Undefeated Disco Time tops full field in Pegasus World Cup

Last year's three-year-old division was dominated by the likes of Sovereignty, Journalism, and Baeza. Bubbling under them were horses like Disco Time, who will take an unbeaten record into the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

A Juddmonte homebred trained by Brad Cox, Disco Time has been pegged the 8-5 morning line favorite for the 1 1/8-mile World Cup, which has attracted an overflow field. Fourteen were entered, with 12 allowed to start.

Disco Time has been favored in all five of his previous starts, usually heavily, and has yet to disappoint. While he struggled a bit to rally from far back in the slop and only narrowly captured the Lecomte (G3) 12 months ago, he's been the easiest of winners in every other start.

Disco Time was especially impressive, winning the 1 1/16-mile St. Louis Derby at Fairmount Park in September and the one-mile Dwyer S. at Aqueduct in November by a combined margin of 15 1/4 lengths. The question on Saturday is whether he can run as well against much stronger competition.

Brad Cox will also be represented by Tappan Street, the only horse to finish in front of likely champion Sovereignty last season when defeating that rival by 1 1/4 lengths in the Florida Derby (G1). Tappan Street was subsequently sidelined for more than eight months and was only a workmanlike winner of a second-level allowance in a Dec. 19 allowance going one mile.

White Abarrio was a tremendous winner of the World Cup a year ago, but in the interim, has been plagued by ineffectual efforts. He's also been under scrutiny by track veterinarians, as he was scratched from the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) after participating in the post parade.

White Abarrio was also scratched from last month's Mr. Prospector (G3), a race he used as a prep for last year's World Cup. White Abarrio has not started since a troubled trip in the Aug. 31 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), in which he was elevated from fifth to fourth.

Full Serrano, the 2024 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner, was only fifth in his title defense of that race Nov. 1, but reportedly exited the affair with what trainer John Sadler described as a "tender foot." Before the Dirt Mile, Full Serrano finished second in the Goodwood (G1) to Nevada Beach, the subsequent winner of the Native Diver (G3) over British Isles.

Multiple Grade 2 winner Skippylongstocking takes his fourth crack at the World Cup, his best finish being a third to stablemate White Abarrio last year. However, the 35-start veteran will have to run significantly faster than he did in capturing last month's Harlan's Holiday (G3) by a head over Poster, who adds blinkers and remains with upside after missing most of his sophomore season.

Banishing is a past winner of the three-turn, nine-furlong Charles Town Classic (G1), but might be more effective in shorter races. The same could also be said for the Grade 1-placed Madaket Road and Captain Cook, as well as Cigar Mile (G2) runner-up Mika. Brotha Keny has won two minor stakes, in Kentucky and New Mexico, in his last three starts.