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2025 Pegasus World Cup Turf


Tyler Gaffalione aboard Spirit of St Louis after winning the 2025 Pegasus World Cup Turf

Pegasus World Cup results
Undercard stakes results

Date: 1/25/2025

The $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) presented by Qatar Racing was contested on Saturday afternoon at Gulfstream Park in south Florida. Conditions were excellent in South Florida, with partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 70's, and the turf course firm. A field of 12 older horses went to post for this 1 1/8 mile contest, with Arlington Million (G1) Nations Pride sent off as the 5-2 favorite off a disappointing 10th place finish in the Bahrain International Trophy (G2). In to challenge him included 7-2 second choice Integration, winner of the Red Smith Handicap (G2), and 13-2 third choice Mi Hermano Ramon, second in the San Gabriel (G2) after winning the Seabiscuit Handicap (G2).


Down the stretch in the Pegasus World Cup Turf
Jockey Umberto Rispoli sent 12-1 Formidable Man to the lead first time by and he set fractions of 22.74, 46.20, and 1:09.29 while pressed by 14-1 Win for the Money and stalked by Integration. Turning for home, Formidable Man tired as Integration inherited the lead through 1 mile in 1:32.88. 8-1 Spirit of St Louis, 7th early under Tyler Gaffalione, came out 8 wide for room and rallied to win by a neck over Integration in 1:44.50. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to late-running 64-1 longest shot Chasing the Crown third, while favorite Nations Pride was bumped at the start and tired late to check in 9th beaten 5 lengths.

Pgm  Horse                Jockey        Win  Place  Show
 8   Spirit of St Louis Gaffalione    17.80   8.40  6.00
 5   Integration        Dettori               5.60  4.00
12   Chasing the Crown  Zayas                      22.40

Winning Time:  1:44.50 

$1 Exacta 8-5                42.20
$1 Trifecta 8-5-12        2,450.25
$1 Superfecta 8-5-12-3    8,961.30
Results Chart

Left: Spirit of St Louis returns after the race. Winning jockey Tyler Gaffalione said, "I needed to keep an eye on them all around me, especially when William [Buick aboard Nations Pride] went up the fence and gave me a good target.I just kind of waited for my spot and coming into the stretch I was able to work my way out and the horse did the rest. I'm so happy for the connections and thankful for the opportunity. It's incredible. This is home for me and it's good to see so many friendly faces and it's good to be back in the winner's circle."

Right: Spirit of St Louis heads back to the barn after the race. Winning trainer Chad Brown said, "Right in between two horses can get a little tight at times, so I was mildly concerned. I loved where he was in relation to the leader and the pace, but I didn't know how he was going to track from there. One of the many great moves in the race was Tyler on the turn when he sort of let a couple other horses go first and cleared his own path rather than try to go with him. He would have got jammed up if he went with them."

Left: Second place finisher Integration returns after the race. Jockey Frankie Dettori said, "I had him where I wanted him. I knew he'd stay so I kicked, and one came out of the pack and got me on the line. I wanted to be a little closer because it didn't read like there was going to be a ton of pace. We know the horse can run longer so I wanted to be [closer] the way the turf is riding today. No excuses."

Right: Third place finisher Chasing the Crown in the post parade. The Mike Maker trainee improved his record to 5 wins, 5 seconds, and 4 thirds in 18 starts, earning $712,740 for owners Paradise Farms, David Staudacher, and Angelo Carlesimo.



Be Your Best wins the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf

The $500,000 TAA Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational (G2) presented by SirDavis American Whisky featured a field of 11 older fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Raqiya was sent off as the 2-1 favorite off wins in the Oak Tree Stakes (G3) at Goodwood and Goldikova Stakes (G3) at Del Mar. In to challenge her included 7-2 second choice Sacred Wish, winner of the Matriarch (G1) at Del Mar, and 7-1 third choice Be Your Best, winner of the Long Island (G3) and Suwanee River (G3).

Jockey Edwin Gonzalez sent 15-2 In Our Time to the lead first time by through fractions of 22.88, 46.81, and 1:09.81 while pressed by Be Your Best and stalked by 58-1 longest shot De Regreso and Raqiya. Turning for home, In Our Time continued to lead through 1 mile in 1:32.91 before tiring. Be Your Best, confidently ridden by Edgard Zayas, rallied 5 wide to win by a neck over late-running Sacred Wish in 1:39.06. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to In Our Time third, while favorite Raqiya failed to rally finishing 5th beaten 5 lengths.

Results Chart

Left: Be Your Best heads to the winner's circle. Winning trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said, "I didn't think she wants to go that far. I thought she wanted to cut back. But (owner Mike Ryan) was right, because we won. So I give him full credit. I said, ‘Mike, you were right.' The mile last time was probably a cut back a little too short, because you don't know, that's a big drastic cut back. When she won there, you always felt confident going 1 1/16. She's got so much speed in the morning, you think that this shouldn't be a problem. I think this is probably her best, from 1 1/16 to 1 1/4."

Right: Be Your Best returns after the race. Winning jockey Edgard Zayas said, "It set up perfect, absolutely. Once [In Our Time] got in, I knew she was the speed of the speed. The plan was to get covered up behind her and it worked out perfect. She has a lot of stamina. The pace was quick, but they've been going quick all day. The track is pretty fast and they keep on going. At the end, she never quit, she kept on steady, steady, steady."

Left: Second place finisher Sacred Wish heads out to the track before the race. Trainer George Weaver said, "She ran very well, just second-best today. It looked like there was enough pace on paper and we were just looking to get a good spot and give her a chance to have free run when she needed to go. I don't have any complaints about the trip. We just got beat today." Jockey John Velazquez added, "I got a good trip. I just had to wait two or three jumps around the turn. When I got to the quarter pole, I said '[Darn], I've got to be superman to get there."

Right: Third place finisher In Our Time heads out to the track. Jockey Edwin Gonzalez said, "My filly, she tried really hard. There were some good horses running today and he was right there. I didn't want to use her too much to put her right there because I know she always breaks running, so I didn't have to use her much. She tried so hard." Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. added, "Very big effort. Big step up in class. It was a true-run race. They were on the lead but they weren't getting easy fractions. Be Your Best was keeping her honest. I was proud of her effort. For her to pick up a Grade 2 placing was huge. I think she'll eventually knock off a graded stakes. That would be our goal."

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