Omaha Beach, Maximum Security top list of Pegasus World Cup invitees

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Maximum Security and Omaha Beach top a list of 17 horses that have been invited to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 25. Maximum Security, the favorite to be named the 3-year-old Eclipse Award winner in 2019, is not expected to compete in the fourth running of the World Cup, being pointed instead for the $20 million Saudi Cup. Omaha Beach is already on the grounds at Gulfstream Park and preparing for his career finale in the World Cup.

Also on the list of the invitees for the World Cup are Gift Box, Higher Power, Magic Wand, Math Wizard, McKinzie, Mr Freeze, Roadster, Seeking the Soul, Spun to Run, and Tax. Reserve invitees, in order of preference, are Mucho Gusto, War Story, Bravazo, Diamond Oops, and True Timber.

Another 17 horses have also been tendered invitations to the Pegasus World Cup Turf, a group that includes eight Grade 1 winners led by Arklow, Magic Wand, Henley's Joy, Next Shares, Sadler's Joy, and Starship Jubilee. Others on the list are Channel Cat, Instilled Regard, Mo Forza, United, Without Parole, and Zulu Alpha. Reserve invitees in order of preference are Sacred Life, Admission Office, A Thread of Blue, Mr Misunderstood, and Lucullan.

Both the World Cup and World Cup Turf will be run medication free on race day with 2 percent of the purses going back to Thoroughbred aftercare.

Along with Maximum Security, both McKinzie and Math Wizard are being pointed to the Saudi Cup at this time. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. had indicated several weeks ago that there was a chance Math Wizard also could run in the Pegasus, but pretty much closed the door on that possibility after working his Grade 1 winner a very easy half-mile in 48.20 seconds here Sunday.

“He missed a work last week, so while it’s not entirely out of the equation he could still make the Pegasus, I would say it’s very unlikely at this time,” Joseph said. “The Saudi Cup is our goal, and we wouldn’t want to chance taking a step backwards at this point.”

One locally based name on the list of invitees is War Story, who won the prep for the Pegasus Cup – the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday – in his last start but was assigned just second preference on the reserve list for the race.

War Story, who has a history of bleeding issues, according to his connections, may be one of the horses who would be most affected by the prohibition on raceday Lasix in place for the Pegasus, assuming he gets into the race.

War Story, whose victory in the Harlan’s Holiday swelled his career earnings to just less than $3 million, worked four furlongs in 50.40 on Saturday at Palm Meadows for trainer Elizabeth Dobles.

“He breezed really well and galloped out great,” said Dobles, who took over training War Story just a couple of months before his triumph in the Harlan’s Holiday. “We had his lungs ultrasounded the day before he worked to see if there had been any scarring from previous bleeding episodes, and he was given a clean bill of health. If that wasn’t the case, we’d really have to debate whether to go into the Pegasus. We are breezing him with Lasix as a preventative measure and taking every measure therapeutically that we can to help him. If he gets through his upcoming breezes without bleeding, we’re a go. If there’s any little issue, he won’t run.”

Dobles is hoping to get Luis Saez, who rode War Story to a pair of Grade 3 wins in 2019, to take the mount again in the Pegasus World Cup.

“Right now, we’re not sure where we stand with that since I think he’s also been offered the mount from Dale Romans on Mr Freeze,” Dobles said. “I think [Saez] fits War Story perfectly, but whoever rides, I think this horse will have a great chance.”