Gulfstream ParkThe acclaimed ‘ Championship Series, highlighted by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) and $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) on January 25, 2025, and the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) on March 29, 2025, will kick off the 2024-25 season on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, and run through March 30, 2025.
The winter home of the world’s top horses, riders and jockeys, the Championship will host a total of 66 races—30 graded—for a total purse of $15.025 million. The opening weekend will begin with the 2-year-old filly race on Thanksgiving Day and November 29, and the $600,000 Florida Sire Stakes finale on November 30.
Pegasus World Cup Day will feature eight stakes races—seven graded races plus two overnight handicap races—totaling $5.55 million. Along with the $3 million World Cup and $1 million World Cup Turf, the day will also feature the $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2T), the $200,000 Inside Information (G2) for fillies and mares, the $200,000 WL McKnight (G3T) for fillies 4 years old and up and the $150,000 La Prevoyante (G3T) for fillies and mares 4 years old and up, both at 1 1/2 miles on turf, and the $150,000 Fred Hooper (G3) for fillies 4 years old and up at one mile on the main track.
The $150,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint for horses 4 years and older on turf is expected to draw a large crowd, as are two overnight handicap races on Gulfstream’s Tapeta track—the $100,000 Carousel Club and the $100,000 South Beach.
For just eight years, the Pegasus World Cup and Pegasus World Cup Turf have hosted the Horse of the Year Awards. Gunman , California Chrome , Knicks go And Bricks and Mortar as well as Arrogate, Longines’ two-time world champion horse. The races also attract athletes from Britain, Ireland and Japan, as well as some of the world’s most famous celebrities and entertainers.
The Florida Derby features 10 races with a total purse of $2.5 million—five graded—including the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) for 3-year-old mares, two 1 1/2-mile turf races in the $200,000 Pan American (G2T) for older horses and the $150,000 Orchid (G3T) for fillies and mares, and the $150,000 Ghostzapper (G3) for 4-year-olds and older on the main track.
The Florida Derby continues to be a leader in producing classic winners. There have been 46 Florida Derby starters who have won a remarkable 59 Triple Crown events, including 25 Kentucky Derbys.
Meanwhile, last winter’s Gulfstream Park Oaks produced Alabama Stakes (G1) winner Squeeze strength Test Stakes (G1) Winner Ways and means George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) Winner Song about guns and Monmouth Oaks (G3) winner Scalable .
Two important days of preparation for spring tournaments lead up to the Florida Derby.
On February 1, 2025, the $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) is the highlight event of a five-race program that includes three other graded races—the $150,000 Forward Gal (G3) on the main track, and the $150,000 Kitten’s Joy (G3T) and $150,000 Sweetest Chant (G3T), both on turf.
The final prep for the Florida Derby and Gulfstream Park Oaks is March 1, 2025. The nine-race program—eight graded—is headlined by the $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), which this year will be won by the winner of the Belmont Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1). Dornoch and the $200,000 Davona Dale (G2).
Gulfstream’s famous 3-year-old racing series will begin on January 4, 2025, with the $150,000 Mucho Macho Man, followed by the Holy Bull, Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby.
Racing for 3-year-old mares will begin on January 1, 2025, with the $100,000 Cash Run at one mile, followed by Forward Gal, Davona Dale and Gulfstream Park Oaks on Florida Derby Day.
Gulfstream’s turf track will offer a wide range of opportunities for all horses in the Championship Series. In December, horses 3 years and older will have the $100,000 H. Allen Jerkens at two miles and the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2T) at 1 1/8 miles, while horses 3 years and older will have a chance at the $150,000 Suwannee River (G3T) at one mile and the $100,000 Abundantia at five furlongs.
From January to March, there will be eight available stakes for older horses, mares and fillies at distances of one mile or longer. Five of the eight horses in both divisions will be ranked. There will also be plenty of opportunities for sprinters. The mares and fillies will compete in the $125,000 Ladies Turf Sprint and the $100,000 Captiva Island while the 4-year-olds and older will compete in the $100,000 Gulfstream Turf Sprint and the Silks Run.
View full schedule This.
This press release has been edited for content and style by the BloodHorse team.
