Channeling the two-faced Roman god Janus, horse racing during the week of January 25 looked both backwards and forwards at once. Events this week put an exclamation point on the sport in 2025 while simultaneously bringing excitement for the rest of the 2026 season. The 55th Annual Eclipse Awards, marking the best among human and equine talent in Thoroughbred racing the previous year, took place on January 22; just two days later, the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) and associated races kicked off the quest for divisional honors this year.

Horse of the Year Sovereignty leads Godolphin and Bill Mott’s Eclipse haul

First, we start with the Eclipse Awards. The most coveted trophy, that of Horse of the Year, unsurprisingly went to Sovereignty, that talented son of leading sire Into Mischief; in 2025, Sovereignty captured two-thirds of the Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby [G1] and Belmont Stakes [G1]), as well as the Travers Stakes (G1), plus two grade 2 contests. Also named champion three-year-old colt, Sovereignty is set to stay in training this year. Sovereignty’s owner/breeder, Godolphin, received the Eclipse Awards in both of those categories, while his trainer, Hall of Famer Bill Mott, earned the trophy for top conditioner. A repeat winner for top jockey was Flavien Prat, with Pietro Moran named best apprentice jockey.

Nitrogen, Ted Noffey, and Super Corredora take sophomore and juvenile Eclipse honors

First in the Alabama Stakes (G1) and second in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), Nitrogen, excellent on dirt and turf, brought home the hardware as top sophomore filly. Another son of Into Mischief, Ted Noffey, burnished his perfect four-for-four record—which included a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) win—with honors as champion juvenile colt, while Super Corredora earned plaudits as top juvenile filly.

Forever Young, Thorpedo Anna, and the rest of the 2025 divisional champions

Japanese-bred Forever Young, the globe-trotting winner of the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and Saudi Cup (G1), garnered the award for best older horse. Meanwhile, 2024 Horse of the Year and champion sophomore filly Thorpedo Anna rounded out her career in fine form, earning divisional honors as top older female. Uber-consistent New Jersey-bred Book’em Danno received the Eclipse for top male sprinter, while Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) victress Shisospicy earned the filly and mare counterpart. Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T) winner Noble Speech, also a classic winner in his native Britain, earned hardware as champion turf male for Godolphin, while Breeders’ Cup-placed, dual grade 1 winner She Feels Pretty was champion turf female. Cool Jet received champion steeplechase horse honors.

Pegasus World Cup: Skippylongstocking turns back White Abarrio at seven

Over at Gulfstream Park on January 24, seven-year-old Skippylongstocking proved age is nothing but a number by annexing the Pegasus World Cup. Last time out, in the December 20 Harlan’s Holiday (G3) at Gulfstream, the son of 2016 Preakness (G1) hero Exaggerator also showed his winning ways; this time around, the competition was stiffer, with last year’s Pegasus winner White Abarrio finishing second. Also seven years old, White Abarrio, like “Skippy,” is trained by Saffie Joseph Jr.

Pegasus Turf Invitational: Test Score and the Amermans’ Oscar Performance line

In the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1T), four-year-old Test Score aced the contest to finish first. Also winner of last year’s Belmont Derby (G1T), Test Score is a homebred for John and Jerry Amerman, the couple behind such talented turf runners as grade 1 winner and sire Oscar Performance. The colt’s granddam, Miss Chapin (by Royal Academy), also foaled Just a Game Stakes (G1T) winner Coffee Clique and Arlington Stakes (G3T) victor Admission Office.

Destino d’Oro upsets the Pegasus Filly & Mare in a Medaglia d’Oro family duel

The Pegasus Filly & Mare Stakes (G2) went to 15.60-1 shot Destino d’Oro, a grade 3 winner last year. The daughter of Bolt d’Oro (a son of leading sire Medaglia d’Oro) outlasted runner-up Crevalle d’Oro (a maternal granddaughter of Medaglia d’Oro) by a half-length.