The first (hopefully, annual) Pegasus World Cup Invitational horse race will be run on Saturday, 28 January at Gulfstream Park in Florida. The race will be run at a distance of 1 1/8 miles on the main dirt track. The starting time is listed as 5:40 p.m. EST. NBC will have live coverage.
The Pegasus has several unique features. The race is for four-year-olds and up - handicap horses, in other words. Each entrant has paid a $1 million entry fee; to ensure a full gate, and good race, if a horse becomes ill or lame and must scratch, another horse may be named to race in its place. The winner of this race will receive $7 million; second place receives $1,750,000; third place receives $1 million; all others will receive a payment of $250,000 each.
Frank Stronach, who decided upon the rules for the race, would like to have the race be free of any race-day drugs. As an incentive, any horse that does not use Lasix gets a 5 pound allowance in weight. Only one horse will do so, Eragon, the four-year-old Argentinian colt. All of the other entrants will carry 124 pounds, while Eragon will carry 119.
Most handicappers believe that it will be a "two horse race" between California Chrome and Arrogate. I'm assuming that the betting odds will reflect that.
Following is a list of the entries - post position, name, where bred, jockey, assigned weight, and trainer:
1. Arrogate (Ky) Mike Smith 124# Bob Baffert
2. Prayer for Relief (Ky) F. Geroux 124# Dale Romans
3. Neolithic (Ky) J. Velesquez 124# Todd Pletcher
4. Noble Bird (Ky) J. Leparoux 124# Mark Casse
5. War Story (Ky) A. Gallardo 124# Jorge Navarro
6. War Envoy (Ky) Luis Saez 124# Mick Ruis
7. Shaman Ghost (On) Jose Ortiz 124# James Jerkens
8. Semper Fortis (Ky) T. Gaffalione 124# Doug O'Neill
9. Keen Ice (Ky) J. Castellano 124# Todd Pletcher
10. Breaking Lucky (On) L. Contreras 124# Reade Baker
11. Eragon (Arg) E. Prado 119# Laura Wohlers
12. California Chrome (Ca) V. Espinoza 124# Art Sherman
The following three horses have been designated as alternates: Stanford will take the place of Arrogate, should Arrogate scratch; Sea Raven will replace Breaking Lucky, if scratched; and if California Chrome is scratched, Madefromlucky will run in his place.
Wishing great racing luck to all of the participants!!
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