Spirit of St Louis found a seam late and came with a furious rally to overtake Integration nearing the wire to win the $1 million G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, 25 January.
A multiple Stakes-winning gelding by Medaglia d’Oro, Spirit of St Louis has been a fixture – and a Stakes-winning one, at that – of the New York-bred Stakes circuit, but has rarely ventured into open company. His only previous try was in the G1 Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland last October where he finished fifth but was only beaten two-and-a-half lengths.
Ridden for the first time by Tyler Gaffalione, Spirit of St Louis broke well and was settled in mid-pack as G1 winners Formidable Man and Win For the Money went to the front to set the pace. Spirit of St Louis found himself stuck in traffic on the backstretch and was still looking for running room entering the far turn. Gaffalione was finally able to find a seam and was able to angle Spirit of St Louis to the outside, where he had a clear shot at the leaders.
Under a furious drive from Gaffalione, Spirit of St Louis charged down the center of the course, reeling in Integration nearing the wire to win by a neck.
Bred in New York by Chester and Mary R. Broman, Spirit of St Louis is out of the Graded Stakes-winning mare, Khancord Kid (Lemon Drop Kid), and is a full brother to millionaire Bar of Gold, winner of the G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Bar of Gold has become a Stakes producer herself, as she is the dam of Graded Stakes winner and multiple Stakes-placed Coinage (G3 With Anticipation Stakes).
Spirit of St Louis is one of several recent Stakes winners for Medaglia d’Oro, who closed out 2024 on a hot streak. Since November, the stallion has been represented Stakes winners Meshtri, winner of both the G2 Al Maktoum Mile and Listed Dubai Creek Mile at Meydan and by Good Cheer, undefeated in four starts and the winner of both the G2 Pocahontas Stakes and Listed Rags to Riches Stakes. The promising three-year-old filly, Nitrogen, kicked things off on a winning note in 2025 by capturing the Listed Ginger Brew Stakes in early January.
Medaglia d’Oro will stand the 2025 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for $75,000, stands and nurses.
