GI Pegasus World Cup

After White Abarrio (Race Day) trounced his competition in an allowance race Friday, his connections started plotting his upcoming schedule, with the GI Pegasus World Cup as the main goal. Normally, the Dec. 21 GIII Harlan's Holiday S. is the main prep for the Pegasus, but co-owner Mark Cornett said he is leaning toward running the soon-to-be 6-year-old instead in the Dec. 28 GIII Prospector S. at Gulfstream. The Mr. Prospector is run at seven furlongs while the Harlan's Holiday is a mile-and-a-sixteenth race. "We will look at the two...

The $5-million 1/ST GRAND 3 Pick 'Em Challenge reopened Thursday for fans to make their selections in the GI California Crown. The 1/ST GRAND 3 Pick 'Em Challenge will close at 7:40 p.m. ET on Sept. 28, prior to the post time for The California Crown. Five entries who correctly submitted the top four finishers from GI Preakness 149, remain eligible for the $5 million-dollar grand prize. The $5 million grand prize will only be awarded if one of the five remaining entries pick the top four finishers in order...

The upcoming entertainment roster for the inaugural California Crown will include VIP area trackside performances including Griffin, Lil Yachty, Shaboozey, Frank Walker and Zack Bia. Tickets for the event, which will take place at Santa Anita Park Sept. 28, are available at www.californiacrown.com. The California Crown marks the second race in 1/ST's Grand 3 $25-million racing and incentive series connecting the GI Preakness, The California Crown and the 2025 GI Pegasus World Cup. The California Crown race day will offer $3,000,000 in purses, including the $1,000,000 GI California Crown, replacing...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY -- When Hillwood Stable's Post Time (Frosted) blossomed this year, trainer Brittany Russell began the normal process of testing him in tougher races. Each time, he proved to be up to the task, leading the Maryland-bred to the biggest challenge of his career in the 131st GI Metropolitan H. Saturday at Saratoga Race Course. Post Time drew Post 3 in the field of six led by GI Breeders Cup Classic and GI Whitney S. winner White Abarrio (Race Day) and GI Pegasus World Cup and GI Preakness...

GI Pegasus World Cup runner up Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) got in his final Gulfstream preparation Sunday ahead of an expected start in the G1 Saudi Cup. The release noted that the 6-year-old worked four furlongs in :50.41 under jockey Junior Alvarado who will be aboard the Todd Fincher runner for the Saudi Cup as well. "It went just the way Todd and I wanted," said Alvarado. "He went out there and stretched his legs. We wanted to keep him happy. He went around the track very happy, enjoying his workout...

Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro--Dance Card, by Tapit), the half-brother to Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin), will stand the 2024 breeding season in Maryland at Northview Stallion Station for a fee of $5,000, the farm announced Monday. The 8-year-old MGSW, who retired after an injury while in training towards the GI Pegasus World Cup, last started in the GIII Steve Sexton Mile and finished his career with earnings of $970,133 and a record of 36-7-8-5. "Endorsed has been on our radar for quite some time and we're thrilled to present...

When the IEAH stable partnership closed down in 2013, it seemed like the sport had seen the last of its founder, Michael Iavarone. But after four years on the sidelines Iavarone returned as the solo owner of a small group of horses in 2017. Since, he has built his stable into a top outfit, as evidenced by the fact that he will have a starter in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational in O'Connor (Chi) (Boboman) and in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational in Master Piece (Chi) (Mastercraftsman...

1/ST, owned by the Stronach Group, will partner with Equine MediRecord (EMR) to digitize equine welfare protocols for this year's running of the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park Jan. 27, the Irish technology company said in a release Thursday morning. The added measure will enhance the stringent equine health and safety protocols, and make the process even easier as EMR representatives will be onsite to help log each horse's information into their system. The platform allows for the full veterinary history of the horse to be collected digitally and...

Gulfstream Park's Championship Meet--featuring the $3 million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational and $1 million GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Jan. 27 and $1 million GI Curlin Florida Derby March 30--will offer 68 stakes in 2023-2024 with total purses of $14.875 million, the track said in a press release Thursday. The Championship Meet, which includes racing over a new turf course, will begin Friday, Dec. 1 and conclude Sunday, Mar. 31. The Pegasus World Cup Day program will feature eight stakes, seven of which have been granted graded status.

Art Collector (Bernardini), a winner of eight stakes, including the 2023 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational and the 2021 GI Woodward S., was euthanized Thursday in Saratoga after developing laminitis. Horse Racing Nation was first with the story. "This was sudden and a tough experience for me and my wife," said owner-breeder Bruce Lunsford. "I can summarize this pretty easily. He gave me my highest highs in this business and now my lowest low. That's as simple as I can put it. He will be in my brain and my...

Bruce Lunsford joined this week's TDN Writers' Room to celebrate the win by his homebred Art Collector (Bernardini) in the GI Pegasus World Cup S.

Bruce Lunsford homebred Art Collector (Bernardini) sat the trip beneath Junior Alvarado and sprung a 15-1 upset in Saturday's $3-million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. at Gulfstream. California invader Defunded (Dialed In), winner of last fall's GI Awesome Again S. and off as the 5-2 second choice, was 4 1/2 lengths back in second. Pacesetter Stilleto Boy (Shackleford) stayed on for third, the same position he filled in last year's renewal. Alvarado, who rode the Bill Mott-trained Olympiad (Speightstown) to four graded-stakes victories and a runner-up finish behind Flightline...