Integration Seeks Redemption in Pegasus World Cup Turf

West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing, Pine Racing Stables, William Freeman, Michael Valdes and John Ballantyne’s Integration will return to the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1T) field for a second straight year after a disappointing fifth-place finish as the favorite in 2024.

The 5-year-old son of Quality Road out of Harmonize (Scat Daddy) will start the 1 1/8-mile race at Gulfstream Park Jan. 25 as the 3-1 second choice from post position No. 5. under Frankie Dettori.

Godolphin homebred Nations Pride , a grade 1 winner in the United States, Europe and Middle East, was set as the morning-line favorite in post position No. 7. Champion British jockey and regular rider William Buick will be aboard.

Integration ran second to the Charlie Appleby-trained Nations Pride by 1 3/4 lengths in the 1 1/4-mile Arlington Million (G1) at Colonial Downs Aug. 11.

Video: Arlington Million S. (G1T)

“I thought he ran a good race at Arlington,” trainer Shug McGaughey said of Integration. “With a little luck, maybe we would have been a little closer. I think we can probably turn the tables on him.”

West Point Thoroughbreds President Terry Finley said that doing so won’t be easy.

“Nations Pride, he’s been across the world. They’re always very tough to beat and tough to handle,” Finley said Jan. 19 following the post-position draw. “I just hope everybody gets a good trip and a clean trip, and the best horse wins.”

In last year’s Pegasus World Cup Turf, Larkin Armstrong-bred Integration angled outward through the stretch and never threatened as Team Hanley, Richard Schermerhorn and Paul Braverman’s filly Warm Heart won by a half-length ahead of I’m Very Busy .

“Obviously, it was a letdown last year, but we had a tough trip,” Finley said. “The Coolmore filly ran a great race. She’s a broodmare now, so I love the fact we don’t have to beat her on Saturday.”

McGaughey, West Point and Woodford also will start Battle of Normandy , a 5-year-old son of City of Light , winner of the 2019 Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1). The bay out of Adorable Miss (Kitten’s Joy) is 20-1 from post position No. 10.

“Somebody asked me right before the draw who do you think will be lower odds, Integration or Battle of Normandy,” Finley said. “I said I thought Integration, but not by much. I didn’t expect Battle of Normandy to be 20-1 but I feel fairly certain he won’t be 20-1 on race day.”

Battle of Normandy, with rider Jose Ortiz, heads to the Pegasus on a four-race winning streak that includes the Nov. 9 River City Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Downs. He has been training with Integration at Payson Park in Indiantown, Florida.

“I think they’re fresh and I think both of them can run big races,” McGaughey said.

The remaining Pegasus World Cup Turf field in post-position order includes: 1. Joseph Allen’s 20-1 Siege of Boston (trainer Jimmy Toner) 2. Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr.’s 15-1 Formidable Man (Michael McCarthy) 3. Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal’s 8-1 Mi Hermano Ramon (Mark Glatt) 4. Live Oak Plantation’s 12-1 Win for the Money (Mark Casse) 6. Spendthrift Farms’ 6-1 Major Dude (Todd Pletcher) 8. Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Richard Schermerhorn’s 20-1 Spirit of St Louis (Chad Brown) 9. Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables and Old Bones Racing Stable’s 15-1 Balnikhov (Phil D’Amato) 11. Whisper Hill Farm’s 20-1 Grand Sonata (Todd Pletcher) 12. Paradise Farms, David Staudacher and Angelo Carlesimo’s 20-1 Chasing the Crown (Mike Maker).