The $3,000,000 Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. (G1) at Gulfstream Park is one of the most prestigious and richest horse races of the year, and this year’s event on Saturday, Jan. 28, promises to be another stellar renewal headed by Kentucky-bred Cyberknife. The multiple Grade 1 winner, who owns impressive credentials, has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite for trainer Brad Cox.
Campaigned by Al Gold’s Gold Square LLC, Cyberknife, a son of Pegasus winner Gun Runner, just missed in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in his most recent start. After forging to the lead in the stretch, Cyberknife was caught by Cody’s Wish nearing the wire and lost to that rival by just a head in a hard-fought battle to the wire.
Bred in Kentucky by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Cyberknife has won five of 12 lifetime starts and has banked more than $2 million in a stellar career. He captured last year’s Haskell S. (G1) and Arkansas Derby (G1), as well as the Matt Winn S. (G3). His regular rider Florent Geroux will be back aboard in the Pegasus for Cyberknife’s final race before embarking on a stallion career at Spendthrift Farm.
“He’s acting like his normal self,” said Brad Cox leading up to the Pegasus. “He’s on his toes looking around. That’s him, he’s done that several times. We’re super happy with the way he’s presenting himself.
Cyberknife’s chief competition could come from fellow Kentucky-bred Proxy, a Grade 1-winning homebred for Godolphin and trainer Michael Stidham. A son of Tapit, Proxy won last year’s Clark (G1) at Churchill Downs and was runner-up in the New Orleans Classic S. (G2) and the Blame S. He also finished third in the Stephen Foster (G2) and the Bel Ali S. (G2) at Keeneland. All told, Proxy has banked $971,120 while winning four of 13 starts. Joel Rosario has the mount and Proxy is listed as the 9-2 second choice on the morning line.
“As far as the horse, he’s doing fantastic,” said Michael Stidham. “He’s trained well since the Clark, and he shipped well. Now it’s just a matter of getting a decent trip out of the one hole. As far as the race and him being in it, I think he fits well and has a good shot.”
Kentucky-bred Skippylongstocking is fresh off an impressive two-length score in the Harlan’s Holiday S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park. Owned by Daniel Alonso and trained by Joseph Saffie Jr., Skippylongstocking is a son of Exaggerator bred in the Bluegrass by Brushy Hill LLC.
Trainer Bob Baffert ships Kentucky-bred Defunded to Gulfstream Park. The son of Dialed In won the Awesome Again S. (G1) at Santa Anita last October and annexed the Native Diver (G3) at Del Mar last November in his most recent start. Racing for Pegram, Watson, and Weitman, Defunded was bred by Athens Woods LLC.
Dialed in will also be represented by Get Her Number, a 5-year-old horse owned by Gary Barber and trained by Peter Miller. Runner-up, beaten just a head by Mind Control in the Cigar Mile (G1) in his most recent start, Get Her Number was bred by Phillip and Brenda Robertson.
Kentucky-bred White Abarrio is undefeated in four starts at Gulfstream Park and won last year’s Florida Derby (G1) and Holy Bull S. (G3) over the track. Owned by C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa, White Abarrio is a son of Race Day trained by Saffie. The gray colt, who was bred by Spendthrift Farm, has four wins from 10 lifetime starts.
Rounding out the Kentucky-bred contingent are: Ridin with Biden, Art Collector, Last Samurai, and Stilleto Boy.