Pegasus World Cup Predictions, Odds, Picks 2025: One of the Richest Events in American Racing

One of the richest events in American racing, the $3 million Pegasus World Cup has drawn a full field of twelve on Saturday. The Grade 1 test, to be run at 9-furlongs over the main track at Gulfstream Park, has proven to be a showcase for champions. Will the 2025 edition live up to that history?

One horse who could do so is the morning line favorite Locked. A lightly raced son of the champion and 2018 Pegasus winner Gun Runner, the Grade 1 winner has come back from a sizable layoff to win two impressive starts at Aqueduct, including last month’s Grade 2 Cigar Mile for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

His top competition on Saturday includes the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner White Abarrio and the 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan. Pending any last minute scratches, here is the Pegasus World Cup field in order of my preference and including my analysis for each runner.

Pegasus World Cup Predictions and Race Analysis

4) White Abarrio (4/1)

A three-time Grade 1 winner, this 6-year-old veteran has done much of his best racing at Gulfstream Park. He’s a winner of 6-of-8 starts at the South Florida oval, including the Grade 1 Florida Derby back in 2022. Good over the surface and the 9-furlong distance, he should get a good stalking trip on Saturday behind Saudi Crown. With Locked getting much of the betting attention, I believe the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner will offer good value. With a pair of sharp preps under his belt since the layoff, he should be ready to fire his best. He is the top pick.

2) Saudi Crown (4/1)

Despite having won half of his twelve lifetime starts, this speedy son of Always Dreaming can be a little bit hard to figure. At his best, he is very good, but he has some notable failures mixed in, such as two poor efforts at the Breeders’ Cup. Still, this looks to be a very good spot for him to go after a big win. He looks to have the most speed in the race, which can be very dangerous at Gulfstream Park. If he gets loose on the lead on Saturday, the Brad Cox-trainee could be impossible to pass down the stretch. He has a big chance here.

11) Locked (5/2)

An impressive winner of the Grade 2 Cigar Mile last time at Aqueduct, I expect this Todd Pletcher-trainee to be bet heavily in his toughest test to date. He deserves plenty of attention with an excellent overall record and a Grade 1 win back in 2023. His upside is strong, but I don’t know if he has proven himself against a field of this stature yet to take at a short price. The son of Gun Runner is obviously a big threat, but I am going to take a shot against him as a clear favorite.

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6) Stronghold (10/1)

If you are looking for a little better value in the Pegasus World Cup, I believe this 4-year-old son of Ghostzapper is a great place to start. He has never run a bad race in ten career starts and is a Grade 1 winner at the 9-furlong distance. If he can work out a good trip from mid-pack, he should make his presence felt as they turn into the stretch. He seems to have a bit of seconditis, however, so playing him underneath in the exotics would be a smart bet.

10) Skippylongstocking (10/1)

In last year’s edition of the Pegasus this well-traveled son of Exaggerator was pulled up due to the heat. Assuming that doesn’t repeat itself, he is in with a chance on Saturday. Although he has yet to win a Grade 1 race, he has proven to be a solid performer with numerous graded stakes victories, including several coming at this distance. He could sit in the catbird seat behind Saudi Crown early and on the outside. He should not be dismissed.

9) Mystik Dan (8/1)

Perhaps the biggest wildcard in the field, the winner of the 2024 Kentucky Derby is at a crossroad in his racing career. The only horse to run in all three legs of the Triple Crown last year, he is an obvious threat at his best. There were other good performances in his career other than the Kentucky Derby, but his one race back after the layoff was dull. I like others better on Saturday, but he is hard to throw out completely.

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3) Newgrange (15/1)

Previously based in California this veteran was going good this time last year, but then went off form in his last couple. Given some time off, and now in a new barn, it is certainly possible that he can come back running. Whether or not that will be good enough to win this is a question, but he is an interesting longshot here for new trainer Jose D’Angelo.

5) Crupi (12/1)

Although this son of Curlin cashed a nice paycheck when third last year in the Pegasus, he was never a serious threat to the top two. Can he do better in 2025? I don’t think it’s likely. With very little early speed, I believe he would need a hot pace to help him win something big like this. I don’t see him getting that here and I think a rally into mid-pack at the finish is the most probable result for him.

1) Mixto (15/1)

A very surprising winner of the Grade 1 Pacific Classic late last summer, the son of Good Magic came crashing back to Earth with an 11th-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic behind Sierra Leone. His one race since was decent, but came against a much easier field than this. He still has won only twice in 16 career starts and I don’t see another major upset happening on Saturday.

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12) Power Squeeze (40/1)

The lone female in the field, this daughter of Union Rags does have a few things to like. She won five stakes races last year including the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga. She also has performed well in all three starts at Gulfstream, narrowly missing out last time to be perfect in three tries. The hard-trying late runner is a nice filly, but still looks up against it in this field. She is not for me in the Pegasus.

7) Steal Sunshine (40/1)

One of the real long shots in this field, this Constitution veteran has been a solid performer at Gulfstream Park the last few years. He has won 6-of-18 over the oval, but has never beaten a field like this. He is a nice horse, who I would love to have in my barn, but is a cut below the best here. Third in the local prep, I cannot recommend him in this spot. 

8) Vitality (50/1)

The winner of the middle jewel of Canada’s Triple Crown last season, he got it done in the one leg on the dirt in Fort Erie. That one came against Canadian-breds, however, and is not nearly in this type of class. Against American dirt horses he has looked far below Grade 1 quality. I cannot seem him in the mix on Saturday when the real running begins.

(Odds provided by the author Brian Zipse)

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How to Watch Pegasus World Cup

• What: $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1)

• Location: Gulfstream Park

• When: Saturday, January 25, 5:40 p.m. ET

• How to Watch: NBC, Peacock, FanDuel TV