The Pegasus Stakes
MTH Race #5 1 1/16m Dirt Stake
Purse $150.000 (plus up to $22.50 for NJ-breds) For Three Year Olds.

1 Propector Gambler Acber Farms Camacho Sa

Took his maiden at the end of his juvenile year and then looked a decent KYD prospect with a strong finishing second in the Smarty Jones. He again finished like a train in the Holy Bull but missed out on points so had to go to the San Felipe where he once again got too far back and came on strong at the end but couldn’t make up the ground and ended up a close ninth.
After dropping the TC from his calendar, he went back to allowance company finishing fourth in a competitive allowance at KEE before a good third in the Sir Barton Stakes, but his timing was still an issue as he ran home strongly but just couldn’t get to the front. He clearly has ability, but his running style seems to constantly stymie him, if he can get it right, he will be a win chance.

2 Awakening World TwinTowersRacing Gonzalez J L

Another TC failure he was less impressive in the qualifiers but has had a decent rest and a recent work says he has benefited from that. He still has a lot to prove on the dirt but a decent draw today and that improved work says that he may be ready for a better run.

3 Hazardous Mb Stables Davis D

This one probably fared better than most here in the TC qualifiers and would probably start favorite for this based on his trainer and his form. A good seventh in the Rebel after his maiden win, he was gelded after looking a little one paced in that race and ran well in the FL Derby but without much improvement to his finishing kick. Fourth that day beaten three lengths was not enough for the TC, so he went to the Peter Pan where he went to the lead and ran a cracker to be second. Clearly up to a race like this he deserves a good win and if he can get to the front at the right time, he would be a great win chance today.

4 Kirby Puckett Big Jd Racing Castillo I

Lightly raced and on the up the obvious challenge for him will be the trip as he has yet to run past seven furlongs. He will either go back to conserve his finish or jet out front, either way it will be interesting to see how he goes.

5 Rubbing Is Racing Alydar Stables Marin S

He had looked just average prior to the Lexington but ran a cracker from a wide draw that day finishing hard and late to be beaten less than a length into sixth. Another late closer timing and pace will be everything for him and whilst he certainly has a good chance it will be the usual heart in mouth stuff as he tries to weave through late.

6 Sincere Breeze Asgar Barbosa J

If you take out the awful effort in the Day Mile on an off track his four previous starts would make him a win chance today. I loved his effort in the San Felipe when right in the photo finish and ending up third he then went to the SA Derby with a last chance effort at TC qualification but narrowly failed when beaten just a half-length into fourth. Those efforts a certainly near if not at the top of accomplishments for this field and he would be my top choice to beat the Mb entry.

7 Adrenaline Nakamura Stables Jara F

Hasn’t looked too bad to date running at overnight level but ran better than his ninth-place finish in the Preakness which brings him into contention for this race. His works are strong, and he may be the dark horse in this race.

8 Grit And Grind Mb Stables Bravo J

The two Mb Runners certainly have the edge on form and this one may be the best of them. A very close second in the Holy Bull and the San Felipe he looked on the verge of the KYD until he just found the ninth furlong too tough in the SA Derby. He went to the Day Mile after that run and ended up a good fourth after running a close stalk in the wet and you have to say his form looks very good in his last four starts.

SUMMARY

Grit and Grind, Sincere Breeze and Hazardous look the trifecta here but what order they finish in is anyone’s guess.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded