The Pegasus F & M Turf (Grade 2)- $500.000 Purse
GP- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Turf
January 25, 2025

A field of eleven will be heading to the starting gate for the 20th running of the Pegasus F & M Turf, and is the third time that race has used that name. Prior to that, it was a $150.000 Grade 3 known as the Marshuas River Stakes, and it would see its purse increase to $500.000 when being upgraded to the Pegasus F & M Turf. Last year’s race saw the presence of La Terrifiant, making this a great spot to give kudos to her on her amazing career. She was recently sold in private sales, and after a racing career that saw her make $10,117.000, new owner Woogaloo opted to retire her. Among her many accolades include running in a Pegasus race three times, though it I a victory that eluded her. Victory did not elude Stinky Rene last year, however, as the TwinTowersRacing mare got the win, but is another that has been retired. We’re certainly not losing all of our great horses within this division, as evidenced by the quality of this field. Let’s take a look at them now!

1- Reorganize (Czech Out Farms, ridden by D Davis)- Looking to pick up her third straight win, coming here off of 100 SRF effort in the Grade 2 Mrs Revere. Her career seemed to turn the corner once she was moved to the grass, hitting the board in five out of six races since the surface change. Most of those starts were in ungraded races, so the successful result in her graded debut is very encouraging to see. Just how far can she climb?

2- Becky Does Extremo (Williams9, ridden by J Bravo)- Bounced around a little bit over her career, but had a productive stay while under the guidance of Mb Stables. That would change in the December auction, where she was sold to Williams9 for $15.010. In her new silks, Becky Does Extremo also did the Grade 3 Suwannee River, and came from behind to finish second. A little more ground may have helped, and she’ll have a little more ground here, though obviously against much better.

3- Painville (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by L Dettori)- Last time out, Painville won the biggest race of them all for this division, the BC Fillies and Mares Turf, for the second consecutive year. She has plenty of experience against the great La Terrifiant, and it’s very noteworthy that she came on top of her a couple of times when the stakes were at their highest. She’s been either first or fourth in 11 of her last 13 races, and for a horse of her caliber, it’s interesting that she has not won back to back races since early 2023. Sees many in her that were close to her in the BC Fillies and Mares Turf, and now she’s the one with the target on her back.

4- Ponzi Scheme (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by T Gaffalione)- Won her first three races of the year in 2024, part of a four race winning streak, and was able to continue her strong form throughout the season. Eventually, she would be able to participate in the BC Fillies and Mares Turf, and would place third in the race. Overall, she’s just a little shy of $1,500.000 in earnings for her career, and will be hoping her seven year old season begins as well as her six year old season did. She’d give the trainer his second straight win in the race, if so.

5- Tapioca Pudding (Mb Stables, ridden by J Lezcano)- After being claimed for $45.000 in February, she would go on four race winning streak that would begin with an allowance at PRX and ultimately led to victories in the Grade 2 Nassau and Glens Falls. Later, she almost won the biggest one of them all, the BC Fillies and Mares Turf, but had to settle for the second spot behind Painville. Now, in the Pegasus F & M Turf, she will be surrounded by those were about as close to her at the wire in the BC as they are in the starting gate. Despite her accolades, she is not as well known in this division yet, and can change that in 2025.

6- Poetic Panther (Maletto, ridden by Edg Perez)- Poetic Panther also had a four race winning streak last year, lasting from the spring to the summer, and three of them were graded wins. The biggest victory was the Grade 1 Diana, and she was able to maintain her strong form, nearly winning the Grade 1 Taylor as well, making her a well bet horse in the BC Fillies and Mares Turf. However, she could only get a fifth place result there after starting from the far outside but has already bounced back with a win in the Suwannee River last month.

7- Secret Of A Lady (Mb Stables, ridden by W T Buick)- Mb Stables picked this filly up for $50.000 in the September auction, and has run her four times since then. Three of those races were victories, including the Grade 1 American Oaks at SA late last month. She wasn’t able to get into the BC like many to her inside, but has made the most of the races where she has been entered. Now, a full year in the hands of Mb Stables seems to mean the sky is the limit for, so maybe she’ll end up in the BC later this year. Plenty of time, though.

8- Lady Hilltopper (Black N Gold Stable, ridden by Mario Gutierrez)- Making the 30th start of her career, as she enters her six year old season. She has put together an excellent career, with thirteen wins and career earnings approaching $2,300.000. Over that time, she’s run in the BC Fillies and Mares twice, running fourth last year. While that’s a strong result, it’s the lone race of a four race period where she did not end up in the winner’s circle afterwards. Won a nice one last month in the Grade 1 Matriarch at DMR and will be ready to roll here.

9- Mundi Moon (High Voltage, ridden by D E Centeno)- Since mid-February, Mundi Moon has won five times in nine starts, and has never failed to finish in the top four over that period. While many of those are in overnights, she has successfully been able to step up in class, winning the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes at WO in October, and then getting her picture taken with the winner while running second at the Grade 1 Matriarch last month. She’s another horse that may not have run in the BC last fall, but is one to watch in the big races of the division this year.

10- When Doves Cry (Big Jd Racing, ridden by B Curtis)- Last time out, When Doves Cry got a win right here at GP, coming in the $125.000 Tropical Park Oaks. That’s where she has spent most of her racing career: ungraded stakes, and she has had success in them. Her lone graded effort came close to BC time, in the Grade 3 Pebbles at AQU, so while the big names were not there, it was a good challenge and she ran third. Now, we’re truly going to see how she can handle the best of the division.

11- Wander (Mb Stables, ridden by J C Ferrer)- It was surprising to see that Wander did not run in the BC a couple of months ago, as she was certainly good enough to, winning over $900.000 on the year with a pair of graded wins, highlighted by the Grade 3 Matchmaker in July. She was sixth on the leaderboard for BC Filly and Mare Turf points, but the trainer likely had other options he liked better. When you’re in this barn, that can happen to you. No reason to dislike this filly going into this season.

Prediction: 3-8-6-5

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES