Six locals could start in Pegasus World Cup Invitational
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The first invitation list for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup was released late last week. The group consists of six local runners and six others currently scattered about the country. The South Florida-based contingent is likely to be well represented in the starting gate if things go according to plan between now and Pegasus World Cup day on Jan. 24.
As of Sunday, trainer Brad Cox confirmed his plans to run both Florida Derby winner Tappan Street and the undefeated Disco Time in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational. He didn’t entirely rule out the possibility of starting Bishops Bay as well.
Cox’s colleague Saffie Joseph Jr. said Skippylongstocking and 2025 Pegasus winner White Abarrio – despite what will be a rather unorthodox training schedule leading up to the race – are still pointing for the Pegasus. Todd Pletcher likewise has it circled it on his calendar for the Grade 1-placed Captain Cook.
All six Florida-based horses turned in works for the race this past weekend. Tappan Street breezed four furlongs in 49.40 seconds at Payson Park on Saturday, while Disco Time, who has not started since dominating the Dwyer at Aqueduct on Nov. 8, went a more serious five furlongs in 1:01 over the same track the previous morning.
Joseph sent out both Skippylongstocking and White Abarrio for very leisurely three-furlong breezes. Skippylongstocking covered the distance in 39 seconds at Palm Meadows on Friday, while White Abarrio went an even more pedestrian 40.16 at Gulfstream two days later. Captain Cook, another who will enter the Pegasus off an extended layoff, worked a half-mile in 48.60 seconds on Friday at Palm Beach Downs.
“I thought Tappan Street turned in a really good move in his first work since winning that allowance race here a couple of weeks earlier,” said Cox. “He went 49 and 2, out 1:02 and 2, over a track I believe got slower after the renovation break. And I felt Disco Time went lights-out the previous day. I’m super pleased the way he’s worked the last few weeks.”
Joseph said he had hoped for both White Abarrio and Skippylongstocking to go a bit faster in their maintenance-like breezes, but said he was not concerned, with both scheduled to have their key works this coming weekend.
“I didn’t want him to do too much. This work was just to make sure we were happy with some of the adjustments we’ve made,” Joseph said of White Abarrio’s first official work in 24 days. “We’re very happy where we’re at right now. If we have a good week and good work next time, we should be back and sitting on go for him to win it again.”
Pletcher feels Captain Cook is deserving of a second chance against Grade 1 competition after having been beaten a nose by Patch Adams in the seven-furlong Allen Jerkens in his one and only previous try at that level last summer at Saratoga.
“He seems like a versatile horse. He took a tough beat in the Allen Jerkens,” Pletcher acknowledged. “He’s run well around two turns, and this is a track that might just carry him along a little bit.”
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