Pegasus World Cup: Maximum Security, Roadster, Gift Box No Longer Invitees as Race Undergoes Changes

By Richard Rosenblatt

McKinzie.
Photo by: Zoe Metz

Maximum Security, the disqualified Kentucky Derby first-place finisher, Santa Anita Derby winner Roadster and Santa Anita Handicap winner Gift Box are no longer on the invite list to run in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25.

The Stronach Group, which owns Gulfstream Park, announced Sunday an updated main list of 12 invitees for the World Cup, along with four reserve invitees. The maximum field for the race is 12. New horses on the list include Midcourt (main), Tenfold and Bodexpress (reserve).

Magic Wand has been dropped to the reserve invitees list for the 1 1/8-mile World Cup. The 5-year-old mare remains on the main list of invites for the $1 million World Cup Turf (G1) on the same day.

Upgraded from the World Cup reserve list to the main list are Diamond Oops, True Timber and War Story. Total invites are now 16, down from the original 17.

The post-position draw is Jan. 22.

For now, the main list of invitees is Diamond Oops, Higher Power, Math Wizard, McKinzie, Midcourt, Mr Freeze, likely favorite Omaha Beach, Seeking the Soul, Spun to Run, Tax, True Timber and War Story. The reserve invitees are Mucho Gusto, Magic Wand, Tenfold and Bodexpress.

Bob Baffert – Photo courtesy of NYRA.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has indicated he doesn’t expect McKinzie or Mucho Gusto to run in the World Cup, meaning more changes.

The purse of the World Cup was recently reduced from $9 million last year to $3 million this year.

The World Cup Turf also underwent changes, with Admission Office and Sacred Life moved up from reserve invitee to the main list.

United, Starship Jubilee, A Thread of Blue – all on the original main list — and Lucullan – a reserve invitee — are no longer Turf invites, and new reserve invitees are Synchrony, Tusk and American Tattoo.

The main list for the Turf now includes Admission Office, Arklow, Channel Cat, Henley’s Joy, Instilled Regard, Magic Wand, Mo Forza, Next Shares, Sacred Life, Sadler’s Joy, Without Parole and Zulu Alpha.

The reserve list, reduced from five to four, is Mr. Misunderstood, Synchrony, Tusk and American Tattoo.

Omaha Beach, winner of the Malibu Stakes (G1) is his last start, arrived in South Florida from California on Dec. 31 and has been training well for the World Cup The 4-year-old colt has come on strong after missing the Triple Crown races with a throat ailment, winning two Grade 1’s and finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Top contenders for the 1 3/16th-mile Turf include Arlow, Mo Forza and a trio of Chad Brown-trainees, Sacred Life, Without Parole and Instilled Regard.

 

 Pegasus World Cup 2020 Contenders (Invitees)
The invitations, in alphabetical order (horse, owner, trainer)
Horse Owner Trainer
Diamond Oops Diamond 100 Racing Club, Amy E. Dunne, D P Racing, Patrick Biancone Racing Patrick Biancone
Higher Power Hronis Racing John Sadler
Math Wizard John Fanelli, Khalid Mishref, Cash Is King, LC Racing, Collarmele Vitelli Stables, Ioannis Zoumas, Bassett Stables Michael Maker
McKinzie Karl Watson, Michael Pegram, Paul Weitman Bob Baffert
Midcourt CRK Stable John Shirreffs
Mr Freeze Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister Dale Romans
Omaha Beach Fox Hill Farms Richard Mandella
Seeking the Soul Charles Fipke Dallas Stewart
Spun to Run Robert Donaldson Juan Carlos Guerrero
Tax R.A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch, Corms Racing Stable Danny Gargan
True Timber Calumet Farm Kiaran McLaughlin
War Story Imaginary Stables, Glenn K. Ellis Elizabeth Dobles

 

Reserve invitees in order of preference
Horse Owner Trainer
Mucho Gusto Michael Lund Petersen Bob Baffert
Magic Wand Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Mr. M.J. Jooste Aidan O’Brien
Tenfold Winchell Thoroughbreds Steve Asmussen
Bodexpress Top Racing, Global Thoroughbreds, GDS Racing Stable Gustavo Delgado

 

 

 Pegasus World Cup Turf 2020 Contenders (Invitees)
The invitations, in alphabetical order (horse, owner, trainer)
Horse Owner Trainer
Admission Office Amerman Racing Brian Lynch
Arklow Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger, Peter Coneway Brad Cox
Channel Cat Calumet Farm Todd Pletcher
Henley’s Joy Bloom Racing Stable Michael Maker
Instilled Regard OXO Equine Chad Brown
Magic Wand Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier Aidan O’Brien
Next Shares Debby Baltas, Richard Baltas, Christopher Dunn,
Jules Iavarone, Michael Iavarone, Jerry McClanahan,
Ritchie Robershaw, Mark Taylor
Richard Baltas
Sacred Life Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables, Bethlehem Stables Chad Brown
Sadler’s Joy Woodslane Farm Tom Albertrani
Without Parole John D. Gunther, Tanya Gunther Chad Brown
Zulu Alpha Michael Hui Michael Maker

 

Reserve Invitees in Order of Preference
Horse Owner Trainer
American Tattoo Calumet Farm, John Anthony Stables Todd Pletcher
Mr. Misunderstood Flurry Racing Stables Brad Cox
Synchrony Pin Oak Stable Michael Stidham
Tusk Jordan V. Wycoff Saffie Joseph, Jr.

For more information/tickets: PegasusWorldCup.com