Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida is the site of the first big bucks thoroughbred horse race of the calendar year in the $3,000,000 Grade I Pegasus World Cup of 2026 on Saturday, January 24. Last year’s winner, White Abarrio, and third, Skippylongstocking, return to the Sunshine State for another go at winning this valuable prize over 1,800m.
Aged seven, both horses alongside Argentine import Full Serrano are fully mature thoroughbreds. Not only do they face each other, but several young pretenders including returning Florida Derby hero Tappan Street. He defeated subsequent Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty over this course and distance last March, only for injury to rule him out for almost the whole of 2025.
The Brad Cox barn have been very patient with Tappan Street, but will also hope to make up for lost time with him here. He’s not the only bullet they fire at the Pegasus World Cup in 2026, however, as Disco Time runs for owner-breeders Juddmonte Farms too. Both Cox horses have similar profiles in they began last season on the Triple Crown trail, but didn’t make it to Churchill Downs, Pimlico or Saratoga.
Disco Time is the Morning Line favorite with Belmont Stakes betting sites here after posting strong speed figures in impressive Listed wins under a penalty. It’s whether the four-year-old colt by Not This Time can build on those efforts at the highest level in a deeper race with big bucks at stake. Unbeaten in five, including landing the Grade III Lecomte Stakes at the New Orleans Fair Grounds by a neck last January, Disco Time has obvious claims on the visual impression he created.
Cox Barn Has Strong Hand for Gulfstream Park Winter Feature
Given the potential for further progress from both Disco Time and Tappan Street, who has 3-4 record at Gulfstream Park, Cox can clearly have a big say in the Pegasus World Cup of 2026, then. Four-year-olds have done well in this race in the past since its inauguration in 2017. It is whether Cox’s young guns have the form to match that posted by their elders here.
Disco Time hasn’t beaten a great deal, even in his graded success 12 months ago. Only the sixth home from the Lecomte in Magnitude has really distinguished himself on the track since. That one landed the Risen Star back in Louisiana before Iowa Derby success, showing behind Sovereignty in the Travers Stakes over the summer, then placing in the Pennsylvania Derby and landing the Clark Stakes from Hit Show in the fall.
A form line through Sovereignty suggests an on-song Tappan Street ought to have the beating of his barn buddy, then. He’s still on the comeback trail with just a minor win in his prep race for the Pegasus World Cup of 2026 on his return from injury. Given his track record, the Into Mischief colt – reunited with jockey Luis Saez here – might be better value for bettors.
If Cox doesn’t win this with one of his young guns, then the Morning Line suggests Saffie Joseph barn star White Abarrio can mount a successful defense of his crown. The son of Race Day has a wide draw in Gate 11 against him with low-to-middle historically favored. White Abarrio was so impressive 12 months ago and even followed-up when landing the Ghostzapper in some style back here in Florida.
Is Age a Worry for White Abarrio, Skippylongstocking, Full Serrano in Pegasus World Cup 2026?
He wasn’t the same horse when he spent the Summer Meet campaigned at Saratoga, however. White Abarrio simply couldn’t go the pace off topweight in the Metropolitan Handicap and he missed the show again in the Whitney Stakes. Although fifth past the wire in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the disqualification of Phileas Fogg meant the awarding of another fourth spot by NYRA stewards.
White Abarrio returns to Gulfstream Park for the Pegasus World Cup of 2026 without a race under his belt since August 31. That must be a concern as he came into last year’s success off the back of a prep. Last year’s form stacks up, however, with Locked who split White Abarrio and Skippylongstocking subsequently landing the Santa Anita Handicap and Woodward Stakes.
Joseph also trains Skippylongstocking, who has more than six lengths to find on his barn buddy on the run from 12 months ago. This son of Exaggerator has three subsequent victories to his name, including the Hollywood Gold Cup over further. Skippylongstocking also gave re-opposing head runner-up Poster 8lb and a beating in the Harlan’s Holiday Stakes here in December.
Now meeting off level weights with the Godolphin four-year-old, that big swing helps Skippylongstocking. The fact remains that neither he nor White Abarrio are getting any younger, though. John Sadler runs Full Serrano, meanwhile. Although unable to defend his Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile crown, this son of Full Mast might actually do better stepped up the extra furlong, based on placed efforts in the Pacific Classic and Goodwood Stakes the last two falls.
Baffert Bids for Record Fourth Win in Florida with Madaket Road
California trainer Bob Baffert has three previous wins in the Pegasus World Cup, but his 2026 runner Madaket Road looks a tricky horse for connections to place. The four-year-old colt by Quality Road was no match for Tappan Street when out of the show in the Florida Derby over course and distance last March. Madaket Road then placed in the Pat Day Mile and Woody Stephens Stakes on some big cards.
Subsequent runs over 1,400m have been disappointing as he could only manage fifth in the H Allen Jerkens Memorial back at Saratoga and then fourth in the Malibu Stakes around Santa Anita over Christmas. Madaket Road hasn’t been finishing off his races over a longer distance and didn’t appear to stay this far as a three-year-old, so there’s only the barn’s fine record going for him really.
Finishing ahead of him at the Spa this summer was Todd Pletcher’s Captain Cook. Successful in 2022 with Life Is Good, the barn sends this four-year-old Practical Joke colt to the Pegasus World Cup of 2026 following four defeats in graded company. Captain Cook did win the Withers Stakes over this distance last February, but must demonstrate his credentials at a higher level.
The Cigar Mile has been a form guide to this in the past. Runner-up Mika steps up in trip and grade for Michael Maker after putting up 4lb overweight at Aqueduct last time. That proved costly for the four-year-old Catholic Boy colt as he missed out by a neck to Bishops Bay, albeit after having the run of the race.
Other longshots in the line-up are Charles Town Classic winner Banishing, Native Diver runner-up British Isles, and Zia Park Derby scorer Brotha Keny. Two reserves are also eligible in course and distance handicap victors Lightning Tones and Catalytic.
Pegasus World Cup 2026 Post Positions Draw & Morning Line Odds
- Disco Time – 8-5 fav
- British Isles – 20-1
- Full Serrano – 12-1
- Banishing – 20-1
- Skippylongstocking – 15-1
- Madaket Road – 10-1
- Tappan Street – 6-1
- Poster – 20-1
- Captain Cook – 15-1
- Mika – 10-1
- White Abarrio – 4-1
- Brotha Keny – 30-1
- Lightning Tones – 50-1 [RESERVE]
- Catalytic – 50-1 [RESERVE]
Our Handicapper’s Shortlist & Verdict
The value on the Morning Line definitely lies with 2025 Florida Derby winner Tappan Street from the middle of the draw. Barn buddy Disco Time hasn’t done anything wrong, yet Gate 1 against the fence means he’ll need to break quickly or risk being squeezed out. White Abarrio was so impressive 12 months ago, but returns to Gulfstream Park without the crucial prep race of his last campaign.
Poster has work to do reverse track form with Skippylongstocking off 8lb worse terms. As the younger horse, Eoin Harty’s charge could have the improvement in him, but this is a huge swing in weight. Madaket Road is a horse without a trip at the moment, while Captain Cook and Mika must find progress in deeper water. Anything else making the show would be a considerable upset.
WATCH: White Abarrio Beat Skippylongstocking in the Pegasus World Cup 2025
