During the post position draw on Monday, January 23, The Stronach Group officially announced the 12 horses that will be competing at the inaugural $12 million (USD) Pegasus World Cup Invitational, the world’s richest Thoroughbred horse race.
The Pegasus World Cup Invitational will take place at Gulfstream Park this Saturday (January 28) and will be televised live on NBC from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. (EST).
“If the energy at the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Post Position Draw held today is any indication of what we can expect this weekend, then we are off to an amazing start,” said Belinda Stronach, the chairman and president of The Stronach Group. “The rematch of the decade between California Chrome and Arrogate brings a unique level of excitement.”
Originally announced in May 2016, the innovative Pegasus World Cup Invitational will be contested on the dirt at a distance of one and one-eighth miles. Twelve owners have reserved a spot in the starting gate for $1 million (USD). Owners were able to race, lease, share a starter, or sell their place in the gate.
The post positions for the Pegasus World Cup Invitational appear below, followed by a brief primer on the horses that will be participating.
Pegasus World Cup Invitational
(Post - Jockey - Morning Line Odds)
1 – Arrogate (Mike Smith) 7-5
2 – Prayer for Relief (Florent Geroux) 50-1
3 – Neolithic (John Velazquez) 30-1
4 – Noble Bird (Julien Leparoux) 25-1
5 – War Story (Antonio Gallardo) 50-1
6 – War Envoy (Luis Saez) 50-1
7 – Shaman Ghost (Jose Oritz) 20-1
8 – Semper Fortis (Tyler Gaffalione) 50-1
9 – Keen Ice (Javier Castellano) 12-1
10 – Breaking Lucky (Luis Contreras) 25-1
11 – Eragon (Edgar Prado) 50-1
12 – California Chrome (Victor Espinoza) 6-5
Post 1
Arrogate – the 2016 Travers Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner trained by Bob Baffert, with Jockey Mike Smith riding.
Post 2
Prayer for Relief – trained by Dale Romans, with Jockey Florent Geroux riding.
Post 3
Neolithic – the 2016 Discovery Stakes runner-up trained by Todd Pletcher, with Jockey John Velazquez riding.
Post 4
Noble Bird – the 2015 Stephen Foster Handicap winner trained by Mark Casse, with Jockey Julien Leparoux riding.
Post 5
War Story – the 2016 Queens County Stakes winner trained by Jorge Navarro, with Jockey Antonio Gallardo riding.
Post 6
War Envoy – who placed second and third in multiple graded stakes in Europe and trained by Alvin M. Ruis Jr., with Jockey Luis Saez riding.
Post 7
Shaman Ghost – the 2016 Woodward Stakes and Brooklyn Invitational winner trained by James Jenkens, with Jockey Jose Ortiz riding.
Post 8
Semper Fortis – trained by Doug O'Neil, with Jockey Tyler Gaffalione riding.
Post 9
Keen Ice – the 2015 Travers Stakes winner trained by Todd Pletcher, with Jockey Javier Castellano riding.
Post 10
Breaking Lucky – the 2016 Seagram Cup winner trained by Reade Baker, with Jockey Luis Contreras riding.
Post 11
Eragon – the winner of multiple Group 1 stakes races in his native Argentina trained by Laura Wohlers, with Jockey Edgar Prado riding.
Post 12
California Chrome – the two-time Eclipse Award Horse of the Year winner and the all-time leading North American horse in earnings trained by Art Sherman, with Jockey Victor Espinoza riding.
First post for the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Race Day is 11:30 a.m. (EST).
(Pegasus World Cup Invitational)
