Woodbine Entertainment today announced the bet365 Dance Smartly Stakes (G2) will once again be designated as a qualifying race for the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (G2), continuing an exciting partnership with 1/ST Racing.
The winner of the $200,000 Dance Smartly Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack on October 3 will receive an automatic invitation to the 2027 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
In the first year of the partnership in 2025, Qatar Racing's Breath Away (GB), trained by Miguel Clement and ridden by Sahin Civaci, won the Dance Smartly Stakes (G2), earning an automatic invitation to the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (G2).
The 2025 edition of the Dance Smartly was contested on the bet365 Inner Turf, as Woodbine's world renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course underwent a year-long restoration. With the project now complete, the Dance Smartly will return to the E.P. Taylor Turf Course in 2026 over 1 1/16 miles.
"We are proud to continue our partnership with the team at 1/ST Racing," shared Tim Lawson, Vice President of Thoroughbred Racing at Woodbine. "The Dance Smartly has always been one of the highlights of our turf racing season, and having the race serve as a pathway to Pegasus World Cup Day brings an added level of intrigue and excitement."
The Pegasus World Cup debuted in 2017 as part of 1/ST's mission to energize and modernize Thoroughbred racing for a new generation of fans and to provide lucrative opportunities for the sport's top contenders.
"In 2025, this partnership brought significant international attention to both events and created an exciting opportunity for the sport's top competitors," said Aidan Butler, President of 1/ST. "We're pleased to build on our relationship with Woodbine and look forward to this year's edition."
The Dance Smartly will be held on Saturday, October 3 at Woodbine Racetrack and is part of a stacked card headlined by the $750,000 Canadian International (G1). The 2027 Pegasus World Cup will be held in January at Gulfstream Park.
