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Pegasus World Cup Invitations Sent
Author: Clint Goodman
Published: Monday January
06, 2020
Seventeen horses were formally invited Sunday to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1) at Gulfstream Park. At the top of that list is Gary and Mary West's Maximum Security and Fox Hill Farm's Omaha Beach.
The 1 1/8-mile Pegasus is in its fourth running, and past winners include Arrogate (2017), Gun Runner (2018), and City of Light (2019). It will be held on Jan. 25, and the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1T) will take place that day as well.
According to The Stronach Group, the owner of the Pegasus World Cup series, horses in both races will be required to compete without any medications on race day.
The new policy is consistent with the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities standards. Another change is that two percent of the purses will return to Thoroughbred aftercare.
Omaha Beach and Maximum Security
Omaha Beach was shipped from California to Gulfstream Park on New Year's Eve. He is trained by Richard Mandella and will be ridden by Mike Smith.
The son of War Front was the favored horse in the 2019 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) after taking the Arkansas Derby (G1) and Rebel Stakes (G2).
He was scratched three days before the classic due to complications from an entrapped epiglottis.
The 4-year-old colt came back in the fall and scored a victory in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G1). He will enter the Pegasus after winning the Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Dec. 28.
Maximum Security will likely skip over the Pegasus. West said that he has plans to run the colt in the $20 million Saudi Cup in Riyadh Feb. 29. He is trained by Jason Servis at Palm Meadows Training Center.
Other Invitees
The Bob Baffert-trained McKinzie, who recently finished second to Vino Rosso in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), has also been invited. McKinzie's stablemate Roadster could also take part. The 4-year-old colt scored second in the Malibu in his most recent start.
Spun to Run, a 4-year-old son of Hard Spun, took the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. After that, he finished second behind Maximum Security in the Cigar Mile Handicap (G1).
Magic Wand has been invited to the Pegasus World Cup and Pegasus World Cup Turf. He is trained by Aidan O'Brien and based in Ireland.
He finished second in last year's Pegasus Turf, and the 5-year-old mare has run in France, England, the U.S., and Japan. He finished second in the Arlington Million XXXVII last year and is coming off a second-place finish in the Longines Hong Kong Cup in December.
Seeking the Soul will be running in his third Pegasus. The 7-year-old son of Perfect Soul took second in last year's edition and fifth in 2018. He is trained by Dallas Stewart, and they are preparing at Fair Grounds.
Grade/group 1 winners Arklow, Magic Wand, Henley's Joy, Next Shares, Sadler's Joy, and Starship Jubilee are invited to the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf, along with seven other graded stakes winners.
The second edition of the 1 3/16-mile Pegasus Turf for 4-year-olds will be part of a $5.2 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational program. The program includes nine stakes, six graded, led by the Pegasus World Cup on dirt.
The inaugural edition of the Pegasus Turf took place last year, and it was won by Bricks and Mortar. He went on to have a perfect season that set him up as the favorite to earn Eclipse Awards as both male grass champion and Horse of the Year.