Grade 1 winners Mixto and Stronghold each put in five-furlong works Jan. 12 at Santa Anita Park ahead of a scheduled start in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 25.
Stronghold, winner of the 2024 Santa Anita Derby (G1) for trainer Phil D'Amato, breezed over the main track in 1:01 2/5 while Doug O'Neill-trained 2024 Pacific Classic (G1) winner Mixto went the distance in 1:02 3/5.
Stronghold is coming off a runner-up effort in the Dec. 26 Malibu Stakes (G1) while Mixto was most recently third in the Nov. 23 Native Diver (G3).
Pegasus alternate Steal Sunshine, winner of the Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) during last winter's Championship Meet, worked five furlongs over Gulfstream's main track in 1:01.52 Sunday.
Santa Anita also saw three horses breeze for the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1T) led by D'Amato-trained millionaire Balnikhov, who went five furlongs in :59 3/5 over the all-weather surface. Reserves Astronomer was timed in :47 3/5 traveling a half-mile on the Tapeta, and Atitlan worked five furlongs in 1:01 on the main track.
Another Turf alternate, Siege of Boston, worked a half-mile in :47.95 Sunday on the grass at Palm Meadows Training Center, Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, Fla.
Also at Palm Meadows, Infinite Diamond turned in a five-furlong breeze in 1:01.65 on the turf for the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2T).
