It's Pegasus World Cup Weekend

Jan 24th, 2026

So Far In 2026 Our Exotic Predictions Have Paid $351,022

Pegasus World Cup Celebrates A Decade of Champions

This weekend delivers one of the most anticipated cards of the winter season, and racing fans are in for a treat. Today marks the 10th running of the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park and this year's renewal has all the makings of an instant classic.

In the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1), all eyes will be on Disco Time, the undefeated sensation from trainer Brad Cox who brings a perfect 5-for-5 record into his Grade 1 debut. The Juddmonte homebred is the 8-5 morning-line favorite with Eclipse Award-winning jockey Flavien Prat in the irons. His last two victories came by a combined 15¼ lengths, including a jaw-dropping 9¾-length demolition in November's Dwyer at Aqueduct.

Standing in his way is defending champion White Abarrio, the 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic winner looking to become the first horse in history to win the Pegasus World Cup twice. With Irad Ortiz Jr. - a three-time Pegasus winner himself - back aboard for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., the classy 7-year-old won't go down without a fight.

The drama doesn't stop there. Cox sends out a second bullet in Tappan Street, last year's Florida Derby (G1) winner and the last horse to defeat Horse of the Year Sovereignty. Bob Baffert's Madaket Road seeks to give the Hall of Fame trainer an unprecedented fourth Pegasus trophy. And don't sleep on Full Serrano, the 2024 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner making his return for John Sadler.

The Pegasus World Cup Day undercard is stacked with $5.55 million in total purses across 10 stakes races. The $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) features a talented international field going 1⅛ miles on the grass, while the $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G2) promises a competitive showdown among the sport's top distaff turf runners.

While South Florida hosts the headliner, Texas brings the heat with its biggest day of the season at Sam Houston Race Park. Five stakes worth $750,000 highlight the Houston Racing Festival, anchored by the $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic (G3).

Dual Grade 1 winner La Cara makes her highly anticipated 4-year-old debut as the 9-5 morning-line favorite. The Mark Casse-trained filly captured both the Ashland (G1) and Acorn (G1) last season and has been training forwardly at Oaklawn. "She's been on our 'A-team' from day one," Casse said. "She's training very well and should not need a race."

Also on the card: the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup at 1½ miles on the grass, the $100,000 Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile for 3-year-olds, and the $75,000 Groovy Stakes and Bara Lass Stakes kicking off the Texas Stallion Stakes Series.

Santa Anita continues its Classic Meet with stakes action both today and Sunday:

Today, the La Canada Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares at 8½ furlongs offers a $100,000 purse and serves as a stepping stone toward the bigger prizes later this meet.

On Sunday, the $100,000 Baffle Stakes gives 3-year-olds a chance to showcase their talent over 6½ furlongs on the turf hillside course.

Looking ahead, Oaklawn Park returns from its January hiatus on Friday, January 30th, launching into the heart of the Road to the Kentucky Derby season. The Southwest Stakes (G3) on January 31st will award Derby points and set the stage for the February prep races. With a $1 million Fantasy Stakes (G2) purse this year—the richest ever for 3-year-old fillies before the Kentucky Oaks—the Hot Springs oval is primed for another unforgettable meet.

Calm Before the Storm
by Ed Meyer

January 24th, 1978. The "Blizzard" that shut down most of the country was in full effect. It seems like yesterday when the billowing wall of darkness was rolling its way to Florence, Kentucky. It was the home of Latonia Racecourse which became Turfway Park; my Dad and I were out for a day at the races but that was cut short with the ominous announcement from Mike Battaglia urging fans to go immediately home as the races were cancelled and the storm which was supposed to arrive that evening was right on top of us. - I remember watching fans run to their cars and my Dad and I were already there and moving. We made it home just in time as golf ball size hail pelted the area like boulders from the heavens. It was a day of firsts in my life. The storm of the century had arrived, and I had my first Daily Double as the races were cancelled after the 2nd race.

Recent Big 'Uns

Tampa Bay Downs

Jan 21 (R 6)

50¢ S5 (KEY)

$5,750.15

Gulfstream

Jan 22 (R 10)

$1 S5 (KEY)

$5,513.90

Tampa Bay Downs

Jan 17 (R 9)

$1 S5 (BOX)

$4,423.50

Turfway

Jan 15 (R 9)

$1 S5 (KEY)

$3,556.86

Laurel

Jan 23 (R 1)

$1 Super (KEY)

$3,115.10

Charles Town

Jan 16 (R 1-5)

$1 Pick 5

$1,937.70

Tampa Bay Downs

Jan 14 (R 6)

$1 S5 (BOX)

$1,473.20

Fair Grounds

Jan 17 (R 5)

50¢ Tri (KEY)

$996.00

Louisiana Downs

Jan 19 (R 3-7)

50¢ Pick 5

$808.75

Upcoming Weekend Stakes Races

Saturday, Jan 24th

Gulfstream
$3,000,000 Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1)
$1,000,000 World Cup Turf Invitational (G1)
$500,000 Pegasus Fillies & Mares Turf Invitational (G2)
$200,000 Inside Information S. (G2)
$200,000 William L. McKnight S. (G3)
$175,000 Christophe Clement S. (G3)
$175,000 Fred W. Hooper S. (G3)
$175,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint
Sam Houston
$300,000 Houston Ladies Classic (G3)
$200,000 John B Connally Turf Cup
$100,000 Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile
Santa Anita
$100,000 La Canada S. (G3)
Turfway Park
$125,000 Wishing Well S.

Sunday, Jan 25th

Santa Anita
$100,000 Baffle S.

Testimonials

"Dear Winning Ponies,

Another bone crushing win has been delivered by your service ($25 Super paid over $87,000!).

I took your Top Horse - Maximum Security for the Florida Derby and put it on top of the next four horses and connected for a big win.

Made a mistake by not betting the exacta or the trifecta, which paid out very nice, but this will have to suffice for now :-)

I'm pretty sure we killed the payout and were paid half of the pool for all superfectas."

- Mark A., Fort Lauderdale, FL

Picks/Results For 2019 Florida Derby

"Love the winning ponies in the mud angle this time of year just hit early pic 4 as well as 20 exb in the 3rd and in the second 5 came second woulda had 20 on the 98 dad but can't win em all and I woulda took out the pic 4 pool X 2$$$$$$$ Thanks WP"

- John O., Grand Island, NY.

Picks/Results For Early Pick 4 at Finger Lakes

3370 N Hayden Rd #205

Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Send Us A Message