A trip to the $10 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) in March is on the table for grade 1 winner Seeking the Soul following his fifth-place run in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 27.
With $16 million up for grabs and an unmistakably Miami atmosphere, the 2018 Pegasus World Cup stage was set. From celebrities like Ludacris and Post Malone to racing stars like Gun Runner, it was a can't-miss event in South Florida.
Behind every Thoroughbred that makes its way to the racetrack is a team of people who have plowed plenty of capital and sweat equity into turning a dream into a reality. And there is always a great backstory.
The only thing brighter than Gun Runner's attitude Sunday morning was the wattage of Steve Asmussen's smile as he soaked in every precious moment with the horse who answered almost every bell in his 19-race career.
With Gun Runner slated to head off to stud at Three Chimneys Farm following his fifth straight grade 1 triumph, West Coast - who ended up 2 1/2 lengths behind him - may yet pick up the mantle as the top older horse in training.
In the $16.3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park, the 5-year-old son of Candy Ride owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm put an exclamation point on the end of a magnificent career with a determined win.
There was no sophomore slump for the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1). The first edition last year handled $40.2 million, a Gulfstream Park record for a non-Breeders' Cup program. It was a high bar, but Pegasus 2 vaulted over it.
Because Gun Runner has delivered on almost every one of his connections' aspirations, his team now feels the pressure of wanting him to properly close the book on a chapter that has nothing left to prove.
Gun Runner is quite obviously the one to beat as he makes his final start in the second running of the world's richest horse race: the Jan. 27 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), which offers an estimated purse of $16.3 million.
J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
When entries were taken for the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park, a new level of wonderment officially became part of the Reeves' reality.
Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm's Gun Runner will break from post 10 as the 4-5 morning-line favorite for his racing sendoff Jan. 27 in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
If one thinks owner Ron Paolucci is brash now, they better brace themselves for how audacious he will be if his old warrior War Story upsets the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1).
In his typically professional manner Jan. 22, Gun Runner breezed a half-mile in :48.96 at Gulfstream Park in the last timed workout ahead of his career finale in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 27 at Gulfstream.
Collected and West Coast both worked in company at Santa Anita Park Jan. 21 in preparation for the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park.
Seeking the Soul, winner of the Clark Handicap presented by Norton Healthcare (G1), had his final tune-up before the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park, working a half-mile in :48 3/5 Jan. 21.
Globetrotting Toast of New York completed the final leg of his journey from England Jan. 20 and settled in at Gulfstream Park, where he will compete Jan. 27 in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1).
Whatever his problems in the afternoon, Gettysburg can display brilliance in morning workouts. As Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen marveled, few horses have the physical ability to repeatedly and effectively work with a horse such as Gun Runner.
Coolmore's Stellar Wind got an early four-furlong leg-stretcher Jan. 20 in preparation for her run against males in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1).
The Stronach Group announced enhanced security measures for horses competing in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1).
Giant Expectations motored through five furlongs on what has been a slow main track during morning training in :58 flat in his last timed work in preparation for the Pegasus World Cup (G1).
Gun Runner, the likely favorite for the upcoming $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), took his first trip around Gulfstream Park the morning of Jan. 19. He arrived at the Florida oval Jan. 18.
Tom Pedulla recently spoke to owner Gary West about West Coast, a newly turned 4-year-old viewed as one of the top threats to upset Gun Runner In the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1).
Well-traveled Fear the Cowboy, a three-time stakes winner at Gulfstream Park, has been confirmed as the 11th starter in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) to be run Jan. 27.
Gun Runner came out of his impressive Jan. 14 workout at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in fine order and now awaits a Jan. 18 flight to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Gun Runner had his final major workout for the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 14, working six furlongs in 1:11 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Stellar Wind continued to impress trainer Chad Brown the morning of Jan. 14 with her preparation for the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), breezing five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 at Palm Meadows Training Center.
Several contenders for the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) coming up Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park continued their preparations for the 1 1/8-mile test by putting in workouts at their respective bases Jan. 13.
Giant Expectations recorded the fastest five-furlong workout at Santa Anita Park Jan. 12 in preparation for a scheduled start in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) coming up Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park.
Multiple grade 1 winner and Canadian champion Shaman Ghost will enter stud at Tommy Town Thoroughbreds near Santa Ynez, Calif., his connections announced Jan. 11.
Owner Ron Paolucci, who races as Loooch Racing Stable, has worked out a deal to run Ivan Rodriguez's Sharp Azteca and his co-owned War Story in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1). He is eyeing a spot for his Game Over.
Horse of the Year favorite Gun Runner had another methodical work on his march to Gulfstream Park's $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), motoring six furlongs in 1:13 1/5 with Gettysburg at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Jan. 7.
Stellar Wind, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2015 and a six-time grade 1 winner, breezed for the first time as a 6-year-old the morning of Jan. 7, as she continued preparations for a start in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 27.
Luis Saez, who currently sits atop the jockey standings at Gulfstream Park, has been confirmed to ride multiple graded stakes winner Gunnevera in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 27.
Trainer Peter Eurton said Dec. 31 that the ownership group of Exline-Border Racing, Gatto Racing, and Garrett Zubok made a deal with The Stronach Group to run Giant Expectations in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 27.
With frigid weather looming in New Orleans, trainer Steve Asmussen wanted a little something extra from Gun Runner during his weekly workout Sunday in preparation for Gulfstream Park's $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1).
Ivan Rodriguez's Sharp Azteca, whose connections are eyeing a spot in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park, turned heads with a five-furlong breeze in :59 flat over Gulfstream Park West's main track Dec. 31.
Margoth's Gunnevera stepped up his training for the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park during a five-furlong breeze Dec. 30 at Gulfstream Park West.
Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Gun Runner picked up the pace in his Dec. 17 workout at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, motoring five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 in his preparation for the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 27.
After Fear the Cowboy rallied for a 2 1/4-length victory in Saturday's test, trainer Efren Loza Jr. said the multiple graded stakes winner could be available to a Pegasus World Cup (G1) stakeholder looking for a contender to run in the Jan. 27 event.
Dean Reeves of Reeves Thoroughbred Racing confirmed Dec. 15 that a deal has been reached with Al Shaqab Racing to start Toast of New York in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 27.
Venezuelan owner Salomon Del-Vallee has reached a deal with stakeholder William Gallo of Gallo Stables and Bella Inizio Farm to run Gunnevera in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 27.
Neolithic, the third-place finisher in the world's two richest races this season, has been retired, co-owner Jack Wolf of Starlight Racing confirmed Dec. 9.
Margoth's multiple graded stakes winner Gunnevera will train directly up to the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 27, 2018 at Gulfstream Park.
Stellar Wind was back on the work tab Dec. 3, breezing a half-mile in :50 flat at Palm Meadows Training Center for a possible start in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 27.
Ivan Rodriguez's Sharp Azteca is no worse for wear the morning following his first career grade 1 victory and his connections are considering the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), trainer Jorge Navarro said.
Pegasus World Cup 2.0 will go on as promised Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park—at least that’s the word from the Stronach Group.
Gun Runner had his first timed work Dec. 3 since winning the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), as the Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm's colt took a step toward his final career start in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 27.
We should remember the Arrogate who raised goose bumps on our arms and left us numb from the experience of watching him run. And we should ignore the phantom who floundered at Del Mar, as we would any mirage.
Gunnevera is safe and sound in his stall at Gulfstream Park West after returning from Southern California Tuesday, and will aim for the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at his home track.
