In January of 2024, our (West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing, Pine Racing Stables, William Freeman, Michael Valdes, John Ballantyne) horse Integration received an invitation from Gulfstream Park to run in the prestigious Grade 1, $1,000,000 Pegasus Turf Invitational. He entered the race off a couple of graded stakes wins in the Fall of 2023 and the owners were confident he would run well. Unfortunately, a questionable ride by jockey Tyler Gaffalione negated any hope of Integration securing his first Grade 1 Win.
Speed the film forward to January 2025 and Integration received an invitation from Gulfstream Park to run again in the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Pegasus Turf Invitational. He enters this year’s edition off a convincing win in the Grade 2, $300,000 Red Smith Stakes on November 9, 2024 at Aqueduct Racetrack (New York). Integration will be ridden by Frankie Dettori and has drawn post position #5. Hopefully he receives a heads up ride and the second time is the charm.
Integration Winning the Red Smith Stakes (Photo: Jason Moran / Ecllipse Sportswire )
Click here for Bloodhorse’s article on Integration
In addition to inviting Integration, Gulfstream Park extended an invitation to Battle of Normandy, one of our (West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing) other horses. While Battle of Normandy’s resume isn’t as impressive as Integration’s, he enters the race on a four race win streak. Similar to Integration, his last win came on November 9, 2024 and was also in graded stakes company (Grade 3, $300,000 River City Stakes at Churchill Downs). Battle of Normandy will be ridden by Jose Ortiz and has drawn post position #10.
Battle of Normandy Winning the River City Stakes (Photo: Renee Torbit/Churchill Downs )
Click here for a past performances of Pegasus Turf Field
The race is this Saturday (January 25) and will be broadcast by NBC Sports. Post time from Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, FL is 4:55 PM (EST).