Will Locked be Victorious in the 2025 Pegasus World Cup?

Although it isn’t part of the historic Triple Crown, the Pegasus World Cup Invitational is one of the most lucrative thoroughbred races in the world. The contest, which is held at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida, takes place at the end of January over a distance of nine furlongs. The first edition of the race was held in 2017 and was won by the iconic Arrogate.

Throughout 2017 and 2018, the Pegasus World Cup Invitational was the richest horse racing in the world with a purse of $12 million. The prize money has been gradually reduced over the last few years, however, the winner of the contest will be rewarded with a handsome $3 million with the race always tending to attract a high-quality field. With the North American breeding season starting in February, the race gives owners one final opportunity to run their horses before they are retired to stud. This was the case with 2018 winner Gun Runner, who was ridden to victory by Florent Geroux for trainer Steven Asmussen.

The race is named after the Greek mythical horse. There is a 110-foot statue of Pegasus at Gulfstream Park.

Paddy Power’s Odds of 4.0 are predicting a 25% chance that Locked wins the 2025 Pegasus World Cup invitational ::: Discover the current Odds now HERE

Previous Winners of the Race

Arrogate was the inaugural winner of the event in 2017, recording a time of 1:46:83 as he triumphed by almost five lengths. This time has yet to be surpassed. Gun Runner, who had won 10 of his 17 previous starts and was a Grade 1 regular was the second winner of the lucrative contest, banking prize money of $16 million in the process.

City of Light won for trainer Michael McCarthy the following year before Bob Baffert’s Mucho Gusto was successful under Irad Ortiz Jr. The two most recent winners are William Mott’s Art Collector (2023) and another Baffert-trained entrant National Treasure, who was guided home by Flavien Prat.

Baffert, a certified hall-of-famer, has the most wins in the contest (3) whereas jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. is the only jockey to have been successful more than once. No horse is yet to do the double in the Pegasus.

Who is Locked?

Locked is four year old colt who is trained by Todd Pletcher. The handler has been aiming for this race following a success in the Grade II Cigar Mile at Aqueduct at the beginning of December. Having won in the Breeders’ Cup Futurity and having come a close third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, this contender is likely to have the class to compete in this valuable contest at the end of January.

The Gun Runner colt had suffered an injury earlier in 2024, however, he looked sharp on his return in New York last month and could be tough to beat in Florida. With his sire having triumphed in this contest seven years ago, there will be plenty of excitement surrounding this horses’ arrival at the track.

The Rivals

Locked will be running alongside stablemate Crupi, however, odds of around 16/1 suggest that this horse will simply be making up the numbers.

Multiple Grade I winner White Abarrio is viewed as Locked’s most notable competitor in this year’s renewal. The Florida Derby-winner is trained by Saffie Joseph, whose horses have enjoyed a terrific twelve months and was last seen competing at this venue in the Grade III Prospector Stakes at the end of 2024. It’s been over a year since this one entered the winner’s enclosure, yet that success at the 2023 Breeder’s Cup puts him firmly in the picture.

Saudi Crown has a little bit to find on the form having enjoyed success at Fair Grounds and Ellis Park. Nevertheless, Brad Cox-trained runners should never be underestimated and this one has won five of his 11 starts.

Mystik Dan is fairly lightly raced and has struggled during the latter half of 2024, yet there is little doubting this ones class. The Kentucky Derby winner hasn’t been able to build on his success at Churchill Downs, yet could easily produce the goods in another valuable contest.

If you believe that White Abarrio will win the 2025 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream, you could win €450 by betting €100 at Paddy Power if it happens.