The Pegasus Stakes ($150.000 Purse)
MTH- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
June 15, 2024

Perhaps there is a star to be born on Saturday in the Pegasus Stakes, an ungraded race for three-year-olds that has not been held since 2020 when a gelding that would become of the best horses in their division captured the first stake victory of their career. This race has been graded and has run for larger purses in the past, but lost its graded designation in 2018, and would only run the two more times before it disappeared from the schedule entirely. That former great was Billy Joel, who went on to win over $3,800.000 and a much bigger “Pegasus” race later on. He would find his dominant ways on the grass, but this Pegasus was his first ever stake win. So, while the field of seven this year may lack star power (not that there aren’t proven horses here, no offense to Super Good), who knows what the future may hold for them. Let’s meet the field:

1- Postol (Sheffler Stables, ridden by R A Vazquez)- Makes his debut for Sheffler Stables after the trainer claimed him for $25.000. His previous connections had high hopes, and Postol did deliver with a second in the Davis Stakes, but then struggled on the KYD trail before being sharply dropped into the $25.000 claimer. A few tried to pick him up, but Sheffler won the shake. This is a great bounce back spot for him to run after that race.

2- Bay The Man (Aer Stables, ridden by J A Vargas Jr)- A lightly raced horse with just four starts to this point. In March, he won a maiden claimer but did not make it back to then trainer Our Athletes as Aer Stables put in the claim and clearly liked what he saw when he went wire to wire. Made his debut in his new silks last month at WO, and went wire to wire again, this one at six and a half furlongs. We’ve got one to watch here, and it will be interesting to watch his stake debut.

3- Fear The Stars (Riggins Racing, ridden by J Bravo)- Late in his two-year-old season, Fear The Stars won three in a row, a stretch that did include the $100.000 Smoke Glacken Stakes right here at MTH. This moved him into stronger company and races like the RP Springboard Mile and the FL Derby, but he was not ready to handle that level of competition yet. Handled the grass well in winning the $125.000 Woodhaven two months ago, though it’s back to the dirt here.

4- China Syndrome (Night Rider Stables, ridden by Sa Camacho)- Another one that was claimed rather cheaply, as Night Rider picked him up for $15.000 in January in a maiden claimer. China Syndrome won his first two races with his new trainer, including an impressive three length victory at a PRX allowance, and it was that race that sent him into the Grade 3 Peter Pan at AQU last month. He was second best there, thanks to a strong late run, and looks to be one of the better horses here.

5- Fight Fire With Fire (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by C J Hernandez)- After an inconsistent beginning to his career, Mo Mentum Farm would geld Fight Fire With Fire in the hope for more consistent performances. It’s too early to know if that will pay off yet, as his two starts don’t answer that concern. He was beaten by four lengths at BTP in April but then stepped up with a strong victory at WO against ON-Breds. So, what do we have here with this horse? I’m not sure what to think at this point. The 91 SRF in the WO win isn’t going to intimidate many of these.

6- The Stranger (Jerry Garcia Racing, ridden by N Juarez)- Opened eyes here at the beginning on the month with an impressive mile work in preparation for what will be his stake debut. Once he got his first two races out of the way, The Stranger has been running well, with three wins in four starts. This includes his last race, which was an allowance at CD. Without question, he has earned the right to take on a stronger field, and this proves to be a good spot for him. If he runs as well as the work suggests he is capable of, then he will be the one to beat.

7- Super Good (Mb Stables, ridden by I Castillo)- This one has some chances in the KYD preps, and did run second in the SUN Derby in February, as well as the Ruby Stakes at TP a month later. The ones that beat him were Backroad Bounty and Excoriator, a couple of horses that, if nothing else, had a great spring. Others in this barn surpassed him, however, and Super Good would not race again until the Sir Barton last month. He did not take well to the mud that day but should be better here. In the Pegasus Stakes, he may remind everyone of how good he was over the spring.

Prediction: 7-6-4-2

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded