A decade ago, the folks in South Florida decided to create a multi-million dollar event for older Thoroughbreds to be run ahead of the breeding season. Fast-forward to 2026, the strobe lights may not be flashing and the Bee Gees will not be playing at Gulfstream Park on January 24, when they run the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, but there will be some Disco Time there.
Disco Time is a talented four-year-old that brings an unblemished record into the tenth running of the Pegasus, which carries a hefty $3 million purse. Running out of the Brad Cox barn, this product of father Not This Time and mother Disco Chick has only been on the floor five times, but in each he has won the dance contest.
“He is a horse that has always showed talent”, says Brad Cox, who won the Pegasus in 2021 with Knicks Go. “Being that he is a smart horse that has speed, there is a lot to like about him.”
Early in 2025, Disco Time was on the Kentucky Derby trail. Two wins at Churchill Downs as a two-year-old and a last-to-first rally on January 18, 2025, in the grade 3 Lecomte Stakes at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans had his conditioner thinking about the first Saturday in May. But then the injury bug took a bite out of this promising colt and he had to be taken out of training.
“There were some hind end issues with him and the only way for him to heal was just take some time off”, says Cox. “He couldn’t work so we just had to be patient and let nature take its course. There are times in this game where things don’t go according to plan and you just have to be able to adjust and that was the case here.”
After a little rest and recuperation, Disco Time tripped the light fantastic again on September 19 at Fairmont Park in the St. Louis Derby. Leading every step of the way, a five and a half length score told everyone he was much the best. Returning to the track on November 8, at Aqueduct, he again cut a rug with a powerful nine and three-quarter length win in the Dwyer Stakes in pace-stalking fashion at a mile distance.
“We really liked him going into the St. Louis Derby because he had been training so well”, says Cox, who has won over 2,500 races. “You are never sure when horses come back off extended layoffs and we don’t run much at Fairmont Park, but it was a good spot based on timing and he broke well and ran strong the entire way. In the Dwyer, we felt as though the one-turn mile would be a great building block for him. His move down the lane where he pulled away from the field was impressive.”
Disco Time has continued his work in South Florida as he prepares for the biggest dance of his career. Continuing to shine on the training track, this Juddmonte Farms owned runner will look to make like John Travolta in his first start in grade 1 company.
“This is a big test for him, but we have always thought he has grade 1 talent”, says Cox. “Yes, he is lightly raced, but he is a horse that has really moved forward and we think the best is yet to come.”
Disco Time will break from post 1 in a field of 12 in the Pegasus. This mile and an eighth race will be carded as the 13th and final race of the program with an expected post time of 5:39 pm eastern. Flavien Prat is slated to ride and Disco time has been installed as the 8 to 5 morning line favorite. His career earnings from his five career wins are at $551,960.