The inaugural $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational will be held on Saturday, January 28th, and will be the richest race in the history of Thoroughbred racing. The 1 1/8-mile race on the main track at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida drew the top three finishers from the Breeders’ Cup Classic — Arrogate, California Chrome and Keen Ice, respectively — chasing the top prize of $7 million to the victor.
A highlight of the race will be the rematch between California Chrome and Arrogate, who defeated the recently crowned Horse of the Year, in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Classic by half a length. This will be California Chrome’s last race before he is retired to stud.
Representing Canada will be Stronach Group’s homebred Shaman Ghost, a son of Stronach’s best racehorse, 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper. Shaman Ghost upset heavily favoured Frosted in the Woodward Stakes in September 2016 to earn his first career Grade 1 victory. He also won the 2016 Brooklyn Invitational Stakes in his second start for trainer Jimmy Jerkens. In 2015, Shaman Ghost won the Queen’s Plate and was subsequently named Canada’s champion 3-year-old male.