BY GULFSTREAM PARK PRESS OFFICE
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – The $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (Grade 1), $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) and $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2) will be supported on Gulfstream Park’s Jan. 27 star-studded program by four other graded stakes that have attracted nominations of many prominent stakes performers from outstanding North American stables.
The $200,000 Inside Information presented by Don Julio Tequila (G2), drew 23 nominations on a list of older fillies and mares topped by Rodney Lundock’s Florida-bred Maryquitecontrary, the defending champion in the seven-furlong test.
The late-running 5-year-old daughter of Double Diamond Farm stallion First Dude is coming off an impressive victory in the $125,000 Rampart on Dec. 30 at Gulfstream in her first start for trainer Eddie Plesa Jr.
Last year, Maryquitecontrary captured the Rampart before winning the Inside Information and finishing a close-up third in the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland won by two-time Breeders’ Cup-winner Goodnight Olive.
Vegso Racing Stable’s Imonra and Sheri Greenberg Racing and Staghawk Stables’ Unifying, who finished second and third, respectively, in the Rampart nominations.
Southern California-based Phil D’Amato is represented by Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso’s Florida-bred Hot Peppers, who is coming off a second-place finish to Chismosa in the Grade 3 Las Flores at Santa Anita on Jan. 1.
The 5-year-old daughter of Journeyman Stud’s leading Florida sire Khozan launched her career by winning three of four starts at Gulfstream and counts the 2022 Victory Ride (G3) at Belmont Park among her best victories.
Another nominated Florida-bred is Edward A. Seltzer’s Bluefield, winner of the $100,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes City of Ocala at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 23. The 8-year-old daughter of Field Commission who was bred by Ed Pendray and Edward A. Seltzer also counts the $60,000 Musical Romance overnight handicap in May among her two victories in seven starts at Gulfstream. She has won eight of 21 lifetime starts with three seconds and three thirds with earnings of $326,675.
Dream Concert, who was second to Bluefield in the City of Ocala and second to Opus Forty Two in the $50,000 Wayward Lass at Tampa Bay Downs on Jan. 12; recent $32,000 optional claiming-winner Dreamster; and the Joseph Catanese III-trained Poiema are other Florida-breds on the Inside Information nominations list.
— Brock Sheridan contributed to this article
