Pegasus

Bracket Buster (Vekoma) was all about the slop as he bounded home with ears pricked in the NYRA Bets Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park. Kicking off his 2025 season in a big way two back Apr. 12, he was run down late in the lane to claim second in the GIII Lexington Stakes at Keeneland behind the "almost" GI Preakness shocker Gosger (Nyquist), who came a half-length shy of spoiling the fun for MGISW Journalism (Curlin) at Pimlico. He faded to seventh last out May 3 against optional claimers at...

Multiple graded winners Newgrange (Violence) and Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) each recorded their final works Friday in preparation for the 1 1/8-mile, $3-million, Jan. 25 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park. Newgrange, who was previously trained by Phil D'Amato and is now in the barn of Jose D'Angelo, breezed five furlongs in 1:01 at Palm Meadows. After winning the GII San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita last January, Newgrange hasn't raced since July. The five-time graded-winning millionaire's first Florida work came Jan. 8 at Palm Meadows, when he went a...

Despite live racing for the weekend cancelled at Santa Anita due to the Los Angeles fires, training continued with GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational contenders Mixto (Good Magic) and Stronghold (Ghostzapper) among Sunday's workers. Both worked five furlongs with Mixto covering the distance in 1:02.60 and Stronghold going in 1:01.40. Mixto won the 2024 GI Pacific Classic for trainer Doug O'Neill, while Stronghold, trained by Phil D'Amato, won the 2024 GI Santa Anita Derby. The $3-million Pegasus will be held Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park. An alternate for the Pegasus,...

White Abarrio (Race Day), the winner of the 2023 GI Breeders Cup Classic, is close to his first workout after being given a freshener by his connections. However, co-owner Mark Cornett reports that the now 5-year-old horse will not be ready in time to defend his title in this year's Breeders' Cup. "The Breeders' Cup Classic is not in our plans," Cornett said. "We're not going in that direction. There's no way he can be ready for that and we want to get a good race in him off this...

1/ST and the Ed Brown Society have teamed up to offer a paid internship program for African American students. Founded by Living the Dream Racing & Stables and led by Greg Harbut and Ray Daniels, the Ed Brown Society celebrates the rich history of African Americans in the equine industry and creates opportunities for young people of color to gain industry exposure, training and experience through internships and scholarships. The multi-year commitment of $150,000 made by 1/ST will cover all costs associated with the paid internship program which will enable...

Knicks Go (Paynter) tuned up for a title defense in Saturday's $3-million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park with a bullet five-furlong workout Sunday morning at Fair Grounds. The Brad Cox trainee, who captured last year's Pegasus World Cup by 2 3/4 lengths, was timed in 1:00 2/5, the fastest of 57 workouts recorded at the distance at the New Orleans track. Exercise rider Edvin Vargas was aboard. Sunday's breeze was the gray's second straight bullet in a series of eight workouts (seven at Fair Grounds) since capturing...

Hip hop artists Ja Rule, Lil' Kim, Mase and other surprise performers will take to the stage at Gulfstream Park's Carousel Club in conjunction with the running of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Races Saturday, Jan. 29. In the Flamingo Room, Faena Live will be bringing their popular immersive cabaret, Tryst, where The h.wood Group's modern-day supper club Delilah will be serving their American fare. For the second year, Pegasus World Cup is partnering with Baccarat, the French luxury brand internationally renowned as a leader in high-end and exclusive crystal...

Juddmonte homebred and GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Mandaloun (Into Mischief) tops a small field set for Sunday's TVG Pegasus S., the local prep for the $1-million GI TVG.com Haskell Invitational S. at Monmouth July 17. Opening his account with a pair of wins in Kentucky, the 'TDN Rising Star' was third as the 4-5 favorite in the GIII Lecomte S. Jan. 16 and rebounded to win that venue's GII Risen Star S. Feb. 13. A puzzling sixth as the favorite in the GII Louisiana Derby Mar. 20, Mandaloun got back...

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...

Fox Hill Farms Inc.'s Omaha Beach (War Front) galloped at Gulfstream Park Friday morning in preparation for his highly anticipated career finale in the $3-million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan. 25. "He galloped about a mile and a half this morning and looked good," trainer Richard Mandella said. Omaha Beach's training for the Pegasus had been compromised for a few days due to a minor foot issue. "He had a bruise in his foot the other day," Mandella said. "We took the shoes off. We poulticed it for a...

On New Year's Day, David Grening broke the news in the Daily Racing Form that Coolmore had purchased a 50% interest in the racing and breeding rights of Gary and Mary West's homebred Maximum Security (New Year's Day). (Disclosure: The Wests and their racing manager, Ben Glass, are retained clients of WTC, Inc.). The colt is to stand at Coolmore America (Ashford Stud) in Kentucky at the end of his career, but he is scheduled to race this year and has some major targets on his slate, including the new...