Integration Latest Star for West Point, Woodford Racing

Going into what will be his second try in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) at Gulfstream Park, Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey knows he has a horse short on experience but long on talent.

West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing's Integration , undefeated in three starts, will put his perfect record to the test against 11 seasoned rivals Saturday that include three millionaires and four grade 1 winners, led by European filly Warm Heart  and defending Pegasus Turf champion Atone .

"It's a big jump. I realize that, and they realize that," McGaughey said. "We're coming from 3-year-olds to 4-year-olds, but he's showed a lot of talent in all three of his races. He's going to have to show it again Saturday."

McGaughey, who ran ninth and 10th with Breaking the Rules  and North Dakota , respectively, in the 2021 Pegasus Turf, showed the same kind of faith last summer in Integration, a bay son of Quality Road  , himself a four-time graded stakes winner at Gulfstream led by the 2009 Florida Derby (G1) and 2010 Donn Handicap (G1), the race replaced by the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) beginning in 2017.

After going unraced at 2, Integration debuted with a 6 1/2-length maiden special weight win over his elders last August at Colonial Downs. From there, McGaughey returned the bay colt to the 1 1/8-mile Virginia Derby (G3T) four weeks later, where he rallied five-wide for a 1 1/4-length triumph over Program Trading , who would in the fall take the Hollywood Derby (G1T). The third-place finisher, Runaway Storm , subsequently won the Bryan Station Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland.

"He's a colt that I always sort of liked, and he just had some little things get in his way," McGaughey said. "I was really impressed with his maiden win. It's kind of not my persona to run them back in a stakes, but I had some other horses going over there, and he was doing really well, so I said, 'Let's take a shot.' He ran a big race, so that's what got us to the next one."

The next one was the Hill Prince, also contested at 1 1/8 miles, in mid-November at Aqueduct Racetrack. Integration settled in third before taking a two-length lead into the stretch and powering home to win by five as the favorite over I'm Very Busy , also entered in the Pegasus Turf.

Integration broke from post 3 of nine in the Hill Prince, the same spot where he is scheduled to break in the 12-horse Pegasus Turf under Tyler Gaffalione, who was aboard for his maiden journey.

Integration is the latest success story for West Point, the syndicate founded by Terry Finley which in recent years was partners in 2017 Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Always Dreaming   as well as Flightline  , the champion older male and Horse of the Year in 2022 that was retired with a perfect 6-for-6 record. Todd Pletcher trained Always Dreaming  , John Sadler Flightline  .

"He's as exciting a horse as we've had. He's just a super exciting horse. It took him a while to really get rolling and find his stride. If you look back, he had a lot of works and a lot of base. Shug was always, 'I like this horse,'" West Point executive vice president Tom Bellhouse said. "He's rewarded all the confidence Shug had in him. To win the race at Colonial first time out and to come back a little less than four weeks later and win the Virginia Derby the way he did, it was spectacular. I was lucky enough to be at Aqueduct for the Hill Prince and it was one of those races that was never in doubt. It was really an amazing performance."

Bred by Larkin Armstrong out of the Scat Daddy mare Harmonize , a five-time stakes winner including Gulfstream's 2016 Sanibel Island Handicap as well as the 2016 Del Mark Oaks (G1T), 2015 Jessamine Stakes (G3T), and 2017 Glens Falls Stakes (G3T), Integration fetched $700,000 as a yearling at The Saratoga Sale at Fasig-Tipton from the Brookdale Sales consignment in 2021.

He represents West Point's second straight try at the Pegasus Turf after grade 1 winner Decorated Invader  ran 11th in 2023 for trainer Christophe Clement.

Along with its experience on the Turf, West Point was partnered with millionaire Breaking Lucky, who ran eighth in the 2017 Pegasus World Cup Invitational for trainer Reade Baker.

Speaking of Integration, Bellhouse said: "His breeding is impeccable. I remember when we bought this horse. When you have a horse like that with that kind of pedigree, you're just hoping, and he's come to fruition.

"It's going to be a very tough spot. (Warm Heart is) just a superstar and some of the grizzled veterans like last year's winner. It's always a great group. We were lucky enough to run in it last year, but I don't know if we've ever walked into the Pegasus with this level of confidence with any of the runners we've had than we do with this horse. He's really special."