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North American Breeders’ Cup Winners Offered Free Travel To Pegasus World Cup

Gulfstream Park announced Tuesday that North American-based winners of this weekend's Breeders' Cup World Championships will be offered complimentary equine travel to Gulfstream to compete in the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series.

The $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) for 4-year-olds and up and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) for 4-year-olds and up will be contested on Saturday, Jan. 23.

Winners of the Pegasus World Cup and Pegasus World Cup Turf will also have guaranteed spots in the starting gate of the Saudi Cup Feb 20.

Entering its fifth year, the Pegasus World Cup Championship Series has continued to attract the sport's biggest stars including champions Gun Runner, Arrogato and California Chrome as well as 2019 winner City of Light and international sensations Aerolithe, Kukulkan and Magic Wand. The race has also brought out stars from film, music and fashion including Jennifer Lopez, Post Malone, Snoop Dogg, Olivia Culpo, Usher, Vanessa Hudgens, Lenny Kravitz, Pharrell and Bella Thorne.

Pegasus World Cup Day will feature a total of seven stakes, all graded, worth $4.8 million.

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Pegasus Series Races To Offer Guaranteed Spots In Saudi Cup Day Events

The winners of four Graded races in the USA and Japan will be guaranteed spots in three Saudi Cup Day races, following an announcement made Friday by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA).

The Grade 1 $3m Pegasus World Cup, set to be run on dirt at Florida's Gulfstream Park on Jan. 23, 2021, once again offers its winner a confirmed place in the $20m Saudi Cup starting gate.

In 2020 the Pegasus top spot was taken by Saudi owner HRH Prince Faisal Bin Khalid Al Saud's Mucho Gusto, trained by US Hall of Famer, Bob Baffert. A popular competitor among the home crowds at King Abdulaziz Racecourse during Saudi Cup week a month later, Mucho Gusto finished fourth in the big race under US-based jockey, Irad Ortiz, earning $1.5m for connections.

Taking the Saudi Cup's association with Gulfstream Park and the prestigious Pegasus Series one step further in 2021 is the addition of the Grade 1 $1m Pegasus World Cup Turf as a qualifying race for the $1m Middle Distance Turf Handicap on Saudi Cup Day.

In 2020 this became the first turf race to be staged in Saudi history and took place on the purpose-built grass track. The win went to Port Lions trained in Bahrain by Fawzi Nass and ridden by Dutchman, Adrie de Vries.

Tom Ryan, the JCSA's Director of Strategy and International Racing said: “The Pegasus races have consistently attracted the best horses in the USA since they were established in 2017 and this is exactly the caliber of runner we want to continue to welcome to Riyadh for Saudi Cup on both the dirt and turf tracks.

“Nurturing an ongoing alliance between the Saudi Cup and established races with global followings such as the Pegasus World Cup and Pegasus World Cup Turf is key to our continued growth and development on the international racing stage.”

Craig Fravel, CEO of Racing Operations, The Stronach Group, the company behind the Pegasus World Cup said: “The Stronach Group is delighted that the winners of the 2021 Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series races will be invited to participate in Saudi Cup Day.

“In four short years, the Pegasus World Cup has become one of sport's most exciting experiences and one of Thoroughbred racing's most pivotal events, bringing together the world's best racehorses. Races like the Pegasus World Cup and Saudi Cup encourage international competition and promote our sport to fans across the globe.”

The JCSA has also worked with the Japan Racing Association (JRA) to establish the Grade 1 $1.96m Champions Cup held over 1800m on dirt at Chukyo Racecourse on December 6, as a second qualifying race for the Saudi Cup.

In addition, the 1200m Grade 3 Capella Stakes, on December 13 at Nakayama Racecourse, which carries a purse of $703,000, has been announced as a qualifying race for the $1.5m Riyadh Dirt Sprint over the same distance on Saudi Cup Day.

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Prominent Japanese trainer, Hideyuki Mori, who campaigned Full Flat to victory in the 2020 Saudi Derby on Saudi Cup Day welcomed the news: “It is exciting news to hear that Champions Cup and Capella Stakes are appointed as qualifying races for the Saudi Cup and the Riyadh Sprint,” he said. “It is the tendency that the rating of Japanese dirt horses are lower than turf horses and therefore we need these kind of races in Japan.

“I have just decided to withdraw Matera Sky from Breeders Cup to save him for the Riyadh Dirt Sprint and look forward to visiting Saudi again in February.”

Ryan said: “We are very excited to be able to announce these two high quality Japanese races as providing a guaranteed place to the Saudi Cup starting gate and the Riyadh Dirt Sprint respectively.

“The first two finishers in the 2019 Champions Cup, Chrysoberyl and Gold Dream came to Saudi Cup in 2020 proving an already established route for top class runners between the two races and the two jurisdictions.

“We are keen to encourage more international runners across all our races, not just the marquee Saudi Cup event, and so feel our association with this strong sprint in Japan is an important step for us as we build on the successes of year one.”

Adding to the international flavour across Saudi Cup weekend is the introduction of the $500,000 Saudi International Handicap, a race for horses from Part II and Part III racing countries as designated by the IFHA's Blue Book.

The Handicap will be held on Friday February 19, 2021, the day before Saudi Cup for horses rated 85-110.

“We are keen to provide as much interest and excitement across Saudi Cup weekend as possible for all our connections and also race fans,” said Ryan. “We had a good start in year one but we will continue looking at ways to evolve our race days and support worldwide horse racing. With the Saudi International Handicap we wanted to offer a global stage, to horses and connections that may not normally have this access, backed up by attractive prize money.”

The second renewal of Saudi Cup weekend will take place on Friday February 19 and Saturday February 20 2021 and the JCSA will announce any decisions regarding access to the event relating to Covid-19 restrictions at the earliest possible stage.

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Loutsch Hopes ‘The Old Dennis’ Is Back In Time For Pegasus World Cup

Dennis' Moment was given a break from racing after the 3-year-old finished tenth in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes on Feb. 29, when a veterinary exam revealed bone bruising. According to Horse Racing Nation, the Tiznow colt has returned to training at the barn of Dale Romans.

Equibase reveals that Dennis' Moment has breezed at Churchill Downs three times since his return, the latest a half-mile move in 48 seconds on Oct. 10. Jason Loutsch, racing manager for the Albaugh Family Stables, said Dennis' Moment could be pointed to the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park.

“We elected to make the right decision, always take care of the horse first, and give him some time off. Hopefully, the bone bruising is gone now and he comes back and is the old Dennis,” Loutsch told Horse Racing Nation.

Dennis' Moment has been a favorite of Romans' since prior his debut on June 23, 2019, in which he clipped heels and unseated jockey Robby Albarado. The colt rebounded with a 19 1/2-length triumph at Ellis Park on July 27, then set a stakes record when geared down to win the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes on Sept. 14.

Sent off as the favorite for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Dennis' Moment went to his knees at the start and never recovered, finishing last in the eight-horse field. The bone bruising seems to be to blame for the colt's poor performance in the Fountain of Youth, but Loutsch believes Dennis' Moment can come back to have a strong 4-year-old campaign.

“Absolutely, he's that kind of horse,” Loutsch said. “If he continues to feel good and go forward, there is no reason to think he can't compete at that level.”

Pegasus World Cup, Florida Derby Highlight 2019-2020 Championship Meet At Gulfstream Park

The Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, which has evolved into one of sport's most exciting and prestigious days, and the Florida Derby, producer of an amazing 60 Triple Crown race winners, will highlight Gulfstream Park's 2020-2021 Championship Meet that begins Wednesday, Dec. 2.

Having attracted the world's top horses and horsemen since 1939, Gulfstream's Championship Meet will offer a total of 75 stakes, including 41 graded-stakes, worth $13.06 million in purses.

Entering its fifth year, the Pegasus World Cup Championship Series has continued to attract the sport's biggest stars including champions Arrogate, Gun Runner and California Chrome as well as 2019 winner City of Light and international sensations Aerolithe, Kukulkan and Magic Wand. The race has also brought out stars from film, music and fashion including Jennifer Lopez, Post Malone, Snoop Dogg, Olivia Culpo, Usher, Vanessa Hudgens, Lenny Kravitz, Pharrell and Bella Thorne.

Pegasus World Cup Day falls on Jan. 23, 2021 and will feature a total of seven stakes, all graded, worth $4.8 million led by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) for 4-year-olds and up going 1 3/16 miles on the grass.

Gun Runner, Horse of the Year in 2017; 2014 and 2016 Horse of the Year California Chrome; 2016 Longines World's Best Racehorse Arrogate, the champion 3-year-old colt of 2016; and Mexico's undefeated Triple Crown champion Kukulkan are among the prominent horses that have competed in the Pegasus World Cup since its 2017 debut.

The Pegasus World Cup Turf saw its inaugural winner Bricks and Mortar go on to complete an undefeated 2019 season and be named both champion turf male and Horse of the Year. Irish star Magic Wand, a multiple group stakes winner of nearly $5 million in purses, has finished second in both years of the event.

Florida Derby Day will take place March 27, 2021 anchored by the $800,000 Florida Derby (G1), the country's leading classic prep race that has produced 45 starters that have gone on to win 60 Triple Crown events, a list that grew when 2020 winner Tiz the Law captured the Belmont Stakes (G1) in June.

The 1 1/8-mile Derby for 3-year-olds highlights a day of 10 stakes, six graded, worth $1.95 million in purses. Among the graded events is the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), the Derby's 3-year-old filly counterpart, won in 2020 by Swiss Skydiver, who became only the sixth filly in history to capture the Preakness Stakes (G1) Oct. 3.

The Derby is the culmination of a rich and diverse stakes schedule for 3-year-olds during the Championship Meet that kicks off with the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Jan. 2 and continues with the $200,000 Holy Bull (G3) and $100,000 Swale (G3) Jan. 30, $350,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) Feb. 27, and $100,000 Hutcheson (G3) March 6.

Tiz the Law launched his sophomore season in the Holy Bull, a race that has produced a number of Grade 1 winners including Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby (G1) winners Always Dreaming (2017) and Barbaro (2016); Florida Derby winners Audible (2018), Dialed In (2011), Friends Lake (2004) and Harlan's Holiday (2002); as well as Grade 1 winners Jackson Bend, Editor's Note and Keen Ice.

Kentucky Derby and Florida Derby winners Orb (2013), Thunder Gulch (1995), Spectacular Bid (1979) and Tim Tam (1958) are among dozens of horses that have gone on to further graded success through the history of the Fountain of Youth, celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2021.

Sophomore fillies also have a lucrative series on dirt to target, anchored by the Gulfstream Park Oaks and preceded by the $100,000 Cash Run Jan. 1, $100,000 Glitter Woman Jan. 2, $100,000 Forward Gal (G3) Jan. 30 and $200,000 Davona Dale (G2) Feb. 27.

Gulfstream's 3-year-old turf stakes include the $100,000 Kitten's Joy (G3) and $100,000 Sweetest Chant (G3) Jan. 30, $100,000 Palm Beach (G3) and $100,000 Herecomesthebride (G3) Feb. 27, and $100,000 Cutler Bay and $100,000 Sanibel Island March 27.

Among the major events scheduled for Gulfstream's world-class turf course are the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2) Dec. 12, $100,000 Tropical Turf (G3) Jan. 9, $150,000 W. L. McKnight (G3) Jan. 23, $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3) Feb. 13, $200,000 Mac Diarmida (G2) and $150,000 Canadian Turf (G3) Feb. 27, and $200,000 Pan American (G2) and $100,000 Appleton (G3) March 27.

Graded turf stakes for older fillies and mares include the $150,000 Marshua's River (G3) and $150,000 La Prevoyante (G3) Jan. 23, $100,000 Suwannee River (G3) Feb. 6, $150,000 Honey Fox (G3) and $150,000 The Very One (G3) Feb. 27, and $100,000 Orchid (G3) March 27.

For the ninth consecutive year, Gulfstream will play host to the $835,000 Claiming Crown on the Championship Meet's opening Saturday, Dec. 5. The Claiming Crown, comprised of nine stakes races featuring the blue-collar horses that are the backbone of the racing industry, is highlighted by the $200,000 Jewel.

Florida-breds will be in the spotlight once again Jan. 16 with the $400,000 Sunshine Millions Day program featuring the $100,000 Sunshine Millions Classic, which has produced such horses as Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Mucho Macho Man, multiple Grade 1 winner Lava Man and the popular 16-time career winner Best of the Rest.

The Championship Meet stakes schedule can be viewed at: gulfstreampark.com/championship-meet.

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