Invitations for Jan. 25 Event Include Two from Pletcher and McGaughey Stables
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Four Grade 1 winners, including Godolphin’s globetrotting star Nations Pride and Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) runner-up Johannes, lead an impressive group of invitees for the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) on Saturday, Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park.
Nations Pride, based in Newmarket, U.K., won two of trainer Charlie Appleby’s 14 graded stakes in North America last year. Winner of the Arlington Million (G1) and Canadian International (G1), Nations Pride is joined by three other Grade 1 winners on the Pegasus World Cup Turf invitation list in Hollywood Derby winner Formidable Man, Shoemaker Mile winner Johannes, and Woodbine Mile victor Win for the Money. Grade 2 winners include Get Smokin, Grand Sonata, Major Dude, Integration, and Mi Hermano Ramon.
The Pegasus World Cup Turf is part of Gulfstream’s innovative Pegasus World Cup Day including the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2).
Since first run in 2019, the Pegasus World Cup Turf has been won by 2019 Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar, two-time Group 1 European winner Warm Heart, and Colonel Liam, who won consecutive Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitationals in 2021-22.
Nations Pride, trained by Charles Appleby, has raced in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Dubai, Bahrain and Canada while winning 10 of 19 starts. Johannes, from the stable of Tim Yakteen, won the Shoemaker (G1) and City of Hope (G2) at Santa Anita and was second last time out in the San Gabriel (G2). Formidable Man, trained by Michael McCarthy, winner of the 2019 Pegasus World Cup Invitational with City of Hope, would enter the Pegasus Turf off victories in the Hollywood Derby and Del Mar Derby (G2). Win for the Money was third Dec. 21 in the Fort Lauderdale (G2) at Gulfstream.
Hall of Fame trainers Todd Pletcher and Shug McGaughey each have two horses on the invitation list. Pletcher, who won consecutive Pegasus World Cup Turf events in 2021-2022 with Colonel Liam, has invitations for Major Dude, winner Dec. 21 of the Fort Lauderdale and Kentucky Turf Cup (G2) winner Grand Sonata, fourth in the Fort Lauderdale.
Red Smith (G2) winner Integration, fifth in last year’s Pegasus World Cup Turf and second behind Nations Pride in the Arlington Million, is one of two horses invited from the barn of McGaughey along with Battle of Normandy, winner last out of the River City (G3).
Others invited include Seabiscuit (G2) winner Mi Hermano Ramon, Dinner Party (G3) winner Balnikhov, and Grade 2 stakes placed Redistricting, from Chad Brown, trainer of 2019 winner and Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar.
There are eight horses on the also-eligible list. Brown has two on the AE in graded stakes-winner Running Bee and stakes winner and New York-bred Spirit of St Louis. McGaughey also has a horse on the AE in Fort Washington, second in the Fort Lauderdale and a winner of the Monmouth Stakes (G3).
Trainer Mike Maker, a two-time winner of the Pegasus World Cup Turf with Atone (2023) and Zulu Alpha (2020), is represented on the AE by Wise Dan (G2) runner-up Chasing the Crown. Graded stakes placed Astronomer, Twilight Derby (G2) winner Atitlan, California Crown John Henry Turf (G2) winner Cabo Spirit and Grade 2 winner Gigante round out the AE.
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The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park – home of The California Crown and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, The Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information email david.joseph@GulfstreamPark.com and visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.