Countdown to Pegasus World Cup Day Begins at Woodbine

Saturday’s Dance Smartly a ‘Win & You’re In’ for Pegasus FMT

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – The Countdown to Pegasus World Cup Day 2025 will begin at Woodbine Saturday when the Toronto racetrack plays host to the $200,000 Dance Smartly (G2).

The Dance Smartly will offer a fees-paid berth into the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 24, on a day that will also feature the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G2), along with seven other stakes.

Both the Dance Smartly and Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf will be contested by fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Roger Attfield-trained Ready for Shirl, a granddaughter of multiple Grade 1 winner Lady Shirl and daughter of 2011 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in a field of nine on the strength of her impressive victory in the Canadian (G2) two races back.

Trainer Kevin Attard, who saddled Moira for a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar last year as well as a second-place finish in the 2023 Dance Smartly, will be represented Saturday by Caitlinhergrtness, a multiple graded-stakes winner who is rated second at 2-1 on the morning line.

The Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf, formerly the Marshua’s River, has been extremely productive in the four short years being renewed under its new name. In 2022, winner Regal Glory went on to be voted Eclipse Award Female Turf Champion. This year, Be Your Best won the Gamely (G1) at Santa Anita and is being pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Pegasus World Cup Day and Curlin Florida Derby (G1) Day March 29 are the highlights of the 2025-2026 Championship Meet that gets underway Thanksgiving Day Nov. 27, upon the conclusion of the current Sunshine Meet.