Meet the field for the 2025 Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational, including horses, trainers, jockeys, and post positions.
Read all you need to know about the 2025 Pegasus World Cup on site.
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Lanfranco Dettori
Status – Mountain to climb: While Mixto has had his moments (Grade 1 Pacific Classic champion at 22-1), the 4-year-old faltered to an 11th place finish next time out in November’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Mixto and rider Frankie Dettori have their work cut out for them Saturday.
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Status – Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: Rouben Mamoulian’s 1931 film personified, Saudi Crown is as unpredictable as they come. One minute, he looks unbeatable (ex. 5 3/4-length triumph in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby). The next, he’s nowhere to be found (13th in Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and 10th in 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic). There’s no telling which horse will show up in the Pegasus.
Trainer: Philip D’Amato
Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo
Status – Possible flier: Newgrange enters the Pegasus well-rested after making his last appearance on Jul. 27 in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap (fifth place). The 6-year-old does have five graded stakes titles and more than $1 million in career earnings to his name, although he hasn’t finished better than sixth in two starts at the Grade 1 rank.
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Status – Title contender: While his name exudes the luxurious, yet elegant atmosphere brought forth by the Pegasus, White Abarrio also has the chops to back it up. The four-time graded stakes winner, and most notably 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) champion, was built for races like this. The 6-year-old dynamo last raced on Dec. 28, finishing second in the Mr. Prospector (G3).
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Luis Saez
Status – Late bloomer: After a slow start to his career (first win came in eighth start), Crupi broke through at the graded stakes level in June’s Suburban (G2). The 4-year-old also showed well in last year’s Pegasus World Cup, finishing third.
Trainer: Philip D’Amato
Jockey: Antonio Fresu
Status – Dark horse: Assigned the unintentionally burdensome tag of dark horse, Stronghold finds himself in a prime position to turn heads in the Pegasus. The multiple graded stakes winner has finished second in 60 percent of his starts (6/10), most recently the Malibu Stakes (G1) on Dec. 26. Equipped with a nose for the podium, Stronghold is a name to underline at 10-1.
Trainer: Bobby Dibona
Jockey: Dylan Davis
Status – Outside looking in: A more than capable competitor in his own right, Steal Sunshine has performed well across 25 career starts, compiling a 7-2-7 record. The Pegasus, however, marks a significant step up in class and represents the 6-year-old’s steepest challenge to date by far.
Trainer: Harold Ladouceur
Jockey: Rajiv Maragh
Status – Pieces are there: When it comes to 4-year-old vitality, putting it all together consistently has been a struggle (hence the 50-1 billing). The gelding has the physical tools to compete but needs to rattle off a perfect trip to get near the money.
Trainer: Kenneth McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Status – Notable name: The road hasn’t been nearly as prosperous for Mystik Dan following his breakout moment as 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) champion. Winless in three starts since, including finishes of eighth (Grade 1 Belmont) and sixth (Grade 1 Malibu), the 4-year-old colt will need to press all the right buttons on Saturday.
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Status – Potential breakthrough candidate: The grade 2 and 3 ranks have been very kind to Skippylongstocking, who’s claimed a combined seven titles between the levels. However, the savvy veteran has struggled to replicate that success at the grade 1 class, going 0-for-8. With 28 starts to his name, Skippylongstocking (9-3-5) is one of the Pegasus’ most experienced competitors.
Trainer: Jorge Delgado
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Status – Uphill battle: The only filly competing in the Pegasus, Power Squeeze has performed admirably at the graded stakes tier with three triumphs (Grade 2 Gulfstream Park, Grade 3 Delaware Oaks, Grade 1 Alabama). That said, she is yet to outduel foes of this calibre.
Trainer: Jorge Delgado
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Status – Uphill battle: The only filly competing in the Pegasus, Power Squeeze has performed admirably at the graded stakes tier with three triumphs (Grade 2 Gulfstream Park, Grade 3 Delaware Oaks, Grade 1 Alabama). That said, she is yet to outduel foes of this calibre.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Woodbine Entertainment Group. Odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.