2025 has been off to a great start for Bob Baffert. Barely 20 days into January one of the renowned trainer’s horses has already bagged a big win at Santa Anita Park. Cavalieri, a four-year-old mare training under Baffert, held off experienced competition in Alpha Bella at the La Canada Stakes (G3) to win $100,000. Naturally, you’d think the next stop for the 72-year-old would be the Pegasus World Cup Invitational.
However, despite winning the prestigious annual event at Gulfstream Park thrice in the past, Baffert has decided not to attend this year. The decision came after Baffert’s Santa Anita Derby (G1) runner-up earned an invitation to the Saturday, January 25 event. However, the veteran trainer revealed why he won’t send his horse to compete at the event and what he plans to do instead.
Bob Baffert’s horse will race but in a different event
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The former Pegasus World Cup Invitational winner explained that while invitee Imagination, shows promise, he may not be ready yet. “He’s doing well, but he has to prove to me about the two turns before I ship anywhere. He is a horse that is a little immature and we have to figure him out,” the trainer said about Imagination as per the Paulick Report.
After his recent success with Cavalieri at the La Canada, Baffert Hopes to continue his winning streak. However, sending a horse that he thinks is not yet ready for Gulfstream Park would be counterintuitive. “When you’re shipping in there, you have to go in with a really strong hand,” the Triple Crown winner said about the race. However, that doesn’t mean Imagination won’t be racing this Saturday.
The third-place finisher at Malibu (G1) on December 26, 2024, will race at the San Pasqual Stakes instead. The 11: 2-5-3 will have Kazushi Kimura as his jockey and some experienced competition in horses such as Tarantino, Express Train, and more. Tarantino has finished as runner-up in both of his last races at the Native Diver and Pincay Jr. Stakes.
Meanwhile, Express Train is a two-time former champion at San Pasqual. However, horse racing fans won’t just miss Bob Baffert at this year’s Pegasus World Cup Invitational.
A top contender drops out of the Pegasus World Cup
Fans attending the premier horse racing event were keen on watching some of the best horses in the world compete in South Florida on Saturday. However, shortly before Bob Baffert’s disappointing announcement, the community was hit with another disappointing news. Thoroughbred Saudi Cup winner Señor Buscador dropped out of the race.
However, the Peacock family horse didn’t just drop out of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational like Imagination. Buscador’s owner, Joey Peacock Jr. announced that the championship racer was retiring from racing outright, after a disappointing training session at Gulfstream Parks on Sunday, January 19.
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“Our team was not completely happy the way Senor Buscador came out of his work this morning. Senor, we will be forever grateful for the ride,” the Saudi Cup winner’s owner announced on social media. Peacock Jr. also explained that his team would never force a horse “that is not 100%” to race.
“Pegasus is out,” he added about the horse with a whopping $12,944,427 in career earnings. Thankfully, this wasn’t Imagination’s last chance to race at the Pegasus World Cup Invitational. Bob Baffert may allow the horse to race in a future edition of the event when he’s ready.