.  

Picks 7-5-1-9 

Trivia Answer: Irad Ortiz has won the Pegasus Invitational three times in its brief history.