Disco’s Time to Shine in the Pegasus World Cup

The 10th running of the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park has drawn a strong field. A mix of established veterans and promising up-and-comers will battle over 1 1/8 miles, and it's anyone's guess who will prevail. Historically, Breeders' Cup winners have excelled in the Pegasus World Cup, winning six of the first nine editions. There are two entered in this year's Pegasus World Cup: #3 Full Serrano (ARG) (12-1), conqueror of the 2024 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), and #11 White Abarrio (4-1), triumphant in the 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Both horses are logical contenders in the Pegasus World Cup. In fact, White Abarrio dominated the 2025 edition by 6 1/4 lengths over next-out Santa Anita H. (G1) winner Locked. But there are chinks in their armor. White Abarrio misfired in his final three starts of 2025 and hasn't raced since August. He was a late vet scratch from the 2025 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and has turned in only a handful of workouts since then. Will he be primed for a peak performance off the long layoff? Even if he is, winning from post 11 (with a short run to the first turn) won't be easy. There's a ton of speed entered in the 2026 Pegasus World Cup, which could make it difficult for White Abarrio to clear enough rivals to avoid a wide trip. It could also complicate the path to the winner's circle for Full Serrano, who is seeking to bounce back from a subpar fifth-place finish in the 2025 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Full Serrano is a speed horse who typically sets or presses the pace, but drawing post 3 in this speed-packed field may force Full Serrano to either engage in a hot pace or attempt rating tactics. Neither option is ideal. As a result, I'm going to oppose both White Abarrio and Full Serrano. Instead, I'm going to side with a horse who has shown the ability to rate off the pace: #1 Disco Time (8-5). Granted, Disco Time usually races on or near the lead. Two starts back, in his return from a long layoff, he wired the 1 1/16-mile St. Louis Derby by 5 1/2 lengths, earning a flashy 101 Beyer speed figure. Last time out, he improved his Beyer to 107 when employing pace-pressing tactics to smash the one-mile Dwyer S. by 9 3/4 lengths in the blazing time of 1:33.86. For comparison, the Cigar Mile (G2) on the same card produced a final time of 1:34.62. But Disco Time isn't a pure speed horse. He's unbeaten in five starts, and along the way he's shown the ability to overcome adversity. When he made his two-turn debut in the 2025 Lecomte (G3) as a young three-year-old, he rallied resolutely from 10th place over a sloppy, sealed track to win by a neck. Disco Time's blend of early speed and tractability is an asset. Breaking from the rail, he has a chance to save ground while staying out of the mad rush to the first turn. If he can find a spot a few lengths off the pace under Eclipse Award-winning jockey Flavien Prat, then I'm optimistic Disco Time will ultimately thread his way out of traffic to launch a winning bid. My second choice is another horse who has shown the ability to rate: #7 Tappan Street (6-1). Tappan Street has raced exclusively at Gulfstream Park. He broke his maiden sprinting seven furlongs, then stepped up in class and distance to finish second in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull (G3), beaten 1 3/4 lengths by future Blue Grass (G1) winner Burnham Square. Two months later, Tappan Street produced a career-best effort in the Florida Derby (G1). Racing over the same 1 1/8-mile distance as the Pegasus World Cup, the bay colt rated in fourth place (as many as four lengths off the pace) before gradually taking over to defeat next-out Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Sovereignty by 1 1/4 lengths. Unfortunately, an injury kept Tappan Street out of the Kentucky Derby. He didn't race again until Dec. 19, when he returned victorious in a one-mile $62,500 allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream Park. He had to work harder than expected to prevail by one length as the 1-10 favorite, but he may have been rusty off the layoff. If Tappan Street moves forward in his second start back, he can challenge for supremacy in his return to Grade 1 company. Now it's your turn! Who do you like in the Pegasus World Cup? ***** Want to test your handicapping skills against fellow Unlocking Winners readers? Check out the Unlocking Winners contests page. There's a new challenge every week!