The 2022 edition of the Pegasus World Cup took place on January 29. Defending champion Knicks Go was the favorite in the nine-horse field, but it was Life is Good with the victory at odds of 7-5. Taking place annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, FL since 2017, the Pegasus is a signature event that helps to kick off the yearly schedule of top stakes races.
We’ll cover everything you need to know about the Pegasus World Cup right here. Here’s a look at the top contenders, what happened, and where you can legally and safely bet on the Pegasus World Cup and other top stakes races online.
Bet the Pegasus World Cup Online at TVG
2022 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes contenders
There were nine entrants in the field for the 2022 Pegasus World Cup.
- Knicks Go
- Chess Chief
- Stilleto Boy
- Life is Good
- Empty Tomb
- Sir Winston
- Title Ready
- Endorsed
- Commandeer
Knicks Go was looking to make history with a second consecutive win at the Pegasus. Life is Good was second on the board and snagged the win.
2024 Pegasus World Cup entries and morning line odds
Last updated: Jan. 31, 2021
Here’s how oddsmakers set the morning line odds for the 2022 Pegasus World Cup are out.
| Finish | Horse | Odds | Jockey/Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knicks Go | 6-5 | Rosario/Cox |
| 2 | Chess Chief | 10-1 | Gutierrez/Stewart |
| 3 | Stilleto Boy | 20-1 | Desormeaux/Moger jr. |
| 4 | Life is Good | 7-5 | Ortiz Jr./Pletcher |
| 5 | Empty Tomb | 20-1 | Lopez/Falcone Jr. |
| 6 | Sir Winston | 12-1 | Gonzalez/Casse |
| 7 | Title Ready | 20-1 | Gaffalione/Stewart |
| 8 | Endorsed | 20-1 | Rispoli/Maker |
| 9 | Commandeer | 30-1 | Leparoux/Toner |
When all was said and done, Life is Good bested the field with Knicks Go taking second place. Stilleto Boy took down third, followed by Endorsed in fourth. Here’s what the final payouts looked like.
- Life is Good: W – $3.60, P – $2.10, S – $2.10
- Knicks Go: P – $2.10, S – $2.10
- Stilleto Boy: S – $2.80
- $2 exacta: $4.80
- $0.50 trifecta: $3.90
- $1 superfecta: $37.60
2024 Pegasus Turf odds
Last updated: Jan. 31, 2021
Morning line odds for the Pegasus Turf Invitational had defending champion Colonel Liam on top of the 12-horse field.
| Finish | Horse | Jockey/Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Space Traveller | Spencer/Walsh | 12-1 |
| 2 | Atone | Castellano/Maker | 20-1 |
| 3 | Flavius | Lopez/Maker | 15-1 |
| 4 | March to the Arch | Gonzalez/Casse | 20-1 |
| 5 | Hit the Road | Gaffalione/Blacker | 8-1 |
| 6 | Colonel Liam | Ortiz Jr./Pletcher | 3-1 |
| 7 | Doswell | Alvarado/Tagg | 10-1 |
| 8 | Sacred Life | Ortiz/Brown | 6-1 |
| 9 | Field Pass | Rispoli/Maker | 10-1 |
| 10 | Channel Cat | Rosario/Sisterson | 12-1 |
| 11 | Cross Border | Gutierrez/Maker | 15-1 |
| 12 | Never Surprised | Saez/Pletcher | 7-2 |
Colonel Liam made it two in a row, outpacing Never Surprised and Space Traveller. Here’s how the payouts shook out.
- Colonel Liam: W – $5.20, P – $3.60, S – $3.00
- Never Surprised: P – $5.20, S – $4.20
- Space Traveller: S – $6.20
- $1 exacta: $13.50
- $0.50 trifecta: $70.90
- $1 superfecta: $834.40
Overview of Pegasus Turf contenders
The 2022 Pegasus Turf race had 12 runners. According to the morning line odds, there were four clear favorites to hit the board.
- Colonel Liam: 3-1, defending champion
- Never Surprised: 7-2, 1st at Tropical Park Derby
- Sacred Life: 6-1, 2nd at Seabiscuit Handicap
- Hit the Road: 8-1, 3rd at City of Hope
A trio of other entrants entered the Pegasus fresh off a win last time out.
- Doswell: 10-1, 1st at Fort Lauderdale
- Field Pass: 10-1, 1st at Seabiscuit Handicap
- Cross Border: 15-1, 1st at Prairie Bayou
Colonel Liam pulled out the victory for the second year in a row, outpacing Never Surprised and Space Traveller.
2022 Pegasus turf race facts
The Pegasus Cup might get more attention, but there’s a lot to see on race day. Here are some of the key details for one of the biggest turf races of the season.
- 2022 location: Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida
- Distance: 1 3/16 miles
- Age qualifications: 4 years old and up
- 2022 purse: $1 million
- 2022 race date: Jan. 29
- Post time: 4:49 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: NBC
- Fastest time (1 3/16 miles): 1:51.60, Zulu Alpha, 2020
- Most wins by a trainer: William Mott, five
Pegasus dirt race facts
The Pegasus World Cup continues to grow in prominence, with continued growth likely in 2022 and moving forward. Here are a few key facts:
- 2022 location: Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida
- Distance: 1 1/8 miles
- Age qualifications: 4 years old and up
- 2022 purse: $3 million
- 2022 race date: Jan. 29
- Post time: 5:34 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: NBC
- Fastest time: 1:46.83, Arrogate, 2017
- Most wins by a trainer: Bob Baffert, two
How to bet on the Pegasus Cup online
You can wager on horse racing online or via app in most parts of the US, but it’s not legal in every state. The full list of current legal horse betting states is available via the link. As for the best places to play, here are a trio worth checking out:
- TVG: Year-round fans of horse racing know that TVG is the place to tune in to catch the action from across the US and other parts of the globe. There’s also a highly regarded TVG app and website. It’s a good place to bet on the Pegasus and other top races.
- TwinSpires: When you hear this name, your thoughts might turn to the iconic Churchill Downs. There’s also a betting platform that uses the moniker, and it happens to be quite good and a preferred spot for many bettors. When big races such as the Pegasus roll around, expect to see some promos.
- NYRA: Courtesy of the New York Racing Association, NYRA Bets is another popular spot for horse betting. In addition to its home market, NYRA is available in other states. Pegasus races will appear prominently on the betting site, and you’ll often see promos for top events.
Online betting vs. at the track
You can find plenty of fun when betting in-person at the track or a legal off-track betting site, but it’s tough to beat the convenience of being able to bet on races online. Naturally, that comes with the caveat of sticking to legal and regulated sites that have the approval to do business in your state. Here’s the case for both sides:
- Online betting
- Pros: Convenience, ease of use, bet when and how you want.
- Cons: Limited number of sites and apps when compared to other forms of gambling.
- In-person
- Pros: Entertainment, excitement, site amenities.
- Cons: Travel, crowds, waiting in line.
When betting online, you can log in whenever you want in advance of the race and get your bets in. At the track, there’s the matter of waiting in line for an open cashier or betting terminal. On busy race days with big events such as the Pegasus, there can be lots of standing around as you wait your turn.
Pegasus World Cup history
The Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes began in 2017. It has taken place annually ever since at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. As an early event, it has evolved into one of the signature events before the Triple Crown season and prep races really begin to pick up steam.
The inaugural purse was $12 million and rose to $16 million for year two, making it the richest horse race on the planet. The prize pool has dropped since that point, but the race continues to grow in popularity. Here are the six winners to date and their times:
- 2022: Life is Good, 1:48.91
- 2021: Knicks Go, 1:47.89
- 2020: Mucho Gusto, 1:48.85
- 2019: City of Light, 1:47.71
- 2018: Gun Runner, 1:47.41
- 2017: Arrogate, 1:46.83
Pegasus Turf Invitational history
The Pegasus World Cup Turf Stakes has a long history, with its roots stretching back to 1986. Also taking place annually at Gulfstream Park, it was originally contested at 1 1/16 miles, but the distance has shifted through the years. It’s open to four-year-olds and up.
The prize pool has also ebbed and flowed through the years, peaking at $7 million in 2019. Jerry Bailey has been the most successful jockey at this race, winning seven times, most recently in 2003. For trainers, it’s William Mott atop the leaderboard with five wins, most recently in 2001. Here are the last five winners:
- 2022: Colonel Liam, 1:49.95 (1 1/8 miles)
- 2021: Colonel Liam, 1:53.09 (1 3/16 miles)
- 2020: Zulu Alpha, 1:51.60 (1 3/16 miles)
- 2019: Bricks and Mortar, 1:54.59 (1 3/16 miles)
- 2018: Heart to Heart, 1:47.64 (1 1/8 miles)