Pegasus World Cup 2025 Picks
By TVG Staff
Updated January 19, 2025
The eighth edition of the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) happens on Saturday, January 27, at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. It is one of the newest events on the horse racing calendar, but it is also one of the most eagerly-awaited for fans and bettors alike. Stars like Arrogate, Gun Runner, City of Light, and Knicks Go have won it already, making it a great preview for the handicap division. But, it is also a race that smart bettors can profit from right now.
The field for the 2025 Pegasus World Cup Invitational features 12 invitees, a full-capacity field. The morning-line favorite is Cigar Mile winner Locked, but he will have to contend with a tough outside draw. Others in the field with serious top-level resumes include 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner White Abarrio, 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, and 2023 Pennsylvania Derby winner Saudi Crown.
The Pegasus World Cup will be one of seven stakes races on Gulfstream’s card, all of which will be open to 4-year-olds and up. Two other races on the card carry the Pegasus name, and will likely draw some of the top horses in the world: the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) and the $500,000 Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf (G3).
The best way for you to be a part of the action in all of Gulfstream’s rich races on Saturday is to bet the race on FanDuel. Keep reading and find out some of the angles and best bets, because an informed bettor is the best bettor!
Betting the Pegasus World Cup Races
Numerous wager types will be made available to you on this marquee day at Gulfstream Park, and this is the right place for information about the horses with the best chance in the Pegasus World Cup. The available bets include Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta, Daily Double, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, and Pick 6, with minimum wagers ranging from 10 cents to $2.
The majority of casual horseplayers choose to go right on the nose with win bets, and many of the pros like to focus their opinions with straight wagers as well. Win, place, and show are still the most popular wagers out there, although exotics are available too. Whatever bet you choose to make, just keep in mind that pro handicappers and casual fans alike should never put money down on the Pegasus World Cup without being fully informed!
Betting the three main races is the best way to feel like you are fully involved and majorly invested in the day at Gulfstream. We have information available on the main Pegasus contenders to help you make your own mind up.
All the way until the race gets started, your best bet is to keep following the horses who may run in the race so you can be better prepared to assess their relative class and form on race day. Stay tuned to TVG, the best place for up-to-date news on the Pegasus World Cup and all other major races across the country!
Pegasus World Cup Odds
This is the official field of 12 for the 2025 Pegasus World Cup, including post positions, trainers, jockeys, and morning-line odds for each horse in the field.
| Post | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mixto | Doug O’Neill | Frankie Dettori | 10-1 |
| 2 | Saudi Crown | Brad Cox | Florent Geroux | 9-2 |
| 3 | Newgrange | Jose D’Angelo | Emisael Jaramillo | 20-1 |
| 4 | White Abarrio | Saffie Joseph, Jr. | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 3-1 |
| 5 | Crupi | Todd Pletcher | Luis Saez | 15-1 |
| 6 | Stronghold | Phil D’Amato | Antonio Fresu | 10-1 |
| 7 | Steal Sunshine | Bobby DiBona | Dylan Davis | 30-1 |
| 8 | Vitality | Harold Ladouceur | Rajiv Maragh | 50-1 |
| 9 | Mystik Dan | Kenny McPeek | Brian Hernandez, Jr. | 8-1 |
| 10 | Skippylongstocking | Saffie Joseph, Jr. | Tyler Gaffalione | 10-1 |
| 11 | Locked | Todd Pletcher | John Velazquez | 5-2 |
| 12 | Power Squeeze | Jorge Delgado | Javier Castellano | 30-1 |
Pegasus World Cup Prep Results
Historically speaking, Pegasus World Cup winners last raced in the Breeders’ Cup: either the Breeders’ Cup Classic or the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. In the seven previous editions of the Pegasus, all but two of the winners most recently ran at that early-November festival.
Mucho Gusto was the first to break that trend: he won the 2020 Pegasus World Cup in his first race off a layoff dating back to a fourth-place finish in the Oklahoma Derby (G3) at Remington the previous September. Art Collector, like Mucho Gusto, won the Pegasus off of a layoff as well. He had most recently finished fifth in the Lukas Classic (G2), a Breeders’ Cup prep race at Churchill, the previous October.
However, most Pegasus winners still come out of the Breeders’ Cup. In the first few years, it was the Breeders’ Cup Classic that produced the major Pegasus contenders, though the last few years have seen the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile ascend in importance. Though 2024 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Full Serrano is on the shelf due to injury, sixth-place finisher Skippylongstocking is coming out of that race and could bounce back over his home course, and 11th-place Saudi Crown has already had a better return effort in the Tenacious. Only 11th-place Mixto is coming out of the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic, though White Abarrio won that race in 2023.
Pegasus World Cup Handicapping
With the field and post positions for the Pegasus World Cup finalized, it is now possible to draw up a pace scenario and make selections for the race. Especially at Gulfstream, a track where pace scenario and post draw can matter so much, paying sharp attention to the pace setup is illuminating.
The field features quite a few horses who can show speed, though no one who absolutely, positively cannot win without the lead. That comes with a caveat—Saudi Crown really only showed that last out when stalking and pouncing in the Tenacious, which was against horses who are not quite of this quality. Stepping back up in class, expect Saudi Crown to try to get the early lead, even from the near inside gate.
Mixto does his best work on or right near the lead, though that’s going to be a tough assignment from the rail, just inside of Saudi Crown. He won’t get the plum outside pressing trip he got when he won the Pacific Classic. Newgrange did draw just outside of Saudi Crown, at least, but probably will not be as fast as that one and will find it hard to work an outside stalking trip from this post. Skippylongstocking hasn’t been forward in his last two starts, but he does his best work on or near the lead, a trip he’ll have to work from a challenging outside post.
White Abarrio won’t be on the lead, but he won’t be far away from it either, assuming he breaks better than he did in the seven-furlong Mr. Prospector (G3) last out. Stronghold is another one who stretches out from a seven-furlong race; he isn’t usually on the lead, but he is rarely more than a few lengths away and the only time he has ever missed the board was in the chaos of the Kentucky Derby.
Pegasus World Cup Later Runners
Locked won an allowance from closer to the pace, but his classier wins in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and Cigar Mile (G2) have come from several lengths off of the pace. He has to prove himself at this distance, however, and outside draws at Gulfstream Park can prove tricky.
Crupi rallied for third in the Pegasus World Cup last year, and he is the same kind of horse as he ever was: a closer who doesn’t always get there, especially against this quality of horses, but he almost always fires. Mystik Dan showed more speed early in his career, but as he has matured he has emerged as a midpack-to-closing type. Races like the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and even the Southwest show solid talent, but he has to put it together against his toughest foes yet.
Power Squeeze, mired outside, is a bit of a pace wild card, as she can show tactical speed or come from midfield. The pair of colossal long shots also do their better running off the front end. Vitality has done most of his better work from midfield; sometimes, he produces a sharp finishing run, and sometimes he does not. Steal Sunshine likes to come from midpack or further back and finds late ground more consistently than Vitality, but still needs a career best to be a factor.
Pegasus World Cup Picks
These are the top contenders for the 2025 Pegasus World Cup.
Stronghold: He ran a good second in the Malibu (G1), a race too short for him, last out. Now he comes second off his layoff, stretches out to a distance at which he is a Grade 1 winner, and he has tactical versatility from a nice middle post. And, the price should be right.
White Abarrio: A poor start doomed him last out in the Mr. Prospector, a race that was too short for him anyway, and he kept fighting. He drew well for this, and if he comes away smoothly he could get a perfect stalk-and-pounce trip third off the lay.
Saudi Crown: A good horse as the speed of the speed is always dangerous at Gulfstream Park. He won’t have it soft, but there’s a good chance the pace won’t be truly fiery either, and that plays in his favor.
Pegasus World Cup Exotic Horses
As you build out exotics, consider using these price horses on your tickets. They are not top win contenders, but they are horses who can lead to strong exotic payouts if they run their best!
Crupi: Though he rarely wins, he can put on his trademark closing run anywhere—even at Gulfstream, where he closed for third in this race last year. Signs point to the same old reliable, which puts him in exotic pictures again.
Power Squeeze: The outside post may be tough, but she’s a big price—unlike Locked, a favorite who has a lot to prove from the outside. Power Squeeze ran an excellent second in a one-turn race last time, but she is a better two-turn horse and she has the versatility to be effective from this draw.
Exotic Wagers All Day
When considering which horses to include in the Pick 4, Pick 5, or Pick 6, it is worth looking at well-proven, classy horses. But, it also makes sense to include a few well-chosen longshots. After all, the best way to maximize your risk-reward rate on multi-race wagers is to go narrow in legs where you have a strong opinion, and spread out with some live outsiders in races that look more wide-open. You can often find quality longshots with trainers or jockeys who know Gulfstream well.
On the jockey side Luis Saez, Emisael Jaramillo, Paco Lopez, and Edwin Gonzalez are riding strongly at Gulfstream and likely to slip under the radar on Pegasus Day. Among trainers, Saffie Joseph, Todd Pletcher, Mark Casse, and Kathleen O’Connell have all had strong histories at the Gulfstream meet, and often run horses who can pay good value for bettors.
Keep It TVG for Your 2025 Pegasus World Cup Bets
You can watch and wager on horse racing with TVG all week long as we keep you informed on all things Pegasus World Cup. Take a look at the latest Pegasus odds to see what sort of value you can get for your wagers.
Some of the biggest stars in horse racing compete on Pegasus World Cup day every year. So, stay tuned to TVG to watch and bet the thrilling action today, and get a preview of horses who stand to be stars throughout the course of the year!
Keep it TVG for Your 2024 Pegasus World Cup Bets
You can watch and wager on horse races with TVG all week long as we keep you informed on all things Pegasus World Cup. Take a look at the latest Pegasus odds to see what sort of value you can get for your wagers.
Some of the biggest stars in horse racing compete on Pegasus World Cup day every year. So, stay tuned to TVG to watch and bet on the thrilling action today, and get a preview of horses who stand to be stars throughout the course of the year!
By TVG Staff
Updated January 19, 2025
The eighth edition of the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) happens on Saturday, January 27, at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. It is one of the newest events on the horse racing calendar, but it is also one of the most eagerly-awaited for fans and bettors alike. Stars like Arrogate, Gun Runner, City of Light, and Knicks Go have won it already, making it a great preview for the handicap division. But, it is also a race that smart bettors can profit from right now.
The field for the 2025 Pegasus World Cup Invitational features 12 invitees, a full-capacity field. The morning-line favorite is Cigar Mile winner Locked, but he will have to contend with a tough outside draw. Others in the field with serious top-level resumes include 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner White Abarrio, 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, and 2023 Pennsylvania Derby winner Saudi Crown.
The Pegasus World Cup will be one of seven stakes races on Gulfstream’s card, all of which will be open to 4-year-olds and up. Two other races on the card carry the Pegasus name, and will likely draw some of the top horses in the world: the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) and the $500,000 Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf (G3).
The best way for you to be a part of the action in all of Gulfstream’s rich races on Saturday is to bet the race on FanDuel. Keep reading and find out some of the angles and best bets, because an informed bettor is the best bettor!
Betting the Pegasus World Cup Races
Numerous wager types will be made available to you on this marquee day at Gulfstream Park, and this is the right place for information about the horses with the best chance in the Pegasus World Cup. The available bets include Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta, Daily Double, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, and Pick 6, with minimum wagers ranging from 10 cents to $2.
The majority of casual horseplayers choose to go right on the nose with win bets, and many of the pros like to focus their opinions with straight wagers as well. Win, place, and show are still the most popular wagers out there, although exotics are available too. Whatever bet you choose to make, just keep in mind that pro handicappers and casual fans alike should never put money down on the Pegasus World Cup without being fully informed!
Betting the three main races is the best way to feel like you are fully involved and majorly invested in the day at Gulfstream. We have information available on the main Pegasus contenders to help you make your own mind up.
All the way until the race gets started, your best bet is to keep following the horses who may run in the race so you can be better prepared to assess their relative class and form on race day. Stay tuned to TVG, the best place for up-to-date news on the Pegasus World Cup and all other major races across the country!
Pegasus World Cup Odds
This is the official field of 12 for the 2025 Pegasus World Cup, including post positions, trainers, jockeys, and morning-line odds for each horse in the field.
| Post | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mixto | Doug O’Neill | Frankie Dettori | 10-1 |
| 2 | Saudi Crown | Brad Cox | Florent Geroux | 9-2 |
| 3 | Newgrange | Jose D’Angelo | Emisael Jaramillo | 20-1 |
| 4 | White Abarrio | Saffie Joseph, Jr. | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 3-1 |
| 5 | Crupi | Todd Pletcher | Luis Saez | 15-1 |
| 6 | Stronghold | Phil D’Amato | Antonio Fresu | 10-1 |
| 7 | Steal Sunshine | Bobby DiBona | Dylan Davis | 30-1 |
| 8 | Vitality | Harold Ladouceur | Rajiv Maragh | 50-1 |
| 9 | Mystik Dan | Kenny McPeek | Brian Hernandez, Jr. | 8-1 |
| 10 | Skippylongstocking | Saffie Joseph, Jr. | Tyler Gaffalione | 10-1 |
| 11 | Locked | Todd Pletcher | John Velazquez | 5-2 |
| 12 | Power Squeeze | Jorge Delgado | Javier Castellano | 30-1 |
Pegasus World Cup Prep Results
Historically speaking, Pegasus World Cup winners last raced in the Breeders’ Cup: either the Breeders’ Cup Classic or the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. In the seven previous editions of the Pegasus, all but two of the winners most recently ran at that early-November festival.
Mucho Gusto was the first to break that trend: he won the 2020 Pegasus World Cup in his first race off a layoff dating back to a fourth-place finish in the Oklahoma Derby (G3) at Remington the previous September. Art Collector, like Mucho Gusto, won the Pegasus off of a layoff as well. He had most recently finished fifth in the Lukas Classic (G2), a Breeders’ Cup prep race at Churchill, the previous October.
However, most Pegasus winners still come out of the Breeders’ Cup. In the first few years, it was the Breeders’ Cup Classic that produced the major Pegasus contenders, though the last few years have seen the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile ascend in importance. Though 2024 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Full Serrano is on the shelf due to injury, sixth-place finisher Skippylongstocking is coming out of that race and could bounce back over his home course, and 11th-place Saudi Crown has already had a better return effort in the Tenacious. Only 11th-place Mixto is coming out of the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic, though White Abarrio won that race in 2023.
Pegasus World Cup Handicapping
With the field and post positions for the Pegasus World Cup finalized, it is now possible to draw up a pace scenario and make selections for the race. Especially at Gulfstream, a track where pace scenario and post draw can matter so much, paying sharp attention to the pace setup is illuminating.
The field features quite a few horses who can show speed, though no one who absolutely, positively cannot win without the lead. That comes with a caveat—Saudi Crown really only showed that last out when stalking and pouncing in the Tenacious, which was against horses who are not quite of this quality. Stepping back up in class, expect Saudi Crown to try to get the early lead, even from the near inside gate.
Mixto does his best work on or right near the lead, though that’s going to be a tough assignment from the rail, just inside of Saudi Crown. He won’t get the plum outside pressing trip he got when he won the Pacific Classic. Newgrange did draw just outside of Saudi Crown, at least, but probably will not be as fast as that one and will find it hard to work an outside stalking trip from this post. Skippylongstocking hasn’t been forward in his last two starts, but he does his best work on or near the lead, a trip he’ll have to work from a challenging outside post.
White Abarrio won’t be on the lead, but he won’t be far away from it either, assuming he breaks better than he did in the seven-furlong Mr. Prospector (G3) last out. Stronghold is another one who stretches out from a seven-furlong race; he isn’t usually on the lead, but he is rarely more than a few lengths away and the only time he has ever missed the board was in the chaos of the Kentucky Derby.
Pegasus World Cup Later Runners
Locked won an allowance from closer to the pace, but his classier wins in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and Cigar Mile (G2) have come from several lengths off of the pace. He has to prove himself at this distance, however, and outside draws at Gulfstream Park can prove tricky.
Crupi rallied for third in the Pegasus World Cup last year, and he is the same kind of horse as he ever was: a closer who doesn’t always get there, especially against this quality of horses, but he almost always fires. Mystik Dan showed more speed early in his career, but as he has matured he has emerged as a midpack-to-closing type. Races like the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and even the Southwest show solid talent, but he has to put it together against his toughest foes yet.
Power Squeeze, mired outside, is a bit of a pace wild card, as she can show tactical speed or come from midfield. The pair of colossal long shots also do their better running off the front end. Vitality has done most of his better work from midfield; sometimes, he produces a sharp finishing run, and sometimes he does not. Steal Sunshine likes to come from midpack or further back and finds late ground more consistently than Vitality, but still needs a career best to be a factor.
Pegasus World Cup Picks
These are the top contenders for the 2025 Pegasus World Cup.
Stronghold: He ran a good second in the Malibu (G1), a race too short for him, last out. Now he comes second off his layoff, stretches out to a distance at which he is a Grade 1 winner, and he has tactical versatility from a nice middle post. And, the price should be right.
White Abarrio: A poor start doomed him last out in the Mr. Prospector, a race that was too short for him anyway, and he kept fighting. He drew well for this, and if he comes away smoothly he could get a perfect stalk-and-pounce trip third off the lay.
Saudi Crown: A good horse as the speed of the speed is always dangerous at Gulfstream Park. He won’t have it soft, but there’s a good chance the pace won’t be truly fiery either, and that plays in his favor.
Pegasus World Cup Exotic Horses
As you build out exotics, consider using these price horses on your tickets. They are not top win contenders, but they are horses who can lead to strong exotic payouts if they run their best!
Crupi: Though he rarely wins, he can put on his trademark closing run anywhere—even at Gulfstream, where he closed for third in this race last year. Signs point to the same old reliable, which puts him in exotic pictures again.
Power Squeeze: The outside post may be tough, but she’s a big price—unlike Locked, a favorite who has a lot to prove from the outside. Power Squeeze ran an excellent second in a one-turn race last time, but she is a better two-turn horse and she has the versatility to be effective from this draw.
Exotic Wagers All Day
When considering which horses to include in the Pick 4, Pick 5, or Pick 6, it is worth looking at well-proven, classy horses. But, it also makes sense to include a few well-chosen longshots. After all, the best way to maximize your risk-reward rate on multi-race wagers is to go narrow in legs where you have a strong opinion, and spread out with some live outsiders in races that look more wide-open. You can often find quality longshots with trainers or jockeys who know Gulfstream well.
On the jockey side Luis Saez, Emisael Jaramillo, Paco Lopez, and Edwin Gonzalez are riding strongly at Gulfstream and likely to slip under the radar on Pegasus Day. Among trainers, Saffie Joseph, Todd Pletcher, Mark Casse, and Kathleen O’Connell have all had strong histories at the Gulfstream meet, and often run horses who can pay good value for bettors.
Keep It TVG for Your 2025 Pegasus World Cup Bets
You can watch and wager on horse racing with TVG all week long as we keep you informed on all things Pegasus World Cup. Take a look at the latest Pegasus odds to see what sort of value you can get for your wagers.
Some of the biggest stars in horse racing compete on Pegasus World Cup day every year. So, stay tuned to TVG to watch and bet the thrilling action today, and get a preview of horses who stand to be stars throughout the course of the year!
Keep it TVG for Your 2024 Pegasus World Cup Bets
You can watch and wager on horse races with TVG all week long as we keep you informed on all things Pegasus World Cup. Take a look at the latest Pegasus odds to see what sort of value you can get for your wagers.
Some of the biggest stars in horse racing compete on Pegasus World Cup day every year. So, stay tuned to TVG to watch and bet on the thrilling action today, and get a preview of horses who stand to be stars throughout the course of the year!