2025 Pegasus World Cup Tips - Cox's front-runner can steal the Gulfstream crown
The Pegasus World Cup, once renowned for its massive prize pool, now offers a reduced purse of $3 million, affecting the quality of competitors. Leading the odds this year is Locked at 5/2, despite limited runs in the past year. Saudi Crown, identified as a promising front-runner, is favored to win due to strategic positioning and previous victories. Analyzing past performance and draw positions, Saudi Crown seems best poised to dominate, especially if securing the lead early in the race.
- Odds and betting predictions for the 2025 Pegasus World Cup
- This Grade One takes place at Gulfstream Park on Saturday 25th January
- Saudi Crown is our selection at 5/1
The Pegasus World Cup, which will be held at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, was once one of the world's richest, with prize pots of $12 m and $16m for its first two runnings. However, in recent years, that prize pool has dropped to just $3m, and the quality of the field has lessened as a result.
Here's our free guide to the 2025 Pegasus World Cup, including our best betting tips.
2025 Pegasus World Cup Odds
| Name | Odds |
|---|---|
| Locked | 5/2 |
| White Abarrio | 3/1 |
| Saudi Crown | 5/1 |
| Mystik Dan | 8/1 |
| Stronghold | 9/1 |
| Bar | 12/1 |
2025 Pegasus World Cup Runners
Heading the betting for Saturday's feature is Locked, who missed the entire 2024 season through injury. Todd Pletcher's star finished a close second to Fierceness in the 2023 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, having won the Futurity on his previous start, and marked his comeback with a handicap victory at Aqueduct last month.
2023 Breeders' Cup Classic winner, White Abarrio also endured a curtailed campaign in 2024 and was beaten at Grade Three level on his first start for Saffie Joseph in December. Saudi Cup third, Saudi Crown warmed up for this Grade One by winning the Listed Tenacious Stakes in December and he'll likely make the running after a low draw in stall two.
Kentucky Derby hero, Mystik Dan and Santa Anita Derby winner, Stonghold will be looking to make a statement over this trip, having been well-beaten over seven furlongs in the Malibu Stakes last month. Vitality and the filly, Power Squeeze will also represent last year's Classic generation.
Pacific Classic winner, Mixto has been drawn on the rail in stall one, with the talented Newgrange draw two stalls wider in gate three. Crupi and Skippylongstocking bring Grade One form to the table. Steal Sunshine completes Saturday's line-up.
2025 Pegasus World Cup Tips
Considering the prize money that's up for grabs, and the glittering roll of honour, this is a fairly disappointing field. Locked and White Abarrio top the market, but they've managed to run just four times between them over the last year, so their fitness has to be questioned.
There's a very short run from the stalls to the opening bend over this nine-furlong trip. As a result, all of the last ten winners of this Grade One either made all or were up with the early pace. The most natural front-runner in this field is SAUDI CROWN (5/1), and he could be impossible to catch if he breaks well from stall two.
A pillar-to-post winner of the Pennsylvania Derby in 2023, Brad Cox's front-runner attempted similar tactics in the Saudi Cup last February, only to get run down late by Senor Buscador. Saudi Crown then had one prep-run before going straight into the Breeders' Cup Mile, where Florent Geroux's mount was slowly away by his standards and faded badly after being impeded.
Saudi Crown warmed up for the Pegasus World Cup by claiming an easy victory in the Listed Tenacious Stakes last month, showing plenty of gate speed before comfortably holding stablemate Kinetic at arm's length. Geroux will have been delighted with the low draw, as he won't have to work nearly as hard as the other potential front-runners to grab the lead.
Verdict
If Saudi Crown is in front going into that opening bend, it could be curtains for the rest of the field. He's the selection at 5/1.
Saudi Crown
2025 Pegasus World Cup Tips
@5/1 - 10 Units
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