Gulfstream Park's acclaimed Championship Meet, highlighted by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) and $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) Jan. 25, 2025, and the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) March 29, 2025, will launch its 2024-25 season Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, and run through March 30, 2025.
The Championship Meet, the winter home of the top horses, horsemen, and jockeys in the world, will play host to a total of 66 stakes races—30 graded—totaling $15.025 million. Opening weekend begins with 2-year-old turf stakes Thanksgiving Day and Nov. 29, and the $600,000 finals of the Florida Sire Stakes Nov. 30.
Pegasus World Cup Day will offer eight stakes races—seven graded plus two overnight handicaps—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), $200,000 Inside Information (G2) for fillies and mares, the $200,000 W.L. McKnight (G3T) for 4-year-olds and up and $150,000 La Prevoyante (G3T) for 4-year-olds and up fillies and mares, both at 1 1/2 miles on the turf, and the $150,000 Fred Hooper (G3) for 4-year-olds and up at a mile on the main track.
The $150,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint, for 4-year-olds and up on the turf, is expected to draw a crowd as are two overnight handicaps run on Gulfstream's Tapeta track—the $100,000 Carousel Club and $100,000 South Beach.
In just eight years the Pegasus World Cup and Pegasus World Cup Turf have hosted Horses of the Year in Gun Runner , California Chrome , Knicks Go , and Bricks and Mortar, as well as two-time Longines World's Best Racehorse Arrogate. The races have also attracted runners from England, Ireland and Japan, as well as the world's most noted celebrities and entertainers.
The Florida Derby highlights 10 stakes totaling $2.5 million—five graded—including the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) for 3-year-old fillies, two 1 1/2 mile turf events in the $200,000 Pan American (G2T) for older horses and $150,000 Orchid (G3T) for fillies and mares, and the $150,000 Ghostzapper (G3) for 4-year-olds and up on the main track.
The Florida Derby continues to be the leader in establishing classic winners. There have been 46 Florida Derby starters that have won a remarkable 59 Triple Crown events, including 25 Kentucky Derbys.
Meanwhile, last winter's Gulfstream Park Oaks produced Alabama Stakes (G1) winner Power Squeeze, Test Stakes (G1) winner Ways and Means, George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) winner Gun Song, and Monmouth Oaks (G3) winner Scalable.
Two big days with major preps for the spring classics lead up to the Florida Derby.
On Feb. 1, 2025, the $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) is the featured event of a five-stakes 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 contested on the turf.
The final preps for the Florida Derby and Gulfstream Park Oaks are March 1, 2025. The nine-stakes program—eight graded—is led by the $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), won this year by Belmont Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Dornoch , and $200,000 Davona Dale (G2).
Gulfstream's renowned 3-year-old series begins Jan. 4, 2025, with the $150,000 Mucho Macho Man followed by the Holy Bull, Fountain of Youth, and Florida Derby.
The 3-year-old filly series begins Jan. 1, 2025, with the $100,000 Cash Run at a mile, followed by the Forward Gal, Davona Dale, and Gulfstream Park Oaks on Florida Derby Day.
Gulfstream's turf course will offer a plethora of opportunities for all horses during the Championship Meet. In December 3-year-olds and up will have the $100,000 H. Allen Jerkens at two miles and the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2T) at 1 1/8 miles, while 3-year-olds and upward will have opportunities in the $150,000 Suwannee River (G3T) at a mile and the $100,000 Abundantia at five furlongs.
From January through March, older turf horses and fillies and mares will each have eight turf stakes available at a mile or more. Five of the eight in both divisions will be graded. Turf sprinters will also have plenty of opportunities. Fillies and mares will contest the $125,000 Ladies Turf Sprint and $100,000 Captiva Island while 4-year-olds and up will contest the Gulfstream Turf Sprint and $100,000 Silks Run.
View the full schedule here.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
