Pegasus World Cup

The defections of two of favorites Omaha Beach (War Front) and Spun to Run (Hard Spun) saw Saturday's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. lose some of its star appeal, however, a solid group of graded stakes winners will try and collect the lion's share of the $3-million purse. Trainer John Sadler, who finished third in this race last season with 2018 Champion Older Horse Accelerate in 2019, offers the talented but at times unlucky Higher Power (Medaglia d'Oro), who breaks from post 6. Knocking on the door to bigger...

In what may be an unprecedented example of bad luck for a major race, Saturdays's GI Pegasus Invitational lost not just its marquee star, but also its second choice Thursday. The day kicked off with the news that GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Spun to Run (Hard Spun) would be scratched due to a skin issue. About five hours later, it was learned that morning-line favorite Omaha Beach (War Front) would also be a late scratch as trainer Richard Mandella discovered his colt had an issue with his right...

Expected to be the second choice in Saturday's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. at Gulfstream, Spun to Run (Hard Spun) will be scratched after an issue with his skin took a turn for the worse yesterday. The story was first reported by the Daily Racing Form's Jay Privman. Trainer Juan Carlos Guerrero said that Spun to Run had been dealing with skin issues for "three or four weeks" and was breaking out in hives. He originally thought they wouldn't be an impediment to his horse running in the Pegasus....

Hallandale Beach, FL - The activity at Gulfstream Park continued to amplify as the post positions were drawn for this weekend's $3-million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. Presented by Runhappy and the $1-million GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. at Frankey's Sports Bar in The Village at Gulfstream Park. Headlining Saturday's main track event, Fox Hill Farm's Omaha Beach (War Front) drew post five in the field of 12, much to the satisfaction of Richard Mandella. He was installed the 7-5 favorite for the nine-furlong race. "Couldn't ask...

A strange four-day period in which the likely second choice in a $3-million race did not have a jockey ended Tuesday with the announcement that Javier Castellano will ride Spun to Run (Hard Spun) in the GI Pegasus Invitational at Gulfstream. Castellano replaces Irad Ortiz, Jr., who made the peculiar decision to take off Spun to Run in order to ride the Bob Baffert-trained Mucho Gusto (Mucho Macho Man). Mucho Gusto was last seen running third in the GIII Oklahoma Derby Sept. 29 and his biggest wins have come at...

Graded-stakes winners Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC's Tenfold (Curlin) and C R K Stable's Midcourt (Midnight Lute) and Grade 1-placed Bodexpress (Bodemeister), campaigned by Top Racing LLC, Global Thoroughbreds LLC and GDS Racing Stable, were added Sunday to the formal list of invitees to the Jan. 25 GI Pegasus World Cup World Cup at Gulfstream Park. Winner of the GII Jim Dandy S. at three, Tenfold added a victory in the GIII Pimlico Special last season. In 2019, Midcourt reeled off four consecutive victories, including the GIII Native Diver S. at Santa...

Fox Hill Farms Inc.'s Omaha Beach (War Front) breezed five furlongs in 1:00.42 (XBTV video) at Gulfstream Park Sunday in advance of the Jan. 25 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational. Jockey Julien Leparoux was aboard for the work, however, Mike Smith is expected to be up for the $3-million race. Facing a strong headwind in Sunday's move, Omaha Beach cut out internal fractions of :23.92 and :35.77, galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.35. "Everything was good," Leparoux said. "To me, it looked very nice, very smooth. He was happy doing...