The Pegasus World Cup: Where Are They Now?

Find out what the innagural 2017 Pegasus World Cup runners have done since their start at Gulfstream Park

by Alastair Bull

The Pegasus World Cup was a huge hit in its first running, attracting a top field including Arrogate and California Chrome. The concept was successfully exported to Australia, where the A$10 million sprint The Everest became the richest turf race in the world.

BULL: Australia's The Everest Stakes Betting Analysis

However, not many of the 12 runners from the inaugural race are still in training.

Here’s a brief look at what’s happened to the Pegasus runners since.

Arrogate (1st): Went on to score a spectacular last-to-first victory in the Dubai World Cup, and became the highest-earning horse in history. Dubai proved the high point, as he lost three consecutive races at Del Mar. Retired to Juddmonte Farm in Kentucky at a $75,000 fee.

Shaman Ghost (2nd): Subsequently won the Santa Anita Handicap and the Pimlico Special Handicap before finishing second to Keen Ice in the Suburban Stakes. He later required throat surgery and was retired. Will stand in California at a $10,000 fee.

Neolithic (3rd): Went from the Pegasus World Cup effort to finish third in the Dubai World Cup, and filled the same position in the Woodward Stakes. Also won an allowance and was runner-up in the Fayette Stakes. Now retired and likely to stand at a regional stud.

Keen Ice (4th): Took on Arrogate and Neolithic in the Dubai World Cup, finishing seventh. Later won the Suburban Stakes and finished second in the Whitney Stakes and the Jockey Club Gold Cup before injury forced him out of the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Stands at Calumet Farm in Kentucky for $20,000.

War Story (5th): The Northern Afleet gelding looks like being the only runner in last year’s Pegasus World Cup that will return in 2018. Had a useful 2017, winning the Brooklyn Invitational Stakes and finishing fourth behind Gun Runner three times, most recently in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Noble Bird (6th): Ran twice after the Pegasus World Cup, finishing unplaced in both the New Orleans Handicap and the Alysheba Stakes. The $1m-earner stands stand at Ocala Stud in Florida at a $5,000 fee.

Semper Fortis (7th): Seventh in the Pegasus World Cup, Semper Fortis raced just once more in 2017 for a third-place finish in a stakes race at Sunland Park in February. Back in training at Santa Anita.

Breaking Lucky (8th): Raced fairly for the rest of 2017, twice finishing a distant third to Gun Runner and also finishing runner-up in the New Orleans Handicap and fifth in both the Alysheba Stakes and Awesome Again Stakes Sept. 30, his most recent race.

California Chrome (9th): After not reproducing his best in the World Cup, the two-time Horse of the Year went directly to Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky, where he served 145 mares. He shuttled to Haras Sumaya in Chile in the U.S. fall, and is back at Taylor Made for a second season at a $40,000 fee.

Prayer for Relief (10th): A 9-year-old who earned more than $2 million prior to the Pegasus World Cup, he headed to stud straight away and served 22 mares at Pleasant Acres Stud in Florida. He’s been relocated to R Star Stallions in Indiana for 2018 and will stand at a $3,000 fee.

War Envoy (11th): Ran four times in 2017 after the World Cup, all in allowance races, with his best effort a third-place finish. The son of War Front stands at Tommy Town Thoroughbreds in California in 2018 for a $5,000 fee.

Eragon (12th): Bought by James McIngvale for the Pegasus World Cup, the triple grade one winner from Argentina raced twice more, finishing well back in both. By his final start he was owned by Mallory Greiner and trained by Chris Richard. Most recent recorded workout was at Delta Downs in November.