The sixth annual Pegasus World Cup is making its way back to Gulfstream Park this winter. The highly anticipated and prestigious horse race will take place on January 29, 2022.
The Pegasus World Cup brings together all of Miami’s highest qualities from weather, fanbase, sport, celebrity appearances and much more. Since 2017, this annual event has been one of the most anticipated to see and be seen.
The event is so much more than just horseracing, with world-class performances, food and beverage. This year’s post-race performances have yet to be announced but past acts have included Nelly, T-Pain, Snoop Dogg, Mark Ronson, Post Malone and Thomas Rhett.
Horseracing, style and entertainment are at the epicenter of this event.
Last year’s Pegasus World Cup winners included Knicks Go as the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Champion and Colonel Liam as the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) Champion.
Past ticket holders are able to purchase tickets through October 31. New guests are now able to receive an access code to purchase pre-sale tickets starting on November 1. Tickets will be available to the public starting on November 8.
Tickets range in price, with the South Beach ticket for $79, the Trackside Experience for $79 – $525, the Carousel Club general admission $150 and VIP tables starting at $5,000, the Flamingo Room starting at $600, the Ten Palms from $500 – $1,250 and Luxury Suites and Ultra VIP packages ranging from $25,000 to $50,000.
Gulfstream Park is a world-class facility featuring a fully equipped race track, casino, shopping and dining experiences located in Hallandale Beach.
Be sure to check out their official website pegasusworldcup.com for all ticketing information.
Thoroughbred horse racing is one of the oldest sporting events in America. The Preakness Stakes was founded in 1873, held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The race is one leg of the prestigious American Triple Crown. Belinda Stronach, Chairman, CEO & President of 1/ST, owner of the prestigious Preakness Stakes, speaks about her leadership and vision to transform this nearly 150-year-old sporting entertainment to attract and thrive with the next generation.
Angela Chan: Tell us about the early stages of your career.
Belinda Stronach: I began my career at Magna International Inc., a company that was founded by my father, Frank Stronach, in 1957. Magna is one of the largest suppliers of automotive systems and components globally, with more than 120,000 employees in 29 countries and over $30 billion in annual sales.
While it may sound like an easy street to work for your father, it was anything but and a different kind of challenge. Growing up, so to speak, in a family business, you encounter other impediments. I remember talking to a women’s business group more than a decade ago and describing not facing the glass ceiling but also the “family ceiling.” Those hard-to-quantify criteria you had to meet for success and promotion. I was shocked at the number of women who came up to me after, who worked in family businesses and said it perfectly described their situation.
I left Magna in 2011 after having served as Executive Vice-Chairman. While at Magna, I also served on the Board of Directors and as the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. I am proud that under my leadership, the company had record sales and profits each year, and its stock price nearly doubled in value. I experienced first-hand the harsh lessons of the global competitive challenge to Canadian businesses and served on the Ontario Task Force on Productivity, Competitiveness, and Economic Progress.
I have always been a big believer in the importance of public service. A healthy democracy needs people to have real choices. So, with that in mind, I jumped into the race to become the leader of one of Canada’s main political parties. Admittedly, people thought I was crazy at the time, but I worked hard and had a message that resonated, especially with young professional women. I didn’t win that race, but I came in a healthy second, which sent shock waves through the political establishment. Talk about a “male-dominated” world.
Florida’s Gulfstream Park was home to the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series celebrating its fifth year, hosting celebrities and racing enthusiasts alike. And while the race track only welcomed 15% of its typical capacity in a socially distant setting, Belinda Stronach, the woman behind the iconic thoroughbred race, was simply happy the show could go on after an extraordinarily challenging year.
Now, for those who don’t frequent the racing circuit, Pegasus isn’t your average fête. “Most horse races are like a lovely home in the suburbs,” Belinda Stronach cleverly explains. “And the Pegasus World Cup is like a sexy penthouse on the beach in Miami.” Pegasus truly fuses the best of food, fashion and entertainment through the Magic City lens, and it’s the official kick-off for the rest of the year’s racing calendar.
“Pegasus is everything in the mix,” Stronach describes. “Guests are rubbing shoulders with celebrities, experiencing food from some of the best restaurants in Miami, and the fashion is, I would say, less traditional than Kentucky Derby. It’s very colorful and people get very creative. So, it’s a mix of everything that ends up being a whole lot of fun — and that’s the heart of it. We’re witnessing the most competitive horse racing, and in a short while it’s become very much an event that people look forward to on the racing calendar.”
This year, 1/ST teamed up with Dave Grutman — Miami’s hospitality guru — to create the Pegasus Swan Garden pop-up, offering guests an exclusive VIP experience with a Tulum take on Grutman’s Design District eatery, Swan. “We wanted to highlight our new concepts and, of course, our legacy restaurants,” Grutman shared, nodding to Winker’s Diner, Sushi Fly Chicken, and Toothfairy — three forthcoming restaurants that will be housed beneath the historic Firestone sign that has welcomed motorists to Miami Beach since the 1930s. “To be part of this incredible race is amazing for us.” 1/ST also teamed up with Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster Overtown to curate a menu of Southern classics and elevated sips for the racing connections in Gulfstream Park’s Flamingo Room.
“First and foremost, our goal as an organization around the core business of horse racing is really to modernize and reenergize the guest experience, and attract a new diverse fan base,” said Jimmy Vargas, executive vice president of entertainment for 1/ST. “Pegasus is the incubator of all our work and in my opinion, it has taken the South Florida social calendar by storm.”
The race’s star-studded attendees counted rapper Tyga, models Jasmine Sanders and Isabela Rangel Grutman, NBA all-star Amar’e Stoudemire, NHL Hall of Famer Denis Savard, artist Bradley Theodore, Jonathan Cheban, and more, as their fashionable spectators. The glitterati sauntered between the Swan Garden and edge of the race track while occasionally stopping to dance to DJ Kiss’ tunes. The day capped with a live performance by Aloe Blacc.
Even with a fraction of its standard capacity, the handle for the 2021 Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series topped $40.7 million, which is the third-highest handle in the race’s history. The success was due in part to the 1/ST BET app, which uses AI-technology to deliver a mobile wagering experience suitable that’s user-friendly and also COVID-friendly by eliminating face-to-face transactions. Though, the win above all, is that Belinda Stronach and her team proved that they could keep the racing ecosystem going while ensuring everyone’s health and safety.
KNICKS GO is the superstar racehorse who can count stunning swimsuit model Golden Barbie among his growing army of fans.
And he is a money-making machine for owners – who could net £15MILLION from him in his next two races.
Supermodel Jasmine Sanders – known as Golden Barbie – was among the A-listers at last weekend’s Pegasus World Cup to see the five-year-old horse win the £2.2million feature race.
In fact, ‘win’ doesn’t do Knicks Go’s performance justice.
This equine beast – a 6-5 favourite – routed his rivals, easing towards the finish line under a superb ride from Joel Rosario.
Sanders, a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model with 4.1million Instagram followers, was on hand to see him claim first place.
And stunning Brazilian beauty Isabela Grutman joined her mate for a day out at the races.
Kylie Jenner’s ex, rapper Tyga, was also at Gulfstream Park in Florida, US, to see Knicks Go in the flesh.
Can any other racehorse in the world today lay claim to such a star-studded fanbase?
Brad Cox is the trainer who has turned Knicks Go into arguably the world’s greatest runner.
Incredibly, the horse did not win a single race in 2019.
The horse found his form after being transferred to Cox’s stable last year.
But while Cox has got the best out of the horse, it is the Korea Racing Authority who are set to earn mega bucks from him.
Victory in the Pegasus World Cup has earned Knicks Go an automatic starting spot in the world’s richest race.
The £14.6m Saudi Cup – run over 1m1f – takes place in Riyadh on February 20 with the winner getting around £10m.
Knicks Go could then travel to the 1m2f Dubai World Cup in Meydan on March 27.
The winner of that race is expected to pocket just over £5m.
Victory in both of those will mean a cool £15m windfall for his owners.
Speaking of Knicks Go’s amazing rise and his win in the Pegasus, Cox said: “Great horses do great things, and he did something great.
“We’ve had some horses we’ve claimed who have won stakes races, but I haven’t seen anything like this.
“I wish I could say why it happened, but I don’t know what was happening before.
“He was great at two and looked like a good horse when we got him.”
Off to the races! Celebrities flocked to the 5th running of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series held at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida, on Saturday, January 23.
Tyga, six-time NBA All-Star Player and NBA’s Brooklyn Nets assistant coach Amar’e Stoudemire, NHL Hall of Famer Denis Savard, artist and former NFL player Brian Poli-Dixon, Sports Illustrated model Jasmine Sanders, Groot Hospitality founder David Grutman and model Isabela Rangel Grutman were some of the stars in attendance for the horse race.
“The 2021 Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series was held under much different circumstances than all those that have come before it, but it did not disappoint,” 1/ST chairman and president Belinda Stronach said. “Today, thanks to the cooperation of the horsemen, our many partners, guests in attendance and the 1/ST team, the Pegasus World Cup successfully blended a day of safe, world-class thoroughbred horse racing with a socially distant entertainment experience setting a new standard for events in our sport during the COVID-19 era.”
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, 1/ST helped transform Gulfstream Park into a socially distant entertainment experience by accommodating 1,500 fans at 15 percent of the average Pegasus World Cup capacity. COVID-19 safety measures were implemented for both spectators and riders. Guests’ temperatures were checked by thermal sensing cameras at all entrances and masks were required. Public spaces were regularly sanitized, and cashless wagering done via the 1/ST BET app since the handling of currency was eliminated.
Guests were treated to the socially distant Pegasus Swan Garden pop-up, courtesy of 1/ST and Groot Hospitality, which featured an exclusive VIP experience in a “Tulum meets Swan” setting. 1/ST also collaborated with Miami’s Red Rooster Overtown to curate a menu of Southern classics as well as elevated drinks at the Gulfstream Park’s Flamingo Room. Guests were also able to cool down with beverages from Notorious Pink Rosé, Evian Natural Spring Water and Ferraelle Naturally Sparkling Water.
Musical performances took place throughout the event at the track and off-site. At Gulfstream Park, Miami-born America’s Got Talent semi-finalist Yoli Mayor performed the national anthem. Taylor Semple, a.k.a. DJ Kiss, provided beats trackside at the Pegasus Swan Garden. Aloe Blacc also appeared as part of NBC’s Pegasus World Cup in-broadcast performance, singing live from the Red Rooster Overtown as a tribute to Miami’s diverse and vibrant culture. The 42-year-old crooner sang hits like “I Need a Dollar,” “The Man” and “Wake Me Up.”
The $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational race was won by Colonel Liam, who was ridden by the Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. The horse is owned by Robert and Lawana Low and was trained by Todd Pletcher.
The $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational race was won by Knicks Go, who is owned by Korea Racing Authority and was ridden by award-winning jockey Joel Rosario and trained by Brad Cox. Knicks Go also gained an automatic entry in the 2021 $20 million Saudi Cup race.
Stronach presented the winning owners of the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational and Pegasus World Cup Invitational with crystal Pegasus trophies provided by Baccara, the event’s official trophy partner. The winning trainers and jockeys from the Pegasus World Cup Championship Series races were presented with championship rings designed by local Miami jeweler, BooDaddy Diamonds.
Even though the event space was only open at 15 percent capacity, total handle for the 2021 Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series topped $40.7 million, which is the third-highest handle in the race’s history. The success was due in part to the 1/ST BET app, which uses AI-technology to deliver a user-friendly mobile wagering experience suitable for everyone.
The 2021 Pegasus World Cup Invitational and Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational boasts a medication-free format that is consistent with the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities (IFHA) standards. It reflects the commitment that 1/ST made in April 2019 to eliminate Lasix in all graded stakes races in 2021.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the premier horse racing event in Southern Florida nevertheless took place on Saturday in Hallandale Beach, just north of Miami.
Headlining the guest list at the 2021 Pegasus World Cup was none other than model Jasmine Sanders, who wowed in a showy white outfit.
The runway star, 29, was sublime in a Jacquemus gown, which featured a high slit and cinching at the hip.
Gorgeous for the races: Headlining the guest list at the 2021 Pegasus World Cup on Saturday was none other than model Jasmine Sanders, who wowed in a showy white outfit
The bust of Jasmine‘s garment was also beautifully draped, with straps on her shoulders and either side allowing for a plunging back.
The blonde starlet had her blonde curls up underneath a matching cream fedora, with ringlets partially covering one side of her face.
She carried a small metallic golden purse.
Sanders wore nude mesh heels on her feet. Jasmine Sanders stuns in white gown ahead of horse racing event
Sublime: The runway star, 29, was sublime in a Jacquemus gown, which featured a high slit and cinching at the hip
Cute and chic: The blonde starlet had her blonde curls up underneath a matching cream fedora, with ringlets partially covering one side of her face
Jasmine Sanders attended the 2021 Pegasus World Cup Championship and, for the occasion, the model otherwise known as the Golden Barbie was turned out in an off-white linen dress.
It’s a perfect elegant choice for the event, as this dress features an asymmetrical hem, ruching details and a gorgeous backless silhouette. Add some Bottega Veneta mesh heels and you’ve nailed Jasmine’s look. Click right to make it yours.
Her manicure was blue, and she applied very light makeup including a nude matte lip.
Her jewelry was similarly sparse, with a few bracelets and rings as well as a solitary delicate gold chain around her neck.
At one point Jasmine posed with some girlfriends, with all three masked up in light of the ongoing pandemic.
A bare minimum of safety: At one point Jasmine posed with some girlfriends, with all three masked up in light of the ongoing pandemic
Musician Tyga was also in attendance, wearing an oversized white T-shirt featuring a triangular illustration and the words Casablanca Tennis Club.
On the bottom, he wore patchwork bandanna pants and white tennis shoes.
He had on a white bucket hat over his dreadlocks.
The Taste rapper, 31, also masked up (in Louis Vuitton) when he posed alongside Purple.
Style: Musician Tyga was also in attendance, wearing an oversized white T-shirt and patchwork bandanna pants
Protected: The Taste rapper also masked up (in Louis Vuitton) when he posed alongside Purple
Rounding out the notable guests was Amare Stoudemire, who kept things formal in a black suit, white dress shirt and skinny black tie.
He followed the other guests’ lead by wearing a black fedora of his own.
The Pegasus World Cup event saw the horse Knicks Go, ridden by jockey Joel Rosario, winning the invitational at Gulfstream Park.
Rounding out the notable guests: Amare Stoudemire, who kept things formal in a black suit, white dress shirt and skinny black tie
Victory: The Pegasus World Cup event saw the horse Knicks Go, ridden by jockey Joel Rosario (right), winning the invitational at Gulfstream Park
One of North America’s richest horse races returned to Gulfstream Park on Saturday, January 23, drawing in an A-list crowd for a day of luxury and racing.
This weekend, Miami’s most well-heeled ladies and best-dressed gents came out to celebrate the highly-anticipated, annual Pegasus World Cup, which took place at Gulfstream Park, presented by 1/ST, who transformed the scene into a socially-distant entertainment experience that safely welcomed 1,500 fans to the race.
Acclaimed as one of North America’s richest horse races, the day did not disappoint as Knicks Go, owned by Korea Racing Authority and ridden by jockey Joel Rosario, took home the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) prize. Colonel Liam, owned by Robert and Lawn Low and ridden by jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., took home the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1). Belinda Stronach, Chairman and President, 1/ST, presented the winners with stunning crystal trophies provided by the official trophy partner, Baccarat. The winners were also presented with rings to commemorate the occasion from local Miami jeweler BooDaddy Diamonds.
The Swan Garden pop-up served up some of Groot Hospitality’s most beloved dishes from hot spots including Komodo, Swan and Papi Steak, as well as a first taste of the group’s upcoming openings: Sushi Fly Chicken, Winker’s Diner and Toothfairy. VIP guests dined on the delectable bites and sipped cocktails from picturesque tables flanked throughout the space and lounged in the outdoor viewing area, which gave attendees a front-row seat to all the action of the race. In the Gulfstream Park’s Flamingo Room, 1/ST teamed up with Red Rooster Overtown to provide a delicious menu of Southern Classics.
Notable attendees included Belinda Stronach; former NBA player and New York Nets Assistant Coach Amar’e Stoudemire; Groot Hospitality Founder David Grutman and his wife, Isabela Rangel Grutman; rapper Tyga; supermodel Jasmine Sanders; NHL Hall-of-Famer Denis Savard; DACRA CEO and President Craig Robins; food influencer, Foodgöd; Terra Group CEO David Martin and his wife, Christy Martin; Myles, Dana and Gary Shear; socialite Marysol Patton; David ‘Papi’ Einhorn; artist Bradley Theodore; fashionista Suzy Buckley Woodward; amongst many others.
To make the experience all the more accessible and socially-distant, 1/ST presented the 1/ST BET application, where event attendees were able to take part in an easy wagering experience, with total handles topping $40.7 million dollars.
Carrying out its mission to prioritize the health, safety and care of Thoroughbred racehorses, Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series made a $50,000 donation to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, rounding out the glitz and glamour of the day to give back to a wonderful cause.
Pegasus Turf Champ Colonel Liam, Pletcher Runners ‘Excellent’
Jesus’ Team Awaits Invitations to Saudi Cup, Dubai World Cup
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Korea Racing Authority’s Knicks Go came out of his brilliant victory in Saturday’s $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park in good order, reported trainer Brad Cox Sunday afternoon.
“The horse looked really good last night. This morning, he flew back to New Orleans. He just arrived at the Fair Grounds and all is well,” Cox stated in a text message.
Knicks Go, the 6-5 favorite ridden by Joel Rosario, took early command of the 1 1/8-mile race for older horses and crossed the finish line 2 ¾ lengths ahead of Jesus’ Team. The son of Paynter ran the distance in 1:47.89 while earning an automatic berth in the $20 million Saudi Cup Feb. 20.
Knicks Go, a Grade 1 winner at 2, had gone winless in 2019 before being transferred to Cox’s stable in 2020. The Maryland-bred 5-year-old won all three of his races last year, including the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).
Grupo 7C Racing Stable’s Jesus’ Team spent Sunday morning frolicking in the round pen outside trainer Jose D’Angelo’s barn at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.
“Jesus came out of the race very good,” D’Angelo said. “When I brought him back to Palm Meadows [Saturday] night, he was ready to go again. He was not tired.”
Jesus’ Team, who had finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), made a wide sweep into the stretch under Irad Ortiz Jr. and closed steadily to finish second behind the Cox trainee again, edging Independence Hall for second money. The former $25,000 claimer became a millionaire Saturday with the $580,000 purse for his third Grade 1 stakes placing.
Although D’Angelo has driven Jesus’ Team wherever he has traveled this year, the 30-year-old trainer won’t be able to hit the road with the son of Tapiture for his next start. The owners of Jesus’ Team are awaiting invitations for the $20 Million Saudi Cup Feb. 20 and the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) March 27.
“The owners will make the decision where he will race next,” D’Angelo said.
Robert and Lawana Low’s Colonel Liam, the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) winner; Repole Stable’s Always Shopping, who captured the La Prevoyante (G3), and the other Todd Pletcher-trained runners who competed on the Pegasus World Cup Day card were ‘excellent’ Sunday morning.
“Everybody seemed to be sound this morning and in good shape,” Pletcher said.
Colonel Liam, who was coming off a victory in the Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream, rallied from off the pace to capture his Grade 1 debut by neck over Pletcher-trained Largent in the 1 3/16-mile Pegasus Turf. Pletcher’s other Pegasus Turf starter, Social Paranoia finished fourth, a half-length behind third-place finisher Cross Border. Pletcher said there were no firm plans for his Pegasus Turf starters’ next starts.
“The race I have in mind for Colonel Liam is the Woodford Reserve on Derby Day, so the question is kind of what we do between now and then,” Pletcher said. “The other two we’ve got some options with, so we’ll give it a week and kind of survey the landscape and see what the right moves are.”
In addition to saddling Colonel Liam and Always Shopping for graded-stakes victories, Pletcher also visited the winner’s circle with Microsecond following a sharp optional claiming allowance win.
“It was a great day. We were a couple of noses short of having a really terrific day but anytime you have all the horses show up and for the most part run their races, that’s all you can hope for,” Pletcher said. “We were fortunate to win three of them, so it was a successful day”
Knicks Go Wins the $3 Million Pegasus World Cup Invitational
Colonel Liam Wins the $1 Million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – On Saturday, January 23, 2021, the fifth running of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series was held at Gulfstream Park in South Florida. Gulfstream Park was transformed by 1/ST into a socially distant entertainment experience welcoming 1,500 fans (15% of typical Pegasus World Cup capacity) to the racetrack for the first time since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Belinda Stronach, Chairman and President, 1/ST, hosted celebrity guests including, Amar’e Stoudemire (Six-time NBA All-Star Player and NBA’s Brooklyn Nets Assistant Coach), Tyga (Rapper, Singer & TV Personality), Jasmine Sanders (Sports Illustrated Cover Model), Denis Savard (NHL Hall of Famer), Brian Poli-Dixon (Artist & Former NFL Player), David Grutman (Groot Hospitality Founder) and Isabela Rangel Grutman (Model).
Colonel Liam owned by Robert and Lawana Low, ridden by the Award-winning Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. and trained by Todd Pletcher, won the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1). Odds favorite, Knicks Go owned by Korea Racing Authority, ridden by Award-winning jockey Joel Rosario and trained by Brad Cox, won the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and an automatic entry into the 2021 $20 million Saudi Cup. Belinda Stronach presented the winning owners of the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational and Pegasus World Cup Invitational with crystal Pegasus trophies provided by the official trophy partner, Baccarat. The winning trainers and jockeys from the Pegasus World Cup Championship Series races were presented with Championship Rings designed by local Miami jeweler, BooDaddy Diamonds.
Despite the limited crowd in attendance, total handle for the 2021 Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series topped $40.7 million dollars, the third highest handle in the race’s history, due in part to the success of the 1/ST BET app. Part of the 1/ST TECHNOLOGY suite of handicapping and betting products, 1/ST BET uses AI-technology to deliver a user-friendly mobile wagering experience that suits everyone from the experienced horseplayer to the first-time bettor.
“The 2021 Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series was held under much different circumstances then all those that have come before it, but it did not disappoint,” said Belinda Stronach, Chairman and President, 1/ST. “Today, thanks to the cooperation of the horsemen, our many partners, guests in attendance and the 1/ST team, the Pegasus World Cup successfully blended a day of safe, world-class Thoroughbred horse racing with a socially distant entertainment experience setting a new standard for events in our sport during the COVID-19 era.”
This year, 1/ST again teamed up with Groot Hospitality to create a socially distant Pegasus Swan Garden pop-up offering guests an exclusive VIP experience in a “Tulum meets Swan” setting. 1/ST also teamed up with Red Rooster Overtown to curate a menu of Southern classics and elevated sips for the racing connections in Gulfstream Park’s Flamingo Room. Notorious Pink Rosé, Evian Natural Spring Water and Ferraelle Naturally Sparkling Water kept guests cool under the race day sunshine.
Musical performances took place both at the track and off-site. At Gulfstream Park, Yoli Mayor, the Miami-born semi-finalist on Season 12 of America’s Got Talent on NBC, performed the national anthem, and Jakissa Taylor Semple, aka DJ Kiss, provided the beats in the trackside Pegasus Swan Garden. As part of NBC’s Pegasus World Cup in-broadcast performance Aloe Blacc, the singer-songwriter of hits including “I Need a Dollar,” “The Man,” and “Wake Me Up,” performed live from Red Rooster Overtown as a tribute to Miami’s diverse and vibrant culture.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, 1/ST has developed and implemented industry-leading COVID-19 safety measures at its tracks and facilities across the United States. The 2021 Pegasus World Cup implemented strict social distancing protocols and new health and safety guidelines for riders and spectators. On premise attendance for this year’s event was reduced to 15% to allow all guests to socially distance accordingly. Thermal sensing cameras at all entrances checked guest temperatures, and masks were required. Cleaning protocols provided regular sanitizing of public spaces, and cashless wagering via 1/ST BET eliminated the handling of currency.
The medication-free format, for both the 2021 Pegasus World Cup Invitational and Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, is consistent with the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities (IFHA) standards and reflects the commitment that 1/ST made in April 2019 to eliminate Lasix in all graded stakes races in 2021.
As part of 1/ST’s mission to prioritize the care and safety of Thoroughbred racehorses before, during and after their careers, the 2021 Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series recognized the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance as a charitable partner of choice with a $50,000 donation.
Keep up with the Pegasus World Cup on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter: @PegasusWorldCup #PegasusWorldCup #RunWithUs.
For more information please contact:
Tiffani Steer, tiffani.steer@stronachgroup.com
David Joseph, david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com
At nine furlongs, the 2021 Pegasus World Cup is a deceptively long race this year, not least because its narrow favorite, Knicks Go, is a known — or at least has been touted as a “born” — speedster. As we know, speed comes at a price, be it in horse racing or any other endeavor, and the bottom line of that inflexible equation is that you have to spend to get. Faced with top-tier opponents such as Tax and long-bomb tactical runners such as Code of Honor, Knicks Go is faced with a tough climb and some even tougher choices up this mile-and-an-eighth.
Before we bring in the Bluegrass Wise Man ™ — our acclaimed Kentucky horseman who has been so generous with his analysis in seasons past — to parse the intricacies of this pleasingly complex field for us, below are the Gulfstream odds, which we’ll update until post time.
If we add to that the scramble of Gulfstream’s trademark blazingly short run into the first turn, it’s fair to say that the talented Joel Rosario and his mount will have to stay cool and collected in the fray, dispensing their speed without spending too much of it. Because: However short the race might seem to horses like Code of Honor, Knicks Go has never run at this length.
Post Position, Trainer, Jockey, Odds, (Morning Line)
1. Sleepy Eyes Todd, Miguel Silva, Jose Ortiz, 14-1, (8-1)
2. Coastal Defense, Dale Romans, Corey Lanerie, 20-1, (15-1)
3. Independence Hall, Michael McCarthy, Flavien Prat, 45-1, (20-1
4. Knicks Go, Brad Cox, Joel Rosario, 1-1, (5-2)
5. Jesus’ Team, Jose D’Angelo, Irad Ortiz Jr., 11-1, (8-1)
6. Kiss Today Goodbye, Eric Kruljac, Mike Smith, 12-1, (10-1)
7. Tax, Danny Gargan, Luis Saez, 5-1, (5-1)
8. Harpers First Ride, Claudio Gonzalez, Angel Cruz, 25-1, (10-1)
9. Last Judgment, Mike Maker, Paco Lopez, 35-1, (20-1)
10. Code of Honor, Shug McGaughey, Tyler Gaffalione, 7-2, (9-2)
11. Mr Freeze, Dale Romans, John Velazquez, 18-1, (15-1)
12. Math Wizard, Saffie Joseph Jr., Edgard Zayas, 50-1, (20-1)
(Source: Twinspires, 1/23/2021. Time: 5:45 p.m. EDT)
Nota bene: Though a Kentucky native, an owner and a lifelong horseman, the Bluegrass Wise Man ™ has no horses in this year’s Pegasus World Cup. He will, however, be betting the race along with the rest of us.
So, is it a distance question, a jockey question, or a “head” question for Knicks Go?
Bluegrass Wise Man ™: All of the above. Joel is a great rider and if anybody can, he will be able to help Knicks Go keep his head in the scrum, but I’ll have to say that Knicks Go is going to have his work cut out for him. Of all those three factors you name, I have to keep coming back to the one basic thing to racing. In his eleven starts, Knicks Go has never run at a mile-and-an-eighth. Period. Ever. Now, Joel says how much horse he had left at the Breeders’ turf mile last fall and his other wins. I believe that. Trainer Cox has brought this horse back brilliantly from a long losing streak. It can be today that Knicks Go blazes out of the gate, gets comfortable in the lead, nobody takes it away from him or makes him burn out, and he brings that to the wire. If that can be made to happen, more power to the horse, Joel, and Cox. I won’t say it’s a fairy tale, but I do think they’re gonna have a tougher trip than that. Despite all that Brad and Joel have done with this horse, Knicks Go still has to be able to cover that last furlong. Many a race has been lost in the last two hundred yards.
Let’s dig into where that puts our betting and how the race might look.
Bluegrass Wise Man ™: Joel will have to make sure that Knicks Go has enough in the tank to fend off any comers down the stretch. That will take some serious management, with the short break out of the gate to the first turn at Gulfstream, and given Knicks Go’s desire to get in front. What is it going to take him to get there, meaning, in front, and what is the backstretch gonna cost him if he stays there? It’s a high price for a horse that was a specialist in the mile. The last furlong is the battlefield in a lot of races, but especially so with $3 million on the line in this one. Another way to look at it is, what do the other trainers think is Knicks Go’s big vulnerability? They’re gonna be gunning him, pressing him, urging and challenging him on to tire him so that they can take the race from him in that last furlong. Every jockey and every horse in the field will be doing that. Why I say he’s gonna have an uphill fight.
Which brings us to Code of Honor.
Bluegrass Wise Man ™: Exactly. Truth to tell, I’m partial to Code of Honor over Knicks Go at the end of the day because Code of Honor can do this distance, and win at it. He’s had an interesting, and hard, career, some of it of his own making, but one takeaway from it all is that he keeps coming and has tactical speed. He’s been a bit late in bringing his run for different reasons. That means, not all of his “losses,” if you can call them that, are due to him. He’s certainly fit and I suspect he’s due. My point is that Code of Honor’s ability to bring his run fits the distance, fits the start of the race, fits the track, and certainly fits any sort of battle you would imagine with a horse like Knicks Go. He’s breaking from the outside, and with that short run to the turn, it can be a problem. All that said, he is going to have to have a better performance today than any of what he showed us last year. They say he’s ready to deliver.
Let’s move to some of the others. Tax?
Bluegrass Wise Man ™: Tax has it in him to take this race, but I think his bigger role is going to be as a danger, if not the danger, to Knicks Go. Tax has speed, likes to be up front, all that. If he gets in there and starts messing with Knicks Go’s mind up close, it’s going to be tough for Knicks Go to concentrate on his job. Horses are like any other athletes. If you distract ’em, they’re just not gonna turn in their best performances. I would use Tax in some exotics. If you like him enough, box him in there to win in a trifecta. He may just live up to that.
Let’s hit Jesus’ Team and the brilliantly named Sleepy Eyes Todd.
Bluegrass Wise Man ™: Jesus’ Team ran in some fancy races last year, hitting the Jim Dandy, Preakness, Breeders Cup Dirt Mile. He gets Irad Ortiz, who, I don’t have to tell you, is one of the famous Ortiz brothers. You could almost bet the jock here. Jesus’ Team doesn’t win a lot, but his three career wins have been at Gulfstream. Logic would say that you have to use him in your exotics. 8/1 does not seem juicy enough for me. He will go up but should be used in exotics.
Sleepy Eyes?
Bluegrass Wise Man ™: Sleepy Eyes Todd will have to contend with the rail. He did win the prep for this race, the Mr. Prospector. Gets the other Ortiz brother, Jose. He is a stalker, so could get shuffled back and then will have to move through the traffic. Has won at the distance. Lately, we’ve seen him running off the pace and that has resulted in wins. Will likely have to do the same here. He seems ready, but not especially “due,” you know? Plug him into some exotics.
Race day means, care to terrify everybody about their plays? You’re pretty good at that.
Bluegrass Wise Man ™: Funny thing. Horses don’t know the size of the purse, but sometimes, in the big Grade 1 stakes races, it’s almost like they do. So, you can’t tell. You can be laying money on the strongest favorite in the world, with the best jockey and the Hall of Fame trainer and he’ll wind up running last. That’s why folks looking at fields like this one play horses like Harpers First Ride and Math Wizard. Sometimes, horses are about just wanting to see it happen.