Pegasus, Florida Derby Top Gulfstream Championship Meet

The $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1), and $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) will headline the three most prestigious racing days during the 2022-2023 Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park.

A total of 60 stakes, including 35 graded events, will be run for $13.6 million in purses during Gulfstream Park's world-class winter meet. The Championship Meet officially begins several weeks later than in the past, running from Dec. 26 - April 2. The stakes schedule will include 31 stakes races across Gulfstream's new turf course.

The Pegasus World Cup Invitational, a 1 1/8-mile event for 4-year-olds and up, will be renewed on a program with six graded stakes Jan. 28. The Pegasus, won last year by Life Is Good  over defending champion and 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go  , will be supported by the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1T), a 1 1/8-mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up on turf, and the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G3T), a 1 1/16-mile turf race for older fillies and mares. 

Pegasus World Cup race day card will also include the $200,000 Inside Information Stakes (G2), a seven-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares; the $200,000 W. L. McKnight Stakes (G3T), a 1 1/2-mile turf race for 4-year-olds and up; the $150,000 La Prevoyante Stakes (G3T) a 1 1/2-mile turf event for older fillies and mares; the $150,000 Fred Hooper Stakes (G3), a mile stakes for older horses, and the $100,000 Carousel Club, a mile-and-70-yard overnight handicap for 4-year-olds and up on Tapeta.

"This year's Championship Meet will continue Gulfstream's tradition of hosting many of the top horses, horsemen and women, jockeys from around the world, and some of the sport's most spectacular events," said Aidan Butler, chief operating officer for 1/ST RACING, which operates Gulfstream Park. "With races like the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, Florida Derby, Fountain of Youth, and Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2)—along with the opening of Gulfstream's new world-class turf course—we believe this winter season will be one of the sport's most anticipated and popular meets."

The Curlin Florida Derby, a tradition-rich 1 1/8-mile Triple Crown prep for 3-year-olds, will be renewed on an April 1 program with 10 stakes, including six graded stakes and featuring the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

In the 71 runnings of the Florida Derby, 45 starters have gone on to win 58 Triple Crown events. There have been 24 Kentucky Derby (G1) winners, 18 Preakness Stakes (G1) winners and 16 Belmont Stakes (G1) winners. 

The Florida Derby will conclude Gulfstream's Road to the Triple Crown, which will kick off with the $150,000 Mucho Macho Man at a mile Jan. 1, followed by the $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 4, and the $400,000 Fountain of Youth at 1 1/16 miles on March 4. 

The Holy Bull and Fountain of Youth will headline two of five Super Saturday cards at Gulfstream during the Championship Meet.