The Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race, by invitation for four-year-olds and older over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf track, held annually in late January or early February at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $1,000,000.
| Grade I race | |
| Location | Gulfstream Park Hallandale Beach, Florida, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1986 (as Gulfstream Park Breeder's Cup Handicap ) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Sponsor | Baccarat (since 2022) |
| Website | Gulfstream Park |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+1⁄8 miles |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Invitation - Four year olds and older |
| Weight | 123 lbs. Fillies and Mares allowed 5 lbs. Southern Hemisphere Three-Year-Olds: 117 lbs. |
| Purse | $1,000,000 (since 2020) |
History
The inaugural running of the event was on 2 March 1986, on the last day of a 71-day annual winter meeting as the Gulfstream Park Breeders Cup Handicap, the tenth race on the under-card of Florida Derby day. The event had additional sponsorship from the Breeders' Cup which gave the event immediate recognition and value. The event was won by Craig B. Singer's Irish-bred five-year-old Sondrio who started at odds of 7/1 and ran the 1+1⁄16 miles distance in 1:40.60 winning by 2+1⁄4 lengths.[1]
The following year the event was held on the dirt track due to the condition of the turf track. The event had additional sponsorship from Budweiser and this reflected in the name of the race.[2] Budweiser sponsorship continued for nine years ceasing after the 1995 running of the event.[2]
The event was upgraded in 1990 by the American Graded Stakes Committee to a Grade III race.[2] In 1991 the distance of the event was lengthened considerably to 1+3⁄8 miles and the following year the event was upgraded to Grade II classification.[3] In 1994 the event was transferred to the dirt track and held over a distance of 1+1⁄4 miles.[2]
After the 2007 running of the event the Breeders' Cup ceased to sponsor the event and the event was known as the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap.[2] In 2009 the distance of the event was decreased by two furlongs to 1+1⁄8 miles.[3]
In 2019 Gulfstream Park Administration created a racing series called the Pegasus World Cup and this event was rebranded as the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational. In the first edition, each entrant's connections had to pay a $500,000 entry fee with the organizer adding an extra $1,000,000 for a total purse of $7,000,000. In the 2020 edition, the race adopted the Invitational format and entry fees were suppressed, so the purse was limited to the organizer contribution.[4]
Records
Time record:
- 1+3⁄16 miles: 1:51.60 – Zulu Alpha (2020)
- 1+1⁄16 miles: 1:39.60 – Youmadeyourpoint (1990)
- 1+1⁄8 miles: 1:44.45 – Warm Heart (IRE) (2024)
- 1+3⁄8 miles: 2:10.73 – Yagli (1999)
Margins:
- 4+3⁄4 lengths – Man from Wicklow (2003)
Most wins:
- 2 – Einstein (2006, 2008)
- 2 – Colonel Liam (2021, 2022)
Most wins by an owner:
- 2 – Allen E. Paulson (1998, 1999)
- 2 – The Thoroughbred Corporation (2000, 2001)
- 2 – Midnight Cry Stables (2006, 2008)
- 2 – IEAH Stables (2009, 2010)
- 2 – Robert E. & Lawana L. Low (2021, 2022)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 7 – Jerry Bailey (1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 5 – William I. Mott (1993, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001)
Winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational | ||||||||||
| 2024 | Warm Heart (IRE) | 4 | Ryan Moore | Aidan O'Brien | Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerburg | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:44.45 | $952,300 | I | [5] |
| 2023 | Atone | 6 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Michael J. Maker | Three Diamonds Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:46.19 | $981,400 | I | [6] |
| 2022 | Colonel Liam | 5 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | Robert E. & Lawana L. Low | abt. 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.48 | $982,300 | I | [7] |
| 2021 | Colonel Liam | 4 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | Robert E. & Lawana L. Low | 1+3⁄16 miles | 1:53.09 | $981,700 | I | [8] |
| 2020 | Zulu Alpha | 7 | Tyler Gaffalione | Michael J. Maker | Michael Hui | 1+3⁄16 miles | 1:51.60 | $982,300 | I | [9] |
| 2019 | Bricks and Mortar | 5 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad Brown | Klaravich Stables & William H. Lawrence | 1+3⁄16 miles | 1:54.59 | $6,708,329 | I | [10] |
| Gulfstream Park Turf Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2018 | Heart to Heart | 7 | Julien R. Leparoux | Brian A. Lynch | Terry Hamilton | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.64 | $300,000 | I | [11] |
| Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap | ||||||||||
| 2017 | Almanaar (GB) | 5 | Joel Rosario | Chad Brown | Shadwell Racing | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:45.63 | $350,000 | I | [12] |
| 2016 | Lukes Alley | 6 | Paco Lopez | Josie Carroll | Melnyk Racing Stables | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.20 | $350,000 | I | [13] |
| 2015 | Mshawish | 5 | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | Al Shaqab Racing | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.22 | $300,000 | I | [14] |
| 2014 | Lochte | 4 | Orlando Bocachica | Marcus J. Vitali | Crossed Sabres Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:45.67 | $300,000 | I | [15] |
| 2013 | Point of Entry | 5 | John Velazquez | Claude R. McGaughey III | Phipps Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.00 | $300,000 | I | [16] |
| 2012 | Get Stormy | 6 | Ramon Domínguez | Thomas Bush | Mary Sullivan | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:52.78 | $300,000 | I | [17] |
| 2011 | Teaks North | 4 | Jose Valdivia Jr. | Justin Sallusto | Jules Boutelle | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:46.39 | $300,000 | I | [18] |
| 2010 | † Court Vision | 5 | Robby Albarado | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | IEAH Stables, Resolute Group Stables & WinStar Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:46.84 | $300,000 | I | [19] |
| 2009 | Kip Deville | 6 | Cornelio Velásquez | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | IEAH Stables, John A. & Andrew Cohen, Steve Cobb & Doug Robertson | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:45.70 | $300,000 | I | [20] |
| Gulfstream Park Turf Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2008 | Einstein (BRZ) | 6 | Jose Lezcano | Helen Pitts | Midnight Cry Stables | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:12.87 | $273,000 | I | [21] |
| Gulfstream Park Breeder's Cup Turf Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2007 | Jambalaya | 5 | Javier Castellano | Catherine Day Phillips | Todd & Catherine Day Phillips | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:12.28 | $289,000 | I | [22] |
| Gulfstream Park Breeder's Cup Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2006 | Einstein (BRZ) | 4 | Rafael Bejarano | Helen Pitts | Midnight Cry Stables | 1+7⁄16 miles | 2:23.91 | $190,000 | I | [23] |
| Gulfstream Park Breeder's Cup Handicap | ||||||||||
| 2005 | Prince Arch | 4 | Brice Blanc | Kenneth McPeek | Ray Cottrell Sr. | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:11.44 | $230,000 | I | [24] |
| 2004 | Hard Buck (BRZ) | 5 | Edgar Prado | Kenneth McPeek | Team Victory I | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:11.56 | $190,000 | I | [25] |
| 2003 | Man from Wicklow | 6 | Jerry Bailey | Richard A. Violette Jr. | Richard A. Violette Jr. | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:11.62 | $194,000 | I | [26] |
| 2002 | Cetewayo | 8 | Cornelio Velásquez | Michael Dickinson | Dr. John A. Chandler | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:17.44 | $200,000 | I | [27] |
| 2001 | Subtle Power (IRE) | 4 | Pat Day | William I. Mott | The Thoroughbred Corporation | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:13.50 | $140,000 | I | [28] |
| 2000 | Royal Anthem | 5 | Jerry Bailey | William I. Mott | The Thoroughbred Corporation | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:11.34 | $194,000 | I | [29] |
| 1999 | § Yagli | 6 | Jerry Bailey | William I. Mott | Allen E. Paulson | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:10.73 | $200,000 | I | [30] |
| 1998 | Flag Down | 8 | José A. Santos | Christophe Clement | Allen E. Paulson | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:12.59 | $189,000 | II | [31] |
| 1997 | Lassigny | 6 | Jerry Bailey | William I. Mott | Prince Sultan Modc Saud Al Kabeer | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:11.33 | $169,150 | II | [32] |
| 1996 | Celtic Arms (FR) | 5 | Mike E. Smith | Rodney Rash | Gary A. Tanaka | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:13.90 | $169,800 | II | [33] |
| 1995 | Misil | 7 | José A. Santos | Christophe Clement | Horafuki Kai | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:12.41 | $157,000 | II | [34] |
| 1994 | Strolling Along | 4 | Jerry Bailey | Claude R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:05.01 | $149,250 | II | Off turf[35] |
| 1993 | Stagecraft (GB) | 6 | Jerry Bailey | William I. Mott | Darley Stud | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:13.24 | $156,000 | II | [36] |
| 1992 | Passagere du Soir (GB) | 5 | Jerry Bailey | Christophe Clement | Paul de Moussac | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:15.71 | $158,550 | II | [37] |
| 1991 | Shy Tom | 5 | Craig Perret | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:14.70 | $158,000 | III | [38] |
| 1990 | Youmadeyourpoint | 4 | Douglas Valiente | Eugene Navarro | Stanley M. Ersoff | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:39.60 | $157,600 | III | [39] |
| 1989 | Equalize | 7 | José A. Santos | Angel Penna Sr. | A. J. Menditeguy Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.20 | $155,350 | [40] | |
| 1988 | Salem Drive | 6 | Gene St. Leon | Thomas J. Skiffington Jr. | Virginia Kraft Payson | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.60 | $157,550 | [41] | |
| 1987 | Bolshoi Boy | 4 | Randy Romero | Howard M. Tesher | Arthur Belford & John Greathouse Jr. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.60 | $133,810 | Off turf[42] | |
| 1986 | Sondrio (IRE) | 5 | José A. Santos | Howard M. Tesher | Craig B. Singer | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.60 | $134,620 | [1] | |
Legend:
Turf Dirt
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
† In the 2010 running of the event Take The Points was first past but was disqualified for interference in the straight and placed fifth and Court Vision was declared the winner.