Steve Landers Racing LLC’s Destino d’Oro delivered a strong late surge to claim victory in the $500,000 TAA Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2), narrowly edging out Crevale d’Oro. The 4-year-old filly by Borto d’Oro, trained by Brad Cox and guided by jockey Junior Alvarado, had recently won the Tropical Park Oaks (L) at Gulfstream by a slim margin on December 13, but entered the Pegasus race as a 15-1 longshot and largely flew under the radar.
Starting the race with a field of 12, Destino d’Oro initially dropped to the back but tracked the leading group down the stretch. Alvarado then moved her to the outside, overtaking the front runner to win by half a length. Movin On Up, who briefly held the lead in the stretch, finished third, just half a length behind Crevale d’Oro.
“We broke well and knew she’d likely come from behind,” Alvarado said. “With so many horses, I felt I was too far back early on, so I needed to close the gap quickly. At the three-quarter pole, we shifted, and by the five-eighths pole, I couldn’t believe how many horses were underneath us. She finished with an impressive run.”
Destino d’Oro recorded a final time of 1:40.33. Paired with the 70-1 outsider Crevale d’Oro, the $1 Exacta paid out an impressive $281.80. This win marked Destino d’Oro’s fifth victory in eight career starts and pushed her earnings past the $830,000 mark.
Although Destino d’Oro, who will turn 3 in 2025, won the Packer Up (G3) at Ellis Park in August, she struggled to place in her subsequent two races, including the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland last October. Her narrow win in the Tropical Park Oaks, however, secured her a spot in the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
“She really thrives here,” said trainer Brad Cox. “She got a great setup and a smart ride from Junior, and everything fell into place.”
Bred in Kentucky by Hurstland Farm Co. and James H. Green Jr., Destino d’Oro is out of the Lionheart mare Heart of Destiny. She was purchased for $185,000 at the 2024 OBS Spring 2-Year-Old Horse Training Sale.
The Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf Invitational, now in its fifth year, is open to fillies and mares aged four and older, contested over 1 1/16 miles on turf. It is part of a 10-race Pegasus World Cup Day card offering more than $5.6 million in prize money, highlighted by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Fan Take:
Destino d’Oro’s unexpected win highlights the thrilling unpredictability and depth of talent in horse racing, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. Performances like this not only elevate the sport’s excitement but also spotlight emerging stars, promising a bright future for turf racing.
