2026 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Contenders

Whiskey Decision 9-2 Morning Line Favorite in $1 Million Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf

Grade 3 winner Whiskey Decision was made a tepid 9-2 favorite in what promises to be a competitive and wide-open $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2) on Saturday, January 24 at Gulfstream Park.

The 1 1/16-mile Filly & Mare Turf Invitational is one of 10 stakes, seven graded, that will make up the 10th anniversary of Pegasus World Cup Day featuring the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1). The stakes will carry total purses of $5.675 million.

Trained by Chad Brown, who saddled Regal Glory to victory in the inaugural Pegasus Filly & Mare race in 2022, Whiskey Decision won the Eatontown (G3) at Monmouth over the summer and finished fourth at Saratoga in the Ballston Spa (G2). She will make her first start since winning the Athenia at Aqueduct in September. Flavien Prat will ride.

In Our Time, last year's Pegasus Filly & Mare pacesetter who got caught late and finished third, is 5-1 on the morning line. She returns for Gulfstream's leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. The 5-year-old enters the Pegasus off a second in the Matriarch (G1) at Del Mar in November after finishing second in the Franklin (G2) at Keeneland. She has been the pacesetter in her last four starts and has a 1-3-1 record in six starts across Gulfstream's course.

Only a single horse in the main body of the race is more than 12-1, and that is Grade 2 winner Ready for Shirl.

"There's absolutely no heavy favorite," said trainer Jose D'Angelo, who will saddle Suwannee River winner Crevalle d'Oro (12-1).

"It's clearly the deepest of all the Pegasus World Cup races," said Gulfstream's morning-line maker and analyst Brian Nadeau. "Any number of these entered can be favorite."

Along with In Our Time, Joseph will also saddle Movin' On Up (12-1), who finished second by a head behind Crevalle d'Oro Dec. 20 in Gulfstream's Suwanee River. The mare was fourth in November in the Goldikova (G3) at Del Mar. Movin' On Up has two wins and a second across Gulfstream's course in three starts.

And One More Time (12-1) and Classic Q (6-1) will run for trainer Mark Casse.

And One More Time won the Natalma (G1) at Woodbine as a 2-year-old in September of 2024. She returned from a year layoff in September to win an allowance optional claimer at Woodbine before finishing second by a head here in the Tropical Park Oaks. Classic Q has yet to win a graded stakes, but she's been competitive in her last four starts all against graded company.

The Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf could mark the final starts by Caitlinhergrtness and Heredia.

Caitlinhergrtness (8-1) beat the boys in the 2024 prestigious King's Plate at Woodbine, and last year won the Ontario Matron (G3) and was second in the Dance Smartly (G2) and Bessarabian (G3). The daughter of Omaha Beach enters this race after winning the My Charmer Dec. 21 at Turfway Park. John Velazquez rides for Kevin Attard.

Heredia (8-1), a 7-year-old by Dark Angel, won the Yellow Ribbon (G2) on the front end at Del Mar in August but then closed while getting beat less than two lengths in the First Lady (G1) at Keeneland. She was fifth in the Matriarch (G1) at Del Mar in November. The mare has seven wins in 17 starts across the turf. Graham Motion trains and Manny Franco rides.

Breath Away (8-1), bred in Great Britain, is a 6-year-old Grade 2 winner and was beaten just three lengths in November at Del Mar in the Matriarch (G1). She has a record of 2-2-1 in six starts across Gulfstream's turf. Oisin Murphy rides for Miguel Clement.

Trainer Brad Cox will saddle Destino d'Oro (12-1). Her only trip on Gulfstream's turf course was a victory Dec. 13 in the Tropical Park Oaks. She won the Pucker Up (G3) at Ellis Park in August. Junior Alvarado rides.

Proctor Street enters the race off a victory Nov. 27 at Churchill Downs in the Cardinal. The daughter of Street Sense has won five of eight starts on the turf. Brendan Walsh trains and Tyler Gaffalione will ride.

Lots of Chances in $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G2)

Two mares could end their careers with a victory. Another is hoping to avenge last year's loss. A fourth is hoping to win her first graded race since 2024. And another is hoping to follow up a stakes victory over this course with her first graded win.

Welcome to the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2), where a wide-open field of a dozen stakes winners, seven graded, make the 1 1/16-mile event one of the most competitive fields bettors will see Saturday while celebrating the 10th anniversary of Pegasus World Cup Day.

First race Saturday is 11 a.m. If the 20-cent Rainbow 6 is not hit Thursday or Friday that estimated pool will be $4 million.

Two exceptional mares, Caitlinhergrtness and Heredia, could be making their final starts in the Pegasus Filly Mare Turf Invitational. Caitlinhergrtness beat the boys in the prestigious 2024 King's Plate at Woodbine, and last year won the Ontario Matron (G3) and was second in the Dance Smartly (G2) and Bessarabian (G3). The daughter of Omaha Beach enters this race after winning the My Charmer Dec. 21 at Turfway Park.

"There was a possibility after the last race that would be the end," trainer Kevin Attard said. "We've elected to give this race a stab, and she's been in good form and I'm happy with the way she's settled in."

Caitlinghergrtness has six wins and four seconds in 17 starts. She's been a model of consistency in her last six starts except for a fifth-place finish last year in the 1 ¼-mile E.P. Taylor (G1).

"She's been very honest," Attard continued. "The E.P. Taylor, 10 furlongs is beyond what she wants. The one turn mile, she's not fond of. Two turns is what she likes."

Heredia, trained by Graham Motion, is a 7-year-old mare by Dark Angel. She won the Yellow Ribbon (G2) on the front end at Del Mar in August but then closed while getting beat less than two lengths in the First Lady (G1) at Keeneland. She was fifth in the Matriarch (G1) at Del Mar in November. She has seven wins in 17 starts across the turf.

"This will definitely be her last race," Motion said. "I kind of talked the team into running her here a little bit after her last start. I don't think she had any excuses in the Grade 1 last time, but I think on her best performance she can be competitive on Saturday.

"She's been a fun mare to be around and Wathnan [Racing] has been so patient with her," he added. "She came to us and we almost immediately had to give her almost a year off, so it's been quite rewarding to see her win a graded race. It would be a nice way to end to win this race."

Heredia and Caitlinhergrtness like the rest of the field will need to beat a very tepid favorite in Whiskey Decision. Trained by Chad Brown, the 5-year-old daughter of Into Mischief has one graded win on her resume, that coming in June at Monmouth in the Eatontown (G3). She returned in August to finish fourth in the Ballston Spa (G2) at Saratoga before winning the Athenia at Aqueduct in September.

Both Saffie Joseph Jr. and Mark Casse will saddle two in the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf.

Joseph, who saddled last year's winner in Be Your Best, will send out In Our Time and Movin' On Up. In Our Time set the pace in last year's Filly & Mare Turf before finishing third. She enters the race off a second-place finish in the Matriarch. Movin' On Up, two for three over the course, enters off a second-place finish in the Suwannee River.

"Both are doing well," Joseph said. "Movin' On Up is doing well. Obviously, she loves the course and has the course record on the track. She ran well last time. Hopefully she'll run big again. In Our Time's goal was this race after finishing third last year. She's coming off a big run.

"There's a lot of horses with chances. Hopefully, we'll win back-to-back."

And One More Time and Classic Q go out for Mark Casse.

And One More Time won the Natalma (G1) at Woodbine as a 2-year-old in September of 2024. She returned from a year layoff in September to win an allowance optional claimer at Woodbine before finishing second by a head here in the Tropical Park Oaks. Classic Q has yet to win a graded stakes, but she's been competitive in her last four starts - all against graded company.

Both Destino d'Oro and Crevalle d'Oro come into the race off victories over Gulfstream's course. Destino d'Oro won the Tropical Park Oaks for trainer Brad Cox while Crevalle d'Oro won the Suwannee River for trainer Jose D'Angelo.

Trainer Miguel Clement will saddle Breath Away. Bred in Great Britain, the 6-year-old Grade 2 winner was beaten just three lengths in November at Del Mar in the Matriarch. She has a record of 2-2-1 in six starts across Gulfstream's turf. Oisin Murphy rides.

Since the inaugural running in 2022, only the first winner, Regal Glory, closed from far back. Queen Goddess (2023), Didia (2024) and Be Your Best (2025) were all fourth or closer at the half-mile mark.

All-Star CastInvited to Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G2)

Graded stakes winners from the barns of trainers by Mark Casse, Graham Motion, Roger Attfield, Miguel Clement, Chad Brown, and Kevin Attard are part of a group of 19 fillies and mares invited to participate in the fifth running of the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2) Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park.

The $500,000 event, at 1 1/16-mile on the turf, is part of the 10th anniversary of Pegasus World Cup Day that will offer 10 stakes worth $5.55 million in purses. The 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), the richest dirt race in the U.S. for older horses outside of the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), and the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), a 1 1/8-mile stakes for 4-year-olds on the turf, are among seven graded stakes on the program.

The four previous winners of the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf continued to excel, with three of the four winning Grade 1 races. Inaugural winner Regal Glory won the Jenny Wiley (G1) and Matriarch (G1), 2023 winner Queen Goddess was Grade 1 stakes placed, 2024 winner Didia won the New York Stakes (G1), while last year's winner Be Your Best won the Gamely (G1).

And One More Time is one of three Casse-trained invitees. The daughter of Omaha Beach won last year's Natalma (G1) at Woodbine before returning from a year off and winning an allowance optional claimer at Woodbine in September and finishing second at Gulfstream Dec. 13 in the Tropical Park Oaks.

Also invited from the Casse barn is Candy Quest and Classic Q.

Classic Q was third in the Mrs. Revere (G2) at Churchill Downs in November and second in the Lake George (G3) at Saratoga and Valley View (G2) at Keeneland earlier in the year. Candy Quest won the Colleen (G3) at Woodbine in July and was second in the Dueling Grounds Oaks (G2) at Kentucky Downs in September and fifth in the Queen Elizabeth II (G1) in October at Keeneland.

Breath Away earned her way into the Pegasus Filly & Mare by winning the 'Win & In' Dance Smartly (G2) at Woodbine Oct. 4. The mare has since finished second in the Goldikova (G3) and fourth in the Matriarch (G1), both contested at Del Mar. Clement trains for Qatar Racing.

Ready for Shirl, third in the Dance Smartly, has also earned an invitation. The Attfield-trained mare won the Canadian (G2) in July before finishing third in the E.P. Taylor (G1), both at Woodbine.

Caitlinhergrtness, trained by Attard, had a successful campaign in 2025 winning the Ontario Matron (G2) and My Charmer at Turfway Park. The daughter of Omaha Beach was fifth in the E.P. Taylor (G1) and second in the Dance Smartly (G2) and Bessarabian (G3).

Destino d'Oro, who defeated And One More Time in the Tropical Park Oaks, has been invited. Trained by Brad Cox, Destino d'Oro won the Pucker Up (G3) at Ellis Park over the summer.

Crevalle d'Oro enters the race off a victory in the Suwannee River here Dec. 20. The Jose D'Angelo trained daughter of Constitution was fourth in the Goldikova in November.

Gulfstream's leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. could saddle two in Movin' On Up and In Our Time. Movin' On Up finished second Dec. 20 in the Suwannee River while finishing third earlier in the year in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) and Mint Julep (G3), both at Churchill Downs. In Our Time, a daughter of Not This Time who comes off a pair of second place finishes in the Franklin (G2) at Keeneland and Matriarch. She finished third in last year's Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf.

Trainer Chad Brown, who won the inaugural Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf with Regal Glory, has two invitees in Whiskey Decision and Oversubscribed. Whiskey Decision won the Eatontown Stakes (G3) at Monmouth in June and most recently the Athenia at Aqueduct. Oversubscribed was second in November in the Pebbles (G3) at Aqueduct and second over the summer in the Lake George at Saratoga.

Heredia, a daughter of Dark Angel trained by Graham Motion, won the Yellow Ribbon (G2) at Del Mar over the summer before finishing sixth in the First Lady (G1) at Keeneland and fifth in the Matriarch at Del Mar. Motion's Warming, winner of the Autumn Miss (G3), also earned an invitation.

Medoro, trained by Peter Eurton, would arrive from California where she finished second in the John Mabee (G2), third in the Goldikova and sixth in the Matriarch.

Awesome Czech comes from the barn of trainer Horacio De Paz. Awesome Czech won the Yaddo at Saratoga and Ticonderoga at Aqueduct.

Other fillies and mares invited include Ramsey Pond, third in the Tropical Park Oaks, Cardinal winner Proctor Street, and Noble Damsel winner Aussie Girl.

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